The lovely spring weather has brought both Novices ( and Canadian geese!) onto our monastic grounds to rejoice in the beauty of God’s creation.
An evening recreation outside reveals the splendors of nature even in Brooklyn, New York!
We thank our weekend vocational discerner for these photos! She too enjoyed Brooklyn beauty.
A group of the faithful from the Diocese of Brooklyn attended the recent canonizations of St. John the 23rd and St. John Paul 11.
Can you spot the Visitandine among them?
“My Life… Must Be A Perfect Copy of that of St. Francis de Sales”
Two new Saints on Divine Mercy Sunday! The Church prepares for the canonization of St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II. As Visitation Sisters, we recognize the work of our founder, St. Francis de Sales present in the spiritual lives of these two popes!
As a seminarian, John XXIII chose St. Francis as his patron saint, and strove to model his life after him. He wrote in his autobiography “Journal of a Soul” on St. Francis de Sales’ feast day, January 29, 1903:
“Today was a perfect feast; I spent it in the company of St Francis de Sales, my gentlest of saints. What a magnificent figure of a man, priest and Bishop! If I were like him, I would not mind even if they were to make me Pope! I love to let my thoughts dwell on him,on his goodness and on his teaching. I have read his life so many times! His counsels are so acceptable to my heart. By the light of his example I feel more inclined to humility, gentleness and calm. My life, so the Lord tells me, must be a perfect copy of that of St Francis de Sales if I wish to bear good fruits.”
During his pontificate, John Paul II also praised this saint.
“Doctor of love, Saint Francis de Sales has unceasingly emphasized the lively source of the covenant of God with man: God loves us, God accompanies us at each stage of life, with a patient and faithful love; God puts in us His desire for what is good; an attraction towards what is beautiful and good.
“…Francis de Sales was tireless in showing his brothers and sisters the patience and tenderness of God ready to pardon, to save. He does not cease to transmit the Good News of the Annunciation: the Son of the Most High born of Mary comes to be united to humanity. In a distraught world, the presence of Jesus reopens the ‘wounds of love’, cures distressed hearts, offers a covenant of pardon and of renewal.”
The Triduum of Holy Days, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil Mass at Brooklyn Visitation Monastery will be celebrated by a Redemptorist Father in our Sacred Heart Chapel.
Holy Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 7:30 PM
Good Friday April 18, 2014 at 3:00PM
Holy Saturday April 19, 2014 at 7:30PM
Easter Sunday Mass will be at 9:00AM
Monastic life, monastic environment, monastic prayer, monastic horarium, monastic music, monastic architecture all nourish the spiritual life of the soul, layered as abundantly as creation’s mountains and valleys, alternating with light and darkness, the sun and the moon.
Monastic life at its best is steady with routine and pierced by surprises, filled with the Presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament under the monastic roof.
Visitandine monastic life is symbolized by the violet. Gentleness pervades every movement, humility stills the heart.
Engrossing flames of the purest love of Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart engulfs the Sisters’ Hearts and from there spill over the monastic walls to touch the hearts of all.
The unique chant of the Vistandine’s Liturgy of the Hours are a soft thrill to ear and soul, and invisibly the words pour forth TRUTH and vibrate goodness, overcoming evil.
Private prayer unites the Visitandine with Christ in a delicate union and the Spiritual Directory makes each moment of the day, each exterior and interior action, cushioned in a specific prayer and disposition.
Safely ensconced in the Heart of the Lord, the Visitandine may face any storm of life, any tragedy, any loss with peace.
Monastic Beauty combines a life style with an environment soaked in the goodness, truth and justice of God Himself.
For an example of a full monastic , Visitandine day, we reference these posts:
http://brooklynvisitationmonastery.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-brooklyn-visitation-nun/
http://brooklynvisitationmonastery.org/a-day-in-the-life-a-visitation-sisters-morning-work/
http://brooklynvisitationmonastery.org/a-day-in-the-life-a-visitation-sisters-afternoon/
http://brooklynvisitationmonastery.org/a-day-in-the-life-a-visitation-sisters-evening-and-night/
Mary’s “Yes” to her Vocation can Inspire us to Reply “Yes” to Ours
As we focus on our own vocations in life, let us remember the simple woman who responded perfectly to God’s call for her life! In fact, many parallels can be made between Mary’s calling and our own callings from God. In his homily given on the feast of the Annunciation, 1621, St. Francis de Sales preached on religious life:
“The dedication which young ladies make of their hearts to the Divine Majesty they would never have had the desire to make if the Sovereign Spouse of their souls had not drawn them and assisted them with His grace.”
Comparing religious life to Our Lady’s vocation, St Francis says she was alone in her room when the Angel came to greet her and bring her the news of the Incarnation to take place within her. Likewise,
“What do religious do but remain in their cells and enjoy conversation with their Spouse.They retire into the depths of their hearts where they live in solitude”
Let us draw courage from Mary’s “Fiat”, to make our own “yes” to God’s will. Please read our article, “The Call at the Annunciation.”
For reflection:
Come to our Living Jesus Chat Room, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time U.S. this Sunday. Sign up here and get your own username, or just come on Sunday and sign in as a guest.
V+J
This Lenten week of March brings us TWO jubilees of our Sisters to celebrate!
Sister Mary Antonia has been Professed 57 years
and Sister Mary Cecilia has been professed 10 years.
May the Lord, the Spouse of their hearts and souls, enfold them in the warmth of His Sacred Heart.
Refresh your soul before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, adore Him in the Monstrance, praise the Father in the Divine Office, petition Our Lady during the Rosary.
Make the Stations of the Cross in choir, Chapel or outdoors in the cloistered gardens.
Join the Sisters for meals and prayer.
Whether you are a married woman, single, a college student, working mom or Senior Citizen, you are welcome to a monastic Lenten retreat at the Brooklyn Visitation Monastery.
View our Retreat Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOxKkvoCWVI
Call 718 745 5151 to make a reservation. For First-time retreatants, a letter of reference is required for an overnight stay.
The Vocation Discernment Program is active and vibrant in our Monastery!
Just completing a 6 day visit was a young woman from Scotland. Upcoming retreats include two women from Queens, NY and a hopeful entrant next October from Kentucky.
Some inquirers from Connecticut and Florida have begun a more remote discernment journey with us.Our Brooklyn Monastery seems to be attracting women from many geographical areas.
Most central to our life is our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His blazing Love captures hearts!
The Joy of the Visitation Overflows in Our Lives
March 8 -14th is the newly designated National Catholic Sisters Week!
The purpose of this week is to increase awareness for religious Sisters:
“National Catholic Sisters Week is launching the second week of March as part of National Women’s History Month. It is intended to shine a national spotlight on the good works and good will of Catholic sisters. It recognizes past and present sisters, from the movers and shakers pressing the front lines of social change to the faithful praying in cloistered chapels.”
All religious orders find joy in living as brides of Christ, but as Visitation Sisters, joy is especially important to our order! The very story of the Visitation is one where John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth welcomes Mary in joy, and in joy Mary sings her “Magnificat” of praise to God, her savior.
Please read our article, “Sisters Share the JOY of a Visitation Vocation”.
For reflection: