The big event of this past week was my trip to the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Elysburg, PA for the Reception of the Holy Habit by my best friend, who is now called Sr. Mary Magdalene of the Divine Heart!
This now occupies a permanent place in my wallet
I arrived at Carmel about 45 minutes early, which gave me time to socialize a little with the Dale family and to pray Lauds quietly in the chapel while the sisters chanted the Divine Office from behind the cloister grilles. Then at 8 AM the clothing ceremony began. All the sisters processed into their side of the chapel, and Sr. Channing came and took her place kneeling at the communion window before the priest. How can I describe what I felt when I heard her voice for the first time in months? It was like a fire of devotion being stoked high in my heart! There followed about a 40 minute ceremony consisting of prayers (mostly in Latin) and a blessing of the various parts of the habit, veil, cincture, and mantle, with which she was vested, as well as the bestowal of her new name as a religious. At the end, a crown of roses was placed on her head and she (according to the guide, as all this took place behind the curtained grille) prostrated herself in the middle of the floor while her sisters sang Veni Creator Spiritus. After about a five minute pause, the Holy Mass, offered in the Extraordinary Form, began.
Afterwards there were refreshments in the public part of the monastery and Sr. Mary Magdalene was present along the Mother Prioress and another sister in the speak room to greet well-wishers. I had thought that I would only have a moment or two to visit, but happily she was allowed to stay and visit for at least a half hour (naturally, her family was granted much more time, and in private). We were able to catch up, I was able to tell her about my visit with the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Wisconsin, and mostly I was just able to bask in the effulgence of my dear sister’s happiness and joy. She looked utterly radiant in the Holy Habit of Carmel, and my heart was caught up with thanksgiving to Jesus who has blessed and favored her so abundantly. Glory be to God!
Even the Infant of Prague was decked out in Carmelite fashion!
With the reception of the Holy Habit, Sr. Mary Magdalene of the Divine Heart is a novice and an official nun. In a year’s time, God willing, she will make her First Profession of Vows, and I pray fervently that I will be able to be present on that day as well.
One last note on that subject: last year (2013) Sr. Mary Magdalene used Jen Fulwiler’s Saint Name Generator to receive a patron saint for that year, and she received St. Brigid of Ireland. The day in 2014 on which she received the habit and became a nun just happened to fall on…the feast of St. Brigid of Ireland.
Last Sunday was the World Day of Consecrated Life, and I thought that this image from the Franciscan Sisters, T.O.R. Facebook page was a perfect summation of the beauty of the consecrated vocation.
Pray for the grace of good vocations.
Apparently the United Nations has seen fit to dictate to the Holy See on what Catholics ought to and ought not to believe regarding abortion, contraception, and gender ideology (never mind the fact that they totally ignored the extraordinary progress the Catholic Church has made in implementing world-class standards and practices for protecting children against sexual predation).
Billy Newton has a typically excellent piece over on at Blog of the Courtier touching on this and asking, “Is the media honeymoon nearly over for Pope Francis?” I’m not sure that this will be the tipping point, but it will come eventually. There is no doubt about that.
Winter Olympics! I don’t know about you, but I love the Winter games even more than the Summer ones. I am especially looking forward to the ice hockey, figure skating, and snowboarding events. Go Team USA!
Tomorrow* is the Memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, who is not only an excellent example of how even the worst circumstances can serve to draw us to Christ, but also of the virtue of Christian mercy and forgiveness. Once asked what she would do if she were to meet those who abducted and enslaved her as a young child, she said that she would kiss their hands, because were it not for that, she would never have known Jesus.
If you have not seen the film Bakhita, I recommend it. A tad melodramatic at times, but well-worth viewing and reflecting upon.
And hey, go follow Sr. Lisa Marie Doty on Twitter (@Sr_Lisa)! She’s awesome and, like St. Josephine Bakhita, is a Canossian sister!
*Original post said today, which is actually the memorial of Pope Bl. Pius IX. Mea culpa…
The Sum of Perfection by St. John of the Cross
Forgetfulness of created things,
remembrance of the Creator,
attention turned towards inward things,
and loving the Beloved.
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