Quaerere Deum: Benedictines of Nursia

The Monastery of Saint Benedict in Nursia (Norcia, Umbria, Italy - link in our sidebar), dedicated mostly to the Traditional Latin Mass and exclusively to the Traditional Benedictine Divine Office, has produced a special 40-minute documentary about their inspiring life seeking Almighty God in the birthplace of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica

In the Jubilee year 2000 the monks of Norcia breathed new life into the birthplace of St Benedict. Armed with only their faith and zeal they founded a monastic community which has been attracting men from all over the world to follow St. Benedict's ancient Rule. Many of their friends have long wanted an insight into the inner workings of their life and so they have produced this high quality up to date film which shows the monks as they go through the daily ora et labora. The title of the film, "Quaerere Deum", means to Seek God. This is the true calling of all monks, the first and most essential quality of an authentic monastic vocation, as laid out in the Rule of our Holy Father St. Benedict.

For information, please contact:

Monastary of San Benedetto
monastero@osbnorcia.org

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Dominican Vocation Video

See why so many young men are leaving all things behind to enter into religious life. In this video on the Feast of St. Dominic (2010) 21 novices were clothed with the Dominican Habit. On the Feast of the Assumption only a week later, 8 men made their simple professions.

Aside from the sacrilege featured in the video of Communion in the hand (please look over this), the central message of the video is very powerful.

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Discernment Update: Eileen Lucia

God willing, at about this time tomorrow, I will be with the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows in Beaverton, Oregon. I ask for your prayers for the train ride, the time with the community, and my mind (needs focusing).

If one is discerning a vocation, there may be curve balls thrown that God allows. I received discouragement, schedule mishaps, and distractions in the city. After all of that, I am still going to Oregon. I heard a beautiful homily yesterday from a Dominican friar. Yesterday was the Dominican feast day of Bl. Jordan of Saxony who was the second master of the Dominican Order after Holy Father Dominic.

The priest mentioned that as the lay faithful that we have responsibilities: to support those discerning a vocation, to pray for vocations, and to not discourage young men and women from following God's call. I loved the homily!

So, why do I mention Dominicans all the time? Shouldn't Eileen think about becoming a Dominican? Well, I did in the past, but God called me somewhere else. Besides, if God calls me to be a Franciscan, then I will still celebrate most of the Dominican feast days. In the Franciscan Order, Dominic and Francis are called Holy Father. Two begging friars started something big....and I thank God for that.

By the way, the community I am discerning with accepts women up to age 49.   

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Dominican Friars of the Western Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Western Dominican Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

“Come & See” Vocations Weekend

Attend the Dominican Friars' Vocations Weekend at St. Albert Priory in Oakland, California.

Starting at 4pm Friday, March 9 –  and ends at 1pm Sunday, March 11.

Meet the Brothers studying for the priesthood

 Visit our school of philosophy and theology

Visit the Novice Brothers at St. Dominic's Priory in San Francisco

Listen to presentations on the Dominican life,

and spend time in prayer.

For more information or to register:

Contact Fr. Steven Maekawa, OP. (415) 264-3103, vocations@opwest.org.

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Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament

This is the Roman Catholic order of the Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament, based in Cuenca, Spain.

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Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity 2012 Spring Retreat

You can visit their website here: http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/

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Retreat Next Week in Phoenix

In the past I have mentioned the need for donations to help finish the construction of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Arizona.  Well, they are also home to a wonderful Ignatian Retreat House.  I will be going on the silent 5 day retreat and gone from February 5th through the 11th.  Please keep me in your prayers!

More information on the retreats through the retreat house are available here: Retreats through the SSPX.

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Discernment Update: Eileen Lucia

It's time....to move forward.

I began 2012 by reflecting on my plans. I have been asked when I was going go to a come and see retreat. I have been challenged by my spiritual director to move forward in the process. There is a part me that is frightened and yet motivated to follow the call.

The last two Sundays in Ordinary Time readings were about responding to the call and not wasting time. I did go to a Latin mass (the third Sunday of Epiphany, I think or it may be after Epiphany) after The Walk for Life West Coast and the readings were about healing and mercy.

Today is the feast day of a Dominican friar, St. Thomas Aquinas who wrote beautiful prayers and hymns such as Tantum Ergo Sacramentum. His love for the Real Presence was great. I am so thankful for the Eucharist...for the Lord Jesus Christ to call us to a deeper relationship with Him especially those women who are called to religious life.

January is finishing up. My guess the theme for this month is responding to God's call and do not be afraid. We heard how St. Paul after his conversion was called to preach to the Gentiles, we heard how many saints responded to God's call despite their flaws.

I ask that you pray for me as I move forward and my spiritual director is willing to help me.
I will be challenged by others for choosing a difficult path, a different vocation. Most would like me to stay same but when one hears the call of God and the focus is on Jesus then the worldly desires are fruitless and undelighful. The fruit of the Blessed Mother's womb is more satisfying. I will attend a come and see retreat before Lent. It's time.

