VOCATION OFFICE E-NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2023

S E P T E M B E R

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3 / TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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5 / AnniversaryofDeceasedFriendsandBenefactorsoftheOrder

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8 / The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

9 / St. Peter Claver

10 / TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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12 / Most Holy Name of Mary

13 / St. John Chrysostom

14 / The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

15 / Our Lady of Sorrows

16 / Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian

17 / TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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20 / Sts Andrew Kim Tae-gon and Paul Chong Ha-sang and Companions

21 / St. Matthew, Apostle

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23/ St. Pio of Pietrelcina

24 / TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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26 / Sts. Cosmas and Damian

27 /St. Vincent de Paul

28 / Sts Lawrence Ruiz and Companions

29 / Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

30/ St. Jerome

Bread OF Angels

By: Sister Sofia Thomas, O.P.

Of all the titles used for the Eucharist, ................“Bread of Angels” is, for me, one of the more cryptic. The phrase first appears in Scripture, in the Old Testament, referring to the manna that God sent to nourish the Israelites in the desert: “God rained manna upon them for food; grain from heaven he gave them / Man ate the bread of angels, food He sent in abundance” (Psalm 78:24-25). Part of this verse appears as an antiphon in the Divine Office for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, and the title “Bread of Angels” makes its way into one of the Corpus Christi hymns composed by St. Thomas Aquinas, Sacris Solemniis, the last two verses of which are often sung as a separate and better-known hymn, Panis Angelicus (literally, “Bread of Angels”).

However, this phrase, as referring to the Eucharist, is intriguing because it’s not immediately apparent what it means. Angels cannot eat bread or anything else, meaning that they cannot receive the Eucharist; physically receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist remains an exclusively human privilege. This Bread - the Eucharist - also does not change us into angels; we remain non-angelic no matter how many times we receive Holy Communion. So, in what sense is the Eucharist the “Bread of Angels?”

St Thomas Aquinas writes in Part III of the Summa that the “bread of angels” refers to the enjoyment of union with Jesus in charity that the angels experience in heaven (ST III, Q 80, a 2) This “bread” - i e , union with Jesus - is “eaten” by the angels in heaven, meaning that the angels enjoy union with Christ, the same union that we enjoy in a secondary way, through faith, when we receive the Eucharist here on earth (ST III, Q. 80, a. 2). So, when we pray the antiphon “Man has eaten the bread of angels,” what we are really saying is that through the Eucharist we are experiencing, in a shadowy way, the same union with Christ in charity that the angels are currently experiencing in heaven

However, the phrase “Bread of Angels” has depth of meaning beyond this layer of truth that was explained by Aquinas

For example, this phrase could be a reminder that the Eucharist is directed towards, or has as its goal, the life of heaven, the “residence” of the angels, and with each Eucharist, we can move closer to our supernatural homeland It could help us remember that we are united with the angels and the heavenly liturgy at every Mass It could emphasize the supernatural quality of the Eucharist, especially its power to effect goodness in our lives It is helpful to spend time meditating on the title “Bread of Angels”, and listen to what the Lord has to say through this beautiful title May we continue to grow in appreciation for the incredible gift of the Eucharist, and may we all one day enjoy the Bread of Angels together in heaven

An Interview with Sister Angelina, O.P.

Sister Angelina was born in Paducah, KY but spent her childhood in Memphis, TN where she was taught by the Sisters of Charity (1st-7th grade) and the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia (8th-12th grade). Sister Angelina entered the convent in 1952 and taught grade school for many years and now engages in the apostolate of prayer, interceding for the students we teach and their families The following is an interview with Sister Angelina who celebrates her feast day on the Feast of the Guardian Angels

When did you first begin to pray to your guardian angel? Sister had taught us from 1st grade up to say the prayer of the guardian angel before we went anywherebefore we got in the car or got on our bicycle or went to bed And I thought, “Well that is a pretty good idea ”

Do you remember any of the lessons Sister taught you about the angels? Sister taught us that they were our guardians that God gave us and that they would always come to our assistance when we needed help of any kind It seems funny, but Sister also taught us (and so I taught my children!) to move over in the chair to make room for your guardian angel just to remind you and be conscious that he was there a lot of my children picked that up and remembered it

How do the angels help us to pray? Well… that is their job! And they do their mission very well, I’d say! They teach us to be conscious of God and trust that God will help you if you just remember to ask

Do you have any favorite images of angels? I did but I gave them away I thought I would be going on to my reward and so I wanted to get them in the hands of someone who would love them.

I love the pictures of angels overlooking the children And the image of the Angel Gabriel speaking to Mary is one of my favorites because it is painted in so many ways but I always keep the angel pictures of any of the cards I receive

What do the angels teach us about God? The first thing I would say is mercy Through the angels we see that God is merciful and attentive - that he will take care of things and that he gives a little boost when we need it

Do you have a favorite story about a Saint who saw his angel?

