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"Every Christian parent must pray to God to have at least one of their children called to His Service." - Pope Pius XII |
From the Mother General |
Dear Friends of the Daughters of Mary,
During this month of June, the Sisters at the Motherhouse are preparing for our July 2nd ceremonies. Our four Postulants are diligently sewing their new habits, veils, and aprons. The Novices are finishing up their studies and taking final exams, including tests on the catechism and the vows.
Preparations For July 2nd
Many of the Sisters are helping to improve the Motherhouse grounds. Since the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the ceremonies on July 2nd take place under a tent, we endeavor to make the grounds as beautiful as possible in preparation for the coming of the Blessed Sacrament to our outdoor chapel. The Sisters have been planting flowers as well as some new bushes and trees.
Other outdoor improvements include a much-needed new roof on our garage and wood stain on our front stairs. In our cemetery, the ground has been leveled, and grass seed and flowers have been planted. We're also adding a couple shrines around the convent property.
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Preparations for July 2nd continue in just about every area of our convent. The sacristans are washing and ironing the altar cloths for the ceremonies. Some Sisters are in charge of planning the menu for the reception which follows the ceremonies. In the office, the Sisters have been placing many orders for the important occasion: food and cakes for the reception, flowers to adorn the altar, and rings for first profession and perpetual profession. We have also been printing remembrance holy cards for the Sisters making perpetual vows. In the sewing room, professed Sisters are helping to complete the new habits while other Sisters have made the Rosaries that the new Novices will receive.
Rooms are also being prepared for the Sisters who will soon be home from our schools. In fact, the first to arrive will be the professed Sisters who will be making perpetual profession of their vows. They will return to the Motherhouse to make their eight-day retreat before July 2nd.
Gratitude for Religious Vocation
Amidst all these preparations, each of the Sisters is reminded of her own reception of the habit and first profession of vows. With this remembrance comes a tremendous gratitude for the grace of our religious vocation. As St. Ignatius of Antioch says, "These happy virgins who are consecrated to Jesus Christ, may be assured that they have obtained the most beautiful, the most noble, and the most amiable Spouse that can be found in heaven or on earth." |
Religious Vocation is an Honor and a Blessing for All
Truly, a religious vocation is an honor and a blessing. Speaking to Sisters, St. Augustine says, "You have the most beautiful of spouses, Who, by selecting you from among thousands, and making you His spouse, has given you a pledge of affection." The individual, however, is not the only one to benefit from a religious vocation. All too often we tend to forget that souls consecrated to God reap innumerable benefits for society. Society benefits from the prayers and sacrifices of religious who consecrate their lives to the honor and glory of God and to the service of their fellow-men. What a need there is today for the prayers and sacrifices of religious. In fact, living as we do in an anti-Christian society, the need today is greater than it has ever been. Speaking to St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Our Lord said, "See how Christians are in the hands of the devil; unless my religious by their prayers deliver them, they shall be devoured." The saint, therefore, told her Sisters, "God has not separated us from the world only for our own good, but also for the benefit of others."
These words remind us that we should all be grateful for religious vocations. We should especially be grateful to our good Catholic families that pass on the true Faith to their children. I know that many of the Sisters would not be in the convent today if it were not for the generosity and prayerfulness of our families. What a reward awaits those parents who encourage and help their children to follow their call from God. As Pope Pius XI said, "Blessed are those Christian parents who accept without fear the vocations of their sons and daughters."
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Encouraging Vocations
We should all do what is in our power to promote vocations to the priestly and religious life through our daily prayers, sacrifices, and support. By support, I mean that we should encourage vocations by our words and example. How helpful it is for our young people to see their parents, relatives, and friends treating priests and religious with respect and reverence. A great impression is made on children when their parents speak highly of traditional religious and praise their joyful life in the service of God. On the other hand, one of the greatest obstacles to youth in following a religious vocation is objections from family members. In fact, St. John Bosco said that the opinions of others, especially family, are the greatest help or the greatest hindrance for someone striving to answer a call to religious life. Louis Martin, the father of St. Therese of Lisieux, gives the perfect example of supporting vocations to the religious life. Four of his daughters had already entered the convent. Yet when his last daughter declared her desire to follow her other sisters into religious life, he expressed his supernatural viewpoint "Come, let us go together before the Blessed Sacrament to thank God for the graces He has granted to our family and for the honor He has done me in asking for all my children. If I possessed anything better, I should hasten to offer it to Him." |
Pray for Vocations
Let us then esteem vocations to religious life and show our gratitude for them. Pray for more religious to make reparation to the Sacred Heart and to comfort Him for all He suffers from man's sins. Pray for more Sisters to help us in instructing youth, in assisting the dying, and in the many other duties which are so needed today. Pray, too, for more vocations to the brotherhood and priesthood. Speaking of the need and importance of priests, St. John Vianney says, "When people want to destroy religion, they start by attacking priests, because where there are no priests, there is no sacrifice; and where there is no sacrifice, there is no religion." Therefore, pray also that many more youth will correspond to the graces of God and step forward with courage and generosity to assist in the great work of the salvation of souls. |
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Program for Fostering Vocations
In a pamphlet published many years ago by an organization dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life, a program is given for fostering vocations:
Program to Foster Vocations to the Religious Life
- Pray and offer little sacrifices for more vocations.
- Speak highly of traditional Catholic priests and religious, especially in front of children.
- Learn about religious life and encourage interest in it.
- If possible, bring your children to visit a convent and/or seminary.
Living Your Vocation
For those who have chosen their state in life and are already living it, it is important to remember the purpose of one's vocation, whether it be the married, religious, or single state. Frequently we need to focus on the duties and obligations of our state in life, for these are truly our chief means to sanctification. Let us pray that we may all live our vocations well
Thank You
The Sisters are so grateful to their families and to all our friends and benefactors. Your part in assisting us to live our vocation is no small thing. God, Who is never outdone in generosity, will repay you abundantly for your support of his priests and religious. Be assured of our gratitude and our prayers for you and your family.
In the Sacred Heart,
Mother Mary Bosco, F.M.
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Please pray for the Sisters who are dedicating themselves to God this July 2nd
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Receiving the habit
Sister Mary Angela
Sister Mary Ignatius
Sister Christopher Marie
Sister Mary Raphael
First Profession
Sister Marie Laboure
One Year Renewal of Vows
Sister Marie Colette
Sister Mary Sebastian
Sister Elizabeth Marie
Sister Mary Alphonsus
Sister Marie Vianney
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Three Year Renewal of Vows
Sister Maria Savio
Sister John Marie
Sister Marie de Montfort
Perpetual Profession
Sister Maria Rosaria
Sister Antoinette Marie
Sister Mary Helen
Sister Mary Monica
Sister Mary Euphrasia |
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