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Video Tour of Denton, Nebraska's FSSP Seminary

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Benedictine Monk from the Abbey at Le Barroux reflect on Conversion of Life

A Benedictine Monk from the Abbey at Le Barroux ,France (linked to from our sidebar) reflects on the general 3 traditional Religious Vows associated within Benedictine 'Conservatio Morum' (Conversion of Life). This is speaking of common Religious vows, that the Benedictines themselves vow: Conversion of Life, Stability and Obedience.

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Mother Mary Emmanuel of the Dominican Nuns of Avrille, France

    

Have you any advice for a young woman old enough to ask about a vocation?

Our Lord answers her in the Gospel: “Come and see.”

Each soul has her own story; each soul has her own graces and wounds, each soul is a world of her own. Vocations are not commodities to be traded. We must consider the question soul by soul.

There are young women who come to us with a desire to be called or persuaded that they are called, but we do not discern this call or that the necessary aptitudes are lacking. Instead, we encourage them to turn toward other communities or to get married, if such is the Divine Will. These souls belong to God. All who leave are tranquil about it because they see that we seek the will of God with them and for them.

When God calls, He provides everything one needs to follow Him. The call can be very discreet, deep in the soul. This is why one must pray. God will sooner or later shed light on the situation if one is responsive to His first advances.

Regarding our cloistered life, one must have a certain thirst for God, a need for silence and prayer and the grace to understand that behind the apparent inactivity is hidden, in pure faith, an inexhaustible richness of life. In a more active life, that soul would wilt and waste away; she would not give all that she could give. It would seem to steal God from her.

If God is God, then it is very fitting that He predestines some of His creatures to occupy themselves only with Him in the name of all mankind. It is similar to the angelic hierarchies, where certain ranks are turned only towards the Thrice Holy God.

These young women know upon entering the cloister that they must sacrifice their natural instinct to be a mother?

Who is more of a mother than a consecrated virgin? In uniting herself to God, she births souls for Him for all eternity.

Click to read more and see the source.

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Priests Can Alone Forgive Sins

Pope Benedict XVI: "Christ has chosen us, dear priests, to be the only ones who can forgive sins in his name: Therefore, it is a specific ecclesial service to which we must give priority."

Is God calling you?

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Frustrated but Hopeful

I wondered about the possibility of visiting a prospective religious community but like some discerners, I am searching for jobs and finding ways to get by in a tough economy. Thankfully there is the Laboure Society, an organization that helps those who desire to enter religious life. I beg you to pray for those who are working to get rid of their student loan debt. Although, I have not been formally accepted to any religious community, I am finding ways to fundraiser such as making rosaries and chaplets. I desire to live a life of poverty so that means no more Starbucks.
The desire to become a sister is great. God willing, I will be visiting the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows next month. I looked at many communities in the past. Most of the communities were not following the Magisterium of the Church or they mentioned that wearing habits are optional. Optional?

Most of the communities accept single, unmarried women under the age of 30 or 35. I will be 34 next month. I can only find a few good active communities in the West Coast...for those who are much older.

But I am hopeful that God will provided for my needs. I am hopeful that God will let me know when to enter. I will wait patiently.

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The Dominican Sisters of Wanganui, New Zealand

In relatively recent news, the Dominican Sisters of Wanganui are pleased to announce that their community continues to expand and that the Lord blesses them with new vocations.  In the above photos, two sisters leave their black veils for white ones as part of their profession ceremony.  We offer our prayers for their continued growth in serving our Lord through prayer and teaching.

Please read their bulletin for news and information on joining their community.  Below is the advice of their Mother Prioress. 

In the meantime we continue to work and pray for Holy Mother Church and eagerly await and pray for a great harvest of vocations to work in the Lord’s vine-yard. My advice to young woman (and men) wondering what to do with their lives: Give your life to God! Give love for love and your reward will be very great in Heaven and your joy on earth a foretaste of what is to come, a joy which can only be experienced by those who are willing to sacrifice it. Come and taste and see how sweet the Lord is!

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Finding a community

Greetings fellow discerners!

I want to share with you my journey of finding a good community.

When I became Catholic in 2004, I thought that all sisters were the same. What I noticed was that I was disturbed by a few of the communities that didn't wear the full habit. Most of the sisters were involved in social justice activities.

Although social justice is very important in the Church, I am not called to this ministry. I believe I am called to educate others in adult faith formation programs. I would also like to teach English as well.

With that in mind, I must say that I receive suggestions of religious communities. However, I wish people would stop giving me suggestions and offer me prayer support. I have a spiritual director who challenges me to live the Gospel daily. He told me that many saints refused to please men. Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila is about having an authentic experience with the Lord provided that one does fall into pride...pleasing others to get attention.

I ask for your prayers that God would change my heart. I realize that sometimes I want attention from others because I am discerning a call. I don't want to please the world. I desire to please God alone.

I will be visiting a community in October. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows in Oregon are traditional and they follow the Magisterium. The superior general, vocation directress, and a postulant will be on a Catholic radio station in Portland. Go to www.kbvm.fm for more details.

Pax et bonum!

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