The Joy of the Gospel Life

 
Our life has been described as counter-cultural.  Nothing could be more true to the vision of St. Francis of Assisi and his first spiritual daughter, St. Clare.  Instead of aiming at self-fulfillment, advancement and recognition, one finds out very quickly that in choosing to lead a life ‘hidden with Christ in God’ the measurements are not made according to the standards of modern society.   In our technological era of instant communication, we give witness to the fact that the spiritual life has no ready-made recipe, but is the work of countless years of perseverance.  And perhaps it sounds ridiculous for us to declare that the enclosure is cherished as a positive means to our goal of eternal life with God; that our Sisters, chosen for us by God Himself, are our dearly loved family; and although God has invited us to remain in the same place with the same companions, doing the same things daily, there is no day like any other to create a boring monotony!  These are just some of the paradoxes that characterize our Poor Clare vocation.   

Yes, our life is a challenge, but it is the challenge to love Eternal Love Who is not loved.  That is why our chief service to Mother Church is the prayer of the Liturgy—the Mass and the Divine Office.  It can seem that our rising at midnight and our day which revolves around prayer, work and silence are unimportant, for we seldom see any results of our apostolate for souls.  But seen with the eyes of faith, our life is a powerful a means of obtaining grace for the world of souls.   

We weren’t too many days in the monastery before we learned that the hands which hold a breviary would also have to hold a broom, a garden trowel, or pour batter for the altar breads.  And all the work was accomplished with a minimum of talking in order to preserve the silence and recollection of each Sister.  For we are poor and the poor must work; but we also trust in Divine Providence which has never been confounded.  Because of the freedom this affords us we are also happy, and ready to rejoice in the Lord. 

What effect has this total of night vigils, fast and abstinence, silence and prayer, work and penance had on us?  It is the fulfillment of our dream to be with God, which is the joy of our hearts; to be joined to the suffering Christ in love and to share in the apostolate of reparation and mediation for our brothers and sisters all over the world.  Through various paths, each of us Poor Clares found the culmination of our call to follow Christ in the desire to become a cloistered contemplative religious.  When we look back over the romance the Holy Spirit staged with us through his inspirations and constant nudgings, we realize that each vocation is a mystery, an invitation from God.  With the psalmist we must say, “Lord, it is you who have accomplished all we have done.” 

As Christians our joy has been found.  It is the fruit of searching, of seeking—sometimes with suffering—of deepening, of development. With the Blessed Mother we can truly say, “My spirit finds joy in God my Savior.”  What the world doesn’t understand is the secret St. Francis learned early in his conversion—the joy of the Gospel isn’t a “something,” but a Someone!  Yes, the world is waiting for joy.  Do we share Him?  Do we show the way to Him for others?  Let us ask St. Francis to intercede for us to rejoice in the Lord always, and that we in turn might make known that joy to the world!