Driving Maria to the Poor Clare Monastery in Sauk Rapids ten years ago on this date was a very emotional and powerful time for me as a mother of this young 20 year old girl! Maria had just come back from studying in Rome for 9 months and felt a call to the cloistered life of St Therese of Lisieux after reading Story of A Soul and experiencing the Big Church and Saint picture that you can find in Rome! Realizing that she could very possibly go behind the enclosure and not be available to us for hugs and spending time with her family outside. We had going away parties for her in Marshall and in the cities so that she could give farewell hugs to family and friends. Looking back at how this was a witness to many, who did not understand the cloistered life nor the listening and discerning a possible call to be a bride of Christ! We had family from both sides come and show their love and support to Maria and her family. It was a very hard thing for us as family to let her go so dramatically, yet we knew that being allowed to share with her in this very difficult sacrifice that we would receive blessings and graces abounding to the highest height! Maria discerned out of the Poor Clares, but Hallel did find her call and continues following it to this day! Having her, for the most part away and not able to be an active part of our family is a huge sacrifice, yet we know that we are benefitting so much from the prayers of our Little Sister Hallel and the rest of her Community of the Lamb!
Maria knelt on the outside of the enclosure and she was blessed by a priest, and then she was taken behind. We were brought into a room and then she appeared behind the enclosure - there was a huge sense of loss in that we could only touch through the openings and the hugs were to be no more!
Maria still carves out daily mass and lives her prayer life still very much within her family!!! She was called to become a wife and mother, and still holds most precious the beauty of one called to be His bride! Yes, there are more distractions with a husband and 3 little ones - all the more precious is that special time with Jesus through His glorious Bride, The Church!
It brings tears to my eyes to remember the churning emotions of that day! Pondering the feast day we have on this first day of each year - Maria, named after our Spiritual Mother, Mary the Mother of God, chose the first of the year - the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of Heaven and earth to enter. As her mother - I was so filled with awe and wonder to know that my daughter was so in love with her Lord that she wanted to discern a call to be his Bride! I was also very much grieving the loss of a closeness in the life of my little girl and her flying from the nest! Such a balance of allowing her to go, yet holding her always close in my heart and lifting her up in prayer daily along with giving her guardian angel watch over her! I think it says a lot that the year begins with our reminder that Mary was given to us to take into our homes as our Mother from the Cross by Jesus! It says so much about the importance of having "mothering" as we face all that comes to us in our life - year after year.
We were brought together by this event in our family! Jesus, with your Mother at your side, we long to celebrate with great JOY this beginning of 2014 with the mothering of Mary Most Holy! She brings us ever to YOU, Jesus. May we give up of our selfishness and follow after you carrying our Most Cherished Cross to find LIFE everlasting! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Gathered at mass today on the 10th anniversary of Maria entering the Poor Clares, and Maria reminded us that it is the 4th anniversary of her son David's baptism!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
Luke happy to be at mass today - he is thriving on the mothering he is getting from his wonderful mom!
Soon the twelve days of Christmas will be gone and our beautiful Christmas décor will be done til next year.
Patrick goes to share his healing with the Poor Clares in April! They were praying for him with many!
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