Maria and Sr Elizabeth go way back... they both studied for a year in Rome in 2002-2003. They were Catholic Studies students at St Thomas in St Paul, and both were in their Sophomore year. There was at that time an option to study in Rome for the year, and they along with Emily, jumped at the chance to be at the heart of their beloved Catholic Church! Maria returned home in June and was very much wanting to join a cloistered monastery - the Poor Clares. It took til Jan 1,2004 - the day that she entered on the feast of Mary the Mother of God.
Talk about an emotional and spiritually powerful day... that was truly it... our entire family driving her to the monastery up by St Cloud, her kneeling on the outside of the enclosure, and getting a blessing from the retired priest that serves the community, and then her walking through the door and it closing behind her...
Our tear reddened eyes reveal the emotion and sense of separation that the enclosure brought to reality within minutes... as we went into an adjoining room, and she came in on the other side and "the enclosure" separated us from hugging her... we could speak and touch fingers and...
A kiss... so powerful and hard - yet, we could see that there needs to be a seperation from the world... there are so many evils and distractions that do keep us from HIM. Their life is for prayer... and they protect it, and give up contact... with the enclosure to give their all to prayer, and the cross of community life in such limited and close confines! Truly a calling that the world cannot understand, yet the world would be a much more crazy messed up place without all of their prayers!
After 5 months, Maria told us that she was not in the right place and she returned home... disappointed that this had not been what God was calling her to. She returned to finish college, and met her wonderful, Joseph! They now are embarked on marriage/family/army.. and foremost Catholic Domestic Church. The children they are raising... reveal the faith and lack of indulgances...they are giving and loving, and especially little Therese thinks of others ahead of herself! For a 3 year old that says so much of her raising in the faith and with a loving strength!
When Maria returned home from the Monastery... she gathered at our farm with the two other girls that had studied in Rome with her... they are both nuns now. They made stations of the Cross for our grove, and they still stand... although one is now in the house as a tree that it was on was knocked over by the storm! "Jesus falls the first time is now on my dining room table... the tree it was on fell! 
I watched Hallel/Susan reach out to little ones in France, while we were there last week. I know how much she loves them, and that it is truly a sacrifice for her to give up having a family. Sr Elizabeth is a teacher, and so she is helping raise those children she teaches in a powerful way. What a beautiful glowing example of one that has become a bride of Christ, and found happiness beyond all else! How wonderful that Maria'a children will be a part of the lives of these dear friends of the family, and watch them follow the narrow path! Little Therese has for her Godparents a priest and a nun... now her parents are wanting her to see that blessed life, and know that it is a very real and amazing possiblity for her life!
I will always remember Fr John... he was a deacon and studying in Rome when we went to visit Maria for 10 days in February 2003... he gave us a jaw dropping tour of St Peters with such love, and enthusaism, and understanding of our True Church - the Universal Church - the Catholic Church! His love and devotion were so evident, and it is only right that he is now an ordained priest, and is Christ to us in the world as "The Catholic priesthood is a participation in this priesthood of Christ, and therefore traces its origins to Jesus Christ himself." The priesthood is what brings LIFE into the world though the sacraments! Maria's kids were drawn to him, and little Dave ate most meals on his lap! 
I always wanted our kids to consider religious life, and I really had to hunt for some sisters in habits that they could be exposed to, and finally found some at Schoenstatt in Sleepy Eye. Coming back from camp there at about 10, was the first time that the Holy Spirit spoke to Susan about her future vocation. I had to pull over to cry for the shere power of the voice that had just told me... that she thought that she would be a sister. It is beautiful to see the way that my grandkids are seeing this as real and beautiful, not only through their Aunt Hallel's life and her community, but also the many friends they have through Catholic Studies!
Therese at St Vicent De Paul Catholic Church in Manistique... Her namesake, ST Therese of Lisseux, is looking down on her and two of her cousins after mass. Today in the Gospel - Jesus comes walking to them on the water, and Peter goes out to meet him, and loses heart, and Jesus has to "Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him..." Matt 14:22-36 Jesus, we love you and thank you for the beauty of this world... marriage, and call to vow lives to be your spouse, and follow after you, and the single state. Whatever you may call us to, we are fed and saved as we lose heart and start to sink in the waves. "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." You speak to us words that we need to hear and take to heart in all that we do. It colors our world with wonder and joy as we embrace our "most cherished cross". Jesus, we trust in you! Amen, Hosanna, and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb"In tribulations God enriched his beloved souls with the greatest graces... the Lord sends them to us, not because he wishes our misfortune, but because he desires our welfare. Hence, when they come upon us, we must embrace them wtih thanksgiving, and must not only resign ourselves to the divine will, but must also rejoice that God treats us as he treated his Son Jesus Christ, whose life upon this Earth was always full of tribulation... Tribulation opens the eyes which prosperity shut... By tribulations we atone fo the sins we have committed, much better than by voluntary penance. "Be assured," says St Augustine,"that God is a physicain, and that tribulation is a salutary medicine"...In tribulations, then, we should never cease to hope with confidence that the divine mercy will console us." St Alphonsus Liguori (1787) was a bishop, founded the Redemptorists, and he is a Doctor of the Church. Today is his feast day and we ask him to intercede for us as he stands with the Saints in heaven bathing in the Glory of Heaven. St Alphonsus pray for us!
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