A Day in the Life: Times of Silence

Twice a week, we have Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On Wednesdays, we have a holy hour for vocations, and on Sundays, we have Exposition following Mass until lunchtime, around 11:30. Nearly every time I am there in front of the Monstrance, I think about the story told by St. Jean Vianney. St. Jean once asked an elderly parishioner what he said to Our Lord during his many long hours in front of the tabernacle. The man replied, "Say? I don't say anything. I just look at Him, and He looks at me." What a grace of interior silence!

When I first started college after nearly three years of initial formation without regular travel beyond our apostolates and grocery shopping, it took me some time to get used to the noise. I hadn't realized how accustomed I had become to really not having constant talking or background noise during the day. Even now, when my class schedule permits it, I prefer to spend my downtime in the library or some other place on campus which is not heavily populated.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy conversation, laughter, and music. Most people who know me would readily agree that I am quite a chatterbox! However, there is definitely a need for times of silence in our daily lives. So many people miss out on the beauty of silence. Its more the norm than the exception to see people who are constantly plugged into their mobile devices when they're not doing something else. It's so easy to live in an insulated media bubble, especially nowadays with all our technology-based instant communication. We can spend all our time distracting ourselves from reality with very little effort.

Constant noise is not healthy: physically, mentally, or spiritually. The Lord knows our needs, our sufferings. He is waiting patiently for us to run to Him, His arms open wide to embrace us with love. He is not surprised by our faults, He does not judge our appearance. He loves us always, unconditionally, and His desire is to draw us away from sin and into His eternal life. He is waiting for you; He wants to "look at you" today. Are you going to keep Him waiting?

St. Joseph's Corner: Thankfulness

      Today, our reflection comes in the form of a spiritual poem found in a prayer book from one of our deceased sisters. 

Thankfulness

My God, I thank Thee Who hast made
The Earth so bright

So full of splendor and of joy,
Beauty and light;

So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right!

I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made
Joy to abound;

So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round,

That in the darkest spot of Earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain;

That shadows fall on brightest hours;
That thorns remain;

So that Earth's bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

For Thou Who knowest, Lord, how soon
Our weak heart clings,

Hast given us joys, tender and true,
Yet all with wings,

So that we see, gleaming on high,
Diviner things!

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;

We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more:

A yearning for a deeper peace,
Not known before.

I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls,
Though amply blessed,

Can never find, although they seek
A perfect rest, -

Nor ever shall, until they lean
On Jesus' breast.

                                                                     - Adelaide A. Procter

This picture was taken at Thanksgiving 2015. 

Sister Margery is the last remaining original founding sister.

Many blessings to you!

News and Events: Year of Consecrated Life

On Sunday January 31st, the Diocese of Covington will have a Vespers liturgy to close the International Year for Consecrated Life.  Vespers will begin at 3:00 at the Cathedral.  It is always very special to join with the diocese to pray the liturgy of the hours.  I hope to see you there.

One of the spiritual works of mercy is to pray for the living and the dead.  It is always an honor and a privilege when people ask us to pray for their intentions.

Three of the sisters praying at the Shrine of St. Katherine Drexel.

Mother Ellen wrote, "Without prayer, our life would make no sense at all.”  It is a joy to be able to pray for each of you daily.   

A Day in the Life: Visible Witnesses

"I've never talked to a nun before." - a fellow NKU student

    It's kind of funny. Now that I find myself surrounded by Sisters, both from my own community and from other congregations that we meet at various events, I sometimes forget that most people don't see nuns on a regular basis. Most young people today especially have no experience with Sisters at all. So, when I'm on campus or pretty much anywhere out in public, I've really had to get comfortable with being stared at. A lot. It doesn't really bother me much anymore; in fact, most of the time I find it either very amusing or very humbling.

    Being a visible witness is one of the most essential parts of religious life. Canon 537 p. 1 states that those in the consecrated life have been "made an outstanding sign in the Church" to "foretell the heavenly glory." That is the most humbling thing I've ever read. I'm supposed to be foretelling the heavenly glory. Weak, faulty me. Wow. That is a big time examination of conscience.

