April 12, 2007

As a Franciscan Sister of the Renewal, I am dressed everyday from head to toe in subdued colors of black and gray. But as of March 25 th, 2007, I now have the startling addition of a shiny gold ring on my finger! This wedding band symbolizes my mysterious spousal union with Jesus Christ through my Perpetual Profession of the evangelical counsels.

By publicly vowing poverty, chastity, and obedience for my entire life, I have given myself totally and definitively to Christ and His Church. I have freely renounced all rights to ownership, natural marriage and motherhood, as well as personal independence. My Last Will and Testament went into effect on my profession day, and now it is legally impossible for me to own anything ever again. Because I have chosen Jesus as my Spouse, I will never marry as most do and have children of my own flesh. And I will never do anything “on my own,” but will for all my life remain subject to a human person and bound to my community and its Rule of Life.

Many, many people will look at me and what I have done with my life and say, “What a waste,” as Judas said about Mary in her extravagant gift of self to Jesus. (cf Jn 12:1-8) Only someone passionately in love will understand that to give ALL to one’s beloved is no sacrifice and never a waste, but an awesome privilege and unsurpassable joy! At World Youth Day in Germany in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI urged us to give the gold of our lives, our youth, our best, to Jesus in imitation of the Three Kings. The gold ring on my finger reminds me that I have pledged to give my gold, my best, to Jesus all the days of my life. And what I receive in return is so much more: true riches, the greatest lover, countless children, and real freedom that comes only in doing the Father’s will!

Yes, “all of me” seems small to give to Him Who gave infinitely more! And yet, He humbly delights in this sincere and total gift, as He delights in yours. Let us not wait and give Him only the leftover scraps of our lives, when He lavishly lays out a banquet of His own Body and Blood for us! Let us give Him everything—now, our best, the very GOLD of our selves and our lives!

Will we hold back anything from Him Who has given us everything? For He alone is worthy of all our love!

Sr. Francis Teresa O’Donnell, CFR

St. Elizabeth Convent, Bronx, NY