PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH

Photo courtesy of The Catholic Register, by Michael Swan

“Be women of prayer” - Sister Anne Lemire

It was in contemplating Jesus, empty of self in the Incarnation and in the Eucharist, that Father Jean Pierre Médaille was inspired to found, in 1650 France, a congregation of religious women who would respond to the needs of the time.

FROM THE BEGINNING

From the beginning of my life as a Sister of St. Joseph, the injunction of our Novice Mistress, “Be women of prayer!” struck a permanent chord deep within me. In 1965 came the challenge of Vatican II, in The Church in the World. This hope-filled document begins: The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men and women of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.

That reads like a proclamation uttered in 2005, in the midst of a world seemingly bent on destruction! But, to one who has been imbued with the necessity of prayer as a way of life, hope is possible even in the midst of the chaos and violence of our present-day world. The prayer of Mary, Mother of Jesus, is the foundation of my life of prayer. In her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary knows she is loved, and that is all that matters. I am (and you are too) the beloved creature of a faithfully loving Creator. That God is in charge, loves the world more than I ever can and is quite capable of holding the chaos presented to me in the evening news. Therefore, I do not need to feel anxious. I can rely on God and, recognizing myself as small and helpless, can simply “play before God,” delighting God as children at play delight their parents.

WHAT FUELS MY PRAYER

Because God is in charge, even though my heart weeps over the suffering and violence in our world, I can still find it possible to rejoice in the beauty of creation, and in the astonishing goodness of countless numbers of “ordinary people” who live lives of extraordinary goodness:

• Rosa Parks
• Stephen Lewis
• My Sisters who, in their 70's, 80's, 90's, keep on “trucking’”
• My Sisters under 70 who reach out to so many needy persons
• My friends who care for sick/elderly family uncomplainingly
• My refugee friends who work endlessly at low-paying, menial jobs
• The daily newspaper accounts of suffering and of heroism
• The gospel accounts of Jesus Who always responds with love.

WITH WHOM AND FOR WHOM DO I PRAY

I pray with my Sisters, as we daily pray the Prayer of the Church, through which we direct thanksgiving and praise of the entire universe to God. I pray for the many women and men who join us daily for Mass in our Chapel. At both of these times, we lift up to our God of love all who have asked for our prayer, and all referred to in the challenging words of The Church in the World.

PRAYER REQUESTS ON OUR CSJ WEB SITE

Dozens of requests come to us from far and near, from young and old, persons who count on our intercession for every conceivable need - a job, a good marriage, physical/emotional cures, success in exams, financial stability, increase of faith, discernment of vocation in life, etc. These requests are remembered and honoured long after we receive them. SO ...CALL ON US! And remember, too, we count on your prayer for us!

Your prayer requests are always welcome