May 3, 2005

This past Sunday in the South Bronx, something extraordinary happened. Two beautiful young women gave their lives away. In the presence of Almighty God, their families, friends, and neighbors, they knelt before the altar, placed their hands in the hands of our Community Servant, and vowed to live lives of poverty (they will never receive a paycheck or own a car or a house), chastity (they will not get married or have children), and obedience (they will allow others to make decisions for them). This they did in freedom and with great joy.

Why would these two talented, intelligent young women with the world open before them choose to live this way? The only good answer to this question is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the only reason to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Our Sisters Miriam and Jacinta have fallen madly in love with Jesus! They want to be with Him and to be like Him! (Incidentally, this is a requirement for entering our community!) We have fallen in love with Him because He has fallen in love with us – and that’s the real mystery!

When God became Man, He could have come rich and powerful, political and prestigious; but He did not. He came poor, being born in a barn and laid in a feeding troth. He remained chaste, not taking to Himself a human bride, but pouring out His love for every human being and espousing Himself to the Church, His Bride. He lived a life of obedience to His Heavenly Father, an obedience so profound that it brought Him to His death. Such is God’s mysterious love for us! It is Jesus Himself Who is the author of our vows, the model of our life. We live this way because He did it first and because we have felt the invitation within our hearts to “Follow Him”.

Please say a prayer for our two newly professed sisters. Yes, they have “given their lives away”, but they have received the One Who is Life and if they are faithful to Him, they will receive the Life that is Eternal.

Sr. Clare Marie Matthiass, CFR
Vocations Director, residing at Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent, Bronx, New York

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