“Have you ever thought of being a Sister?” I asked. She was 30 something, single; she cared about peace/justice issues, and was active in her parish’s Food Pantry–in fact she told me, her parish ministries were more important to her than her career. She sat quietly for a moment. “I’m not good enough,” she responded hesitantly.” If you were perfect,” I teased, “you wouldn’t fit in a religious community! We Benedictine Sisters are just ordinary people, doing ordinary things, but with extra-ordinary love. Listen with your heart to how God may be calling you. Come and see.” “Thanks,” she said sincerely. “I’ll think about it, and I’ll pray,” she added.
That conversation happened years ago but I am more convinced than ever that our life style as Benedictines has values that our world so needs today.
What are these values alive in us –our charism–that we share with others? I’ll highlight three:
Community: We live a common life together–striving to see Christ in the other, to be Christ, calling forth the best in the other.
Prayer: Eucharist is central to our life together. We pray Liturgy of the Hours together at least 3 times a day. Our private prayer is scriptural. We read and meditate on Scripture daily; this “lectio divina” guides and strengthens our hearts.
Work: Our life is a balance of prayer and work. Our prayer overflows in works of service. We minister to each other and to God’s people. Our Mission and Corporate Commitment Statements say it well:
We, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, have as our purpose to seek God in community
through the monastic way of life and to enable all people in our realm of influence to develop their fullest human and spiritual potential.
We accomplish our mission by sharing our human and material resources and our monastic values of community and liturgical worship through works of mercy, education, hospitality and stewardship. Mission Statement
We, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, commit ourselves and our resources, to respond with the compassion of Christ to the physical, spiritual, emotional, and social hungers of the people of God. Corporate Commitment Statement
Our Community life and prayer are central to the Benedictine life; from them flow our ministries. We are ordinary people doing what we do with extra-ordinary love. What ever we do– spiritual director, social worker, hospitality minister, community prioress or treasurer...we do with Christ’s love and for Christ’s sake as a response to God’s loving call to us. Living together and praying together strengthens our commitment to our call from God.
Have you ever thought about being a Sister? Listen with your heart to how God may be calling you. Come and see. Think about it, and pray.
Check our webpage: http://www.floridabenedictines.com/
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