Saint John Bosco has many, many stories where he got help from angels, because he was always working with children- boys big and little For instance, he was running out of food because on their way to school the boys would eat the biscuits in their pockets and have no food when it came time for lunch And so the angels would help John Bosco before you knew it he had extra food left over!

Do you have any advice about praying to your guardian angel?

Don’t ever get in the car without saying your prayer to your angel! Because they are there and they will help you - just remember to ask!

How would you describe the mission of the angels? They do their mission very well, I’d say! They are always there You don’t have to call them up - just stop and think about it and you’ll see how your angel is helping you They are always there to assist in any problem!

What is the story behind your name, Sister Angelina?

I liked the name and I liked angels People suggested the name Angela, but my mother went by “Lena” and I wanted that to be part of my name So I chose Angelina Everyone seemed to like that choice so I took it The name seemed to stick.

"Be Not Afraid..."

By: Sister Isabelle Marie, O.P.

M.... ..ore often than not, the first words ...................uttered by an angel when delivering a message are, “Be not afraid ” It appears that the emotions of fear and wonder naturally accompany such an unexpected encounter: fear at being confronted with the unknown reality of an angelic being, and wonder at beholding the face of such an awesome reality I hasten to add that these two emotions also seem to accompany those who feel that they are being called to enter the religious life “How can this be?” seems to be a common response. I first heard the Lord call me to enter this life while I was studying biochemistry at a secular university At the time I had never seen a religious sister before and none of my friends were Catholic. Needless to say, I was fearful of stepping off the normal path the world had laid out for me, but I was likewise in a state of wonder at the reality of this newly discovered path “Be not afraid” was the predominant message that accompanied me through my period of discernment. It is only natural to be afraid of the unknown, but let us remember that when we are called to a specific vocation in life, we are never alone We walk this path with the Lord, who nourishes and sustains us with His very Body and Blood. Accompanied on this journey by all the angels and saints, let us rid ourselves of all fear and doubt and respond to God’s invitation with the words of Our Blessed Mother: “Be it done onto me according to Your Word

NEWPOSTULANTSANDNOVICES

TOP/ NewNovicesintheChapelafterreceivingtheirhabitsandreligiousnames

ABOVE/OurnewNovicesFrontRow:SisterMarySophia,SisterVeronicaMae,Sister MariaSavio,SisterAmataLucie,SisterJordanCaeli,SisterFiatJoy

Center:SisterZelieMarie,SisterTeresa,SisterMarieElisabeth,SisterMargaretRose

BackRow:SisterMartinaSofia,SisterMargaretGemma,SisterVictoriaChristi

RIGHT/ Highlightsfromreceptionofthehabitandpostulantentrance

BOTTOM/Ournewpostulants!

FIRSTPROFESSION

TOPLEFT/SisterEvangeline Marieprofessesthevowsof poverty,chastity,andobedience.

TOPRIGHT/Thesisterswhowill professvowssingtheprocessional hymn

MIDDLELEFT/SisterChristina receivesherblackveilfromBishop MarkSpaldingoftheDioceseof Nashville

MIDDLERIGHT/Thesistersmake theprostrationwhileBishop Spaldingblessestheirscapulars.

LEFT/SisterMariaFrassati(novice mistress),MotherAnnaGrace, SisterMarySimon,BishopMark Spalding,SisterEvangelineMarie, SisterHelenaCecilia,Sister ChristinaandSisterNaomiGrace aftertheMassofFirstProfession

PERPETUALPROFESSION

ABOVE / Theperpetuallyprofessed membersofthecommunityextendthe signofpeacetothenewlyprofessed

TOP RIGHT / SisterIsabelleMariesigns hervowsonthealtaraftermaking perpetualprofession.

RIGHT / SisterFelicityprofessesthevows ofpoverty,chastity,andobedienceforall herlife

BELOW / SisterMoanaGrace,Sister IsabelleMarie,SisterEvaMarie,Sister Felicity,SisterSofiaThomas,SisterClare Dominic,Bishop DavidTalleyof Memphis,BishopMarkSpalding,Sister MaryJoseph,MotherAnnaGrace,Sister RachelMarie,SisterMariaFrassati, SisterAnnaJoy,SisterMariaLucia,Sister Rosaria,SisterLuciaChristi,Bishop MichaelIzenofSt.PaulandMinneapolis.

WORLDYOUTHDAY2023

1/ SisterBeatriceposeswithpilgrimsfrom ScotlandaftertheOpeningMassatWorld YouthDay

2&3/Posingwithpilgrimswhostoppedby ourvocationboothintheCityofJoy

4/ThesistersveneratetheskullofSt ThomasAquinaswhichwasbroughttoWYD bytheFrenchDominicans

5/Sister AnnThomasfoundthesisters missionedinScotlandandtheirpilgrims beforetheVigilCeremony

6/ SisterMaraGracespeaksaboutthe EucharistleadingtomissionattheUSCCB