St. Joseph's Corner: sacramentals

      Often, I wonder how many people today know what Sacramentals are.  When I asked my seventh graders less than half responded with a raised hand!  Do you wear a cross, a crucifix, or a medal of a patron saint around your neck? Many of us at our First Holy Communion were enrolled in the scapular.  Do you continue to honor our Lady by wearing one? Do you have a rosary tucked away in a draw somewhere that could be used to meditate on one of the mysteries in the life of our Lord or His Holy Mother?  Do you use a holy card as a bookmark in your reading books?  Do you have Blessed Palms (even though dry) hanging behind a religious picture or crucifix in your house or room? Do you have a Bible that is frequented often?  Do you have a statue of an angel, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, or a patron saint in a prominent place on your mantle, desk, kitchen, or even on the dashboard of your car ? How many of your rooms have a crucifix?  Do you have a blessed candle that can be lit when you sit down for a meal?  Are you in a habit of saying short "ejaculations" throughout the day?
      These are some of many Sacramentals.  Sacramentals are holy things or actions that when used with the right disposition draw us closer to God.  They are not sacraments for Christ instituted the sacraments to produce grace of themselves.  Sacramentals were instituted by the Catholic Church to nourish our souls with actual graces. Sacramentals are to the supernatural level what snacking between meals is on a purely natural level.  God made us with a body and a soul and this likeness to Him is in our soul so we must strain to preserve its purity with devout use of these little "aides" that strengthen us against all sorts of temptations in today's world!
      They support our good actions and lift our thoughts to something greater than ourselves, even for a few minutes because our hearts grope for something more than this world can offer.  This groping is satisfied when we respond and develop a personal relationship with Him Who shares His Life with us.  It is nurtured through the aids of Sacramentals.
      Looking upon a crucifix say, "Thank you Jesus for Redeeming (paying the price) for my salvation."  Grasp the holy medal you wear around your neck and kiss it before sleeping, honoring the Saint you have commended to their prayers.  Daily read a passage in the Bible so your thoughts can chew on the Word of the Lord as you strive to live a Christian life throughout the day. Before starting off in the car gaze at the small statue on the dashboard and recite a prayer for safety in your travels.  How about making a conscience effect to walk the Stations of the Cross especially during Lent!  Oh, how beautiful our Catholic faith is!!

O my God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You, 

and I beg pardon for those who do not believe, 

do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.

News and Events: Foundress Day

Our community celebrated Foundress Day on Sunday, January 17th.   Mother Ellen founded our community in 1973 with the Most Rev. Richard H. Ackerman.  We received approval from Rome in 1974.  Mother Ellen wanted to live religious life according to Vatican II.  She had a great love for the Church and her vocation as a consecrated religious. She loved God with her whole being and wanted to give herself to Him through the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience

A Day in the Life: Back to School

**Disclaimer: I've never actually blogged before. Not as myself, that is. I've put together news posts for the community, but that was basically anonymous so I don't think it counts as "blogging." So, we're learning together.**

I should probably start by introducing myself. My name is Sr. Cecilia, and I'm a 25-year-old junior professed Sister of St. Joseph the Worker. As a Junior Professed Sister, I am not yet under perpetual vows. I made my first temporary vows on May 1, 2013, and I will renew them annually until I make my final vows, sometime after graduating from college in 2018.

I'm a student at Northern Kentucky University, pursuing a degree in Information Technology with a focus on Network Administration and Security. Ha! I got you there, didn't I? I bet you thought there was no such thing as a geeky Sister. (Actually, I recently found out that the first American woman to earn a PhD in Computer Science was a nun.)

St. Joseph's Corner: Devotion to St. Joseph

            Are you aware that each day of the week is dedicated to one of the Saints or a Mystery of our Catholic Faith?  For instance, Monday's are dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  What a wonderful practice to offer all our prayers and sufferings of the day to speed some 'Poor Soul' to the gates of Heaven!  Tuesday's are dedicated to the Holy Angels, those nine choirs of Angelic Beings who stand before the throne of God in Adoration or by God's chose are our Guardians here on earth. Wednesday's are dedicated to St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus and the husband of Mary! Thursday's are dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist, Jesus' Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.  Wanting to be with us until the end of time, Jesus hides under the Eucharistic species His majesty and beauty so that we might have courage to approach the throne of His Mercy!  What a meditation!!  Friday's are dedicated to the Passion of Christ.  Saturday's are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Sunday's are dedicated to the Blessed Trinity, One God in three Divine Persons.
How beautiful our Catholic Faith is!
            In this writing I want to encourage you to make a daily Act of Consecration to St. Joseph or at the very least every Wednesday. In our community, we elected to place devotion to St. Joseph in both our daily morning prayer and night prayer.  We willingly strive to follow the exemplar virtues of our Patron Saint as we venture through our day and beg his protection at its close.  St. Joseph is the great Saint who practiced interior silence, so much so, that he could hear God's Will for him and respond in trust without the slightest hesitation. He did not clutter himself with activities, events, and things that took time away from his obligations to his faith and his family.  He was the man of the house and he stepped up to the plate putting his God and family before himself.  Look to St. Joseph in your life, too!

Morning Prayer          

An Act of Consecration to St. Joseph

O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life.

After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.

Night Prayer

Prayer of St. Clement to St. Joseph

St. Joseph, my loving father, I place myself forever under your loving protection.  Look upon me as your child and keep me from all sin.  I take refuge in your arms so that you may lead me on the path of virtue and assist me at the hour of my death. Amen.

News and Events: Mercy in Action

The New Year has begun and I wonder how many of us have persevered in our New Year resolutions.  It would be great to make a resolution to participate in one of the spiritual or corporal works of mercy during this Year of Mercy.  Our two main works are education and healthcare.  In the midst of our many obligations, we are mindful that we are called to show mercy to others.  Through our teaching, nursing and caring for those who need our help, we show the mercy of God to others.

Sister Mary Faustina is assisting a resident at Taylor Manor.

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