Reading morning prayer in memorial of a woman, who followed the example of her brother St Benedict in loving Jesus and taking the vow of poverty, chastity and obedience - and starting a religious community of women. My two oldest girls ended up going to a farm and ranch and Catholic college in Bismark, ND called University of Mary, which is run by Benedictine nuns. They introduced us to the idea of being welcoming and hospitality, which is a big part of what they do for others in the world - a good thing. Going there was a great start for both the girls, and then Maria broke the mold, and with the input and strong direction of her parents - chose to enter St Thomas in St Paul, and find her way into Catholic Studies! Yes, it cost twice as much, and we said that going there was justified only by being in Catholic Studies. Susan followed her 3 years later, and we could only be supportive, after seeing how it had made Maria on fire for her faith, and the True Faith of the True Church! The ability to study in Rome for a year, which both girls did as sophomores! That was such an amazing thing for them - to live in this gorgeous house within walking distance from St Peters, that had once been a convent, and to study there and to take in the Universal Church! The saints came alive in very powerful ways, and Susan was introduced by Fr Carolla to the Community of the Lamb! He knew that she was called to join them, and told her so when she called him 4 years later to tell him that. Now she is returning to her beloved Rome for a huge occassion that is very close and personal to her... the Ordination to Cardinal of Archbishop Timothy Dolan... he was in Milwakee when she was at St Thomas and now he is in New York! Hallel told me that he has a blog, which I just went to... here is his link - http://blog.archny.org/
I would go so far to say that she met him as a good friend is his neice, who attended St Thomas with her! She loves to play that American card whenever she can and get to be in Rome for the big celebrations in the Church that have to do with Americans!
She will be traveling with their foundress, Little Sister Marie, who is here asking Hallel to promise to follow and vow to her life of poverty, chastity and obedience! I had walked into the bathroom in the chapel that morning to find the foundress, Little Sister Marie, with a mop bucket mopping the floor and cleaning the bathroom with her sleeves rolled up... to me that said volumes! She is a true servant and humble too! It should be very wonderful for Hallel to travel with and share this earth shaking experience in the Church with this amazing woman, who during the horrific changes in Vatican 2 - truly took what it was meant to do in the Church and looked back to the roots of her Dominican order. In doing that she felt that she would like to bring back some of the original direction of St Dominic in begging for their food, and a new path she felt called to was to beg from the poor! She really wrestled with that and asked the Lord how this could be!?! She was led to I Kings 17! The story of Elijah and the widow during the terrible drought! He told this widow to make her last loaf of bread for him and she would never run out of flour, oil and water to make her food for her and her son! It is what they experience many times with the poor as they are Christ knocking on their door - when they give from what little they have - they are blessed with many blessings that they report to them. Little Sister Marie was encouraged to be a shoot off the original branch of her Dominican order and to begin a new order, which she named the Community of the Lamb - http://www.communautedelagneau.org/little-sisters-of-the-lamb.php This is their website, if you are interested! Our life and most especially that of our precious daughter, Susan Angela Agnes now Little Sister Hallel, has been forever touched and changed by having them as our family! Hallel was chosen as a Hebrew word meaning the highest of praise - there are psalms which are Hallel psalms 145-150 and the ones around psalm 100 are grand Hallel psalms - there is a joke in the Community with this as the word for grand also means tall in French and Hallel at 5'10" is about a foot taller than many of the tiny French and European sisters! Hallel loves the Word/Gospel/Jesus so much! Her father wept to see her face filled with heavenly joy everytime the Gospel is brought forth at mass! "Every time people say my name they are praising God!" she exclaims. Her name has a ministry in this world that people are many times not even aware of!
Jesus, this voice of Hallel on the phone yesterday was a bell that rings deep within me reminding me of the beauty of her call and heartfelt answer of "Yes!" Her face filled with joy each day as You come forth in your Word! The way that they take the Word into themselves and become YOU for the world - sharing your Truth and Love with all those that they meet! "The Community of the Lamb was born from this Word : "Through his flesh... In his person, Christ has put hatred to death" (1) This Word takes on flesh in the proposal : "Wounded, you will never stop loving", a counsel which we want to live in the humble reality of everyday life." I will never forget walking down the humble peaceful path in Saint Pierre with my son, who had just completed his second chemo for brain cancer - unable to walk on his own due to the surgery done to diagnose his cancer- and my daughter, who was to change her name and take the habit of this community... Little Sister Sarah told me that this was how they proposed to live their lives - "Wounded, I will not cease to love." It struck me how the Lamb truly is a symbol of this as Christ was the victim for our sins, and through it all He continued and continues to love us! "That really must be hard to follow that." I told her. She did not hesitate one minute in saying, "Yes, it is very hard. Yet we do this with the help of the Lamb, slain for us!" Jesus, may we look to the Lamb when we are in our domestic Church - our family - and find the LOVE we need to forgive and forget and go forward into a little slice of heaven here on earth! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia
John is on his way home for the weekend - I am super excited!The Litany to the Holy Name of Jesus
"Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Jesus, Son of the living God,Have Mercy on us.
Jesus, Splendor of the Father,Have Mercy on us.
Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light,
Jesus, King of Glory,
Jesus, Sun of Justice,
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Jesus, most amiable,
Jesus, most admirable,
Jesus, the mighty God,
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Jesus, angel of great counsel,
Jesus, most powerful,
Jesus, most patient,
Jesus, most obedient,
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Jesus, Lover of Chastity,
Jesus, our Lover,
Jesus, God of Peace,
Jesus, Author of Life,
Jesus, Model of Virtues,
Jesus, zealous for souls,
Jesus, our God,
Jesus, our Refuge,
Jesus, Father of the Poor,
Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful,
Jesus, good Shepherd,
Jesus, true Light,
Jesus, eternal Wisdom,
Jesus, infinite Goodness,
Jesus, our Way and our Life,
Jesus, joy of the Angels,
Jesus, King of the Patriarchs,
Jesus, Master of the Apostles,
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists,
Jesus, Strength of Martyrs,
Jesus, Light of Confessors,
Jesus, Purity of Virgins,
Jesus, Crown of all Saints,
From all evil,Jesus deliver us
From all sin,Jesus deliver us
From Your wrath,
From the snares of the devil,
From the spirit of fornication,
From everlasting death,
From the neglect of Your inspirations,
Through the mystery of Your Holy Incarnation,
Through Your Nativity,
Through Your Infancy,
Through Your most divine Life,
Through Your Labors,
Through Your Agony and Passion,
Through Your cross and Dereliction,
Through your Sufferings,
Through Your Death and Burial,
Through Your Resurrection,
Through Your Ascension,
Through Your Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist,
Through Your Joys,
Through Your Glory,
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Jesus
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Jesus
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Jesus
Christ, graciously hear us.Have mercy on us.
R. Jesus, graciously hear us
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you"; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the grace of Your most divine love, that we have love You with all our hearts, and in all our words and actions, and never cease to praise You.
Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name, for You never fail to govern those whom You establish in Your love. You, Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen"
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