"I Wonder What He Sees…"

A Reflection on the Sisters of Life Solemn Profession of Vows

[On Tuesday, August 6th in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, 10 women professed their Perpetual Vows as Sisters of Life. The following is a brief reflection about the day.]

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I wonder what he sees…

As he gazes down from Heaven, outside space and time

Away from the struggles and challenges of this earthly life

I wonder what he sees

Maybe Mother Agnes, the foundress of the Order

The one who piloted the fledging Order as it navigated the triumphs and tragedies of the first 30+ years

Defending, protecting, and standing for the sanctity and dignity of all life

Or maybe the sea of flowing white veils that fill the Cathedral pews, with tear-streaked faces filled with joy…

Or maybe it's what he hears.

The chorus of angelic voices that fill the cavernous space with its towering ceilings and soaring spires

Or maybe it's the symphony of tiny voices of the infants and children that echo off its hallowed walls.

Perhaps he sees the proud eyes of the parents, friends, and siblings of those Called as they sit in witness of this incredibly Grace-filled day…

But whatever he sees, there's no doubt he looks down with a grateful soul at 10 young women, many born long since his passing, who, through years of discernment and with trusting hearts, now receive the singular Grace of becoming betrothed to the Bridegroom.

Each, answering as the Mother other the Saviour did,

Humbly

And accepting His Holy Will.

I wonder if that's what he sees.

Perhaps we'll never know…

But one thing's for sure.

A moment of profound Grace

A sign of abiding virtue

And a torrent of Divine Love washed over the heart and soul of New York City today.

All because of Christ's unrelenting Love.

A Love made manifest through the vision of one man

John Cardinal O'Connor, whose vision inspired the founding of the Sisters of Life

Today, I would imagine he gazes down with love upon all those gathered as the 10 Sisters make their solemn profession of vows as they look with love to the Father

And looking down, seeing a Church Alive

A Church filled with Faith

With Joy

And with persevering Hope

And as he looks down from Heaven…

I hope that's what he sees.

John Cardinal O’Connor. I’m not sure if they’ve opened the cause for his Canonization, but both the Sisters of Life and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were founded under his watch in New York City. Pretty miraculous if you ask me!

In a City that’s culturally lost, the Church is alive! “Where sin abounds, Grace abounds all the more…”

The Sisters professing their Perpetual Vows lie prostrate in the Sanctuary as a sign of their death to self and total surrender to Christ the Bridegroom

Each Sister professes her vows to Mother Mary Concepta, S.V, the Superior General of the Sisters of Life.

Then, they each receive a ring as a symbol of their belonging completely to Jesus Christ.

Following the profession, the Liturgy of the Eucharist is Celebrated, and Christ Himself is made manifest through Archbishop Caccia acting in persona Christi.

And joyfully processing after professing, the Sisters make their way to celebrate the great gift they and the Church have received!

Meet the Sisters!

But wait!

There’s one more…

[The day after I posted the previous piece, I took the time to go through all the pictures…and one gave me pause. This is about that.]

All that matters – Sisters of Life Solemn Profession of Vows 2.0

I saw something.

Covering events like the Solemn Profession of the Sisters of Life, Ordinations, Eucharistic Pilgrimages, and all manner of Sacraments is always entirely too much to process in the moment.

While worrying about getting a decent shot, which lens to use…and my aching back, so much passes that I don’t see at the time.

Until I look at the photographs.

And today, as I sorted through the thousands of photos from yesterday’s Solemn Profession, one photograph stopped me in my tracks.

It stopped me because it was a moment that said it all.

It said “Yes!’

It said, “I love You!”

It said, “I’m Yours, and You’re mine.”

It said it all.

It said what we should all say each time we receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Today, in my tiny, un-air-conditioned office, surrounded by piles of disheveled papers, I saw once again all that matters…

all that ever mattered.

Love reflected.

Jesus Christ.

And a young woman, who’s His, and He that is hers

A young woman who lives this reality

Heart and Soul.

And leaves an example for us all.

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You can watch the live stream of the Sisters of Life Profession of Perpetual Vows HERE!

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