The Gracious Love of God
Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of the great saint, Pope John Paul II, whose love and fatherhood reverberates throughout the world. His Apostolic Exhortation on the Consecrated Life (Vita Consecrata/VC) was and is a gift for those who are opening their hearts to the possibility of a call to religious life.
An excerpt from VC, n.17
“This is the meaning of the call to the consecrated life: it is an initiative coming wholly from the Father (cf. Jn. 15:16) who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion. The experience of this gracious love of God is so deep and so powerful that the person called senses the need to respond by unconditionally dedicating his or her life to God, consecrating to him all things present and future, and placing them in his hands.”
Coming “wholly from the Father” whose gracious love, so deep and powerful, draws the heart of a woman called to consecration to respond, offering fully all that she is and has and will ever be.
Pope St. John Paul II was profoundly influenced by the writings of St. John of the Cross, even requesting several times for permission to leave seminary and enter Carmel, which thankfully, was never granted!
This excerpt from John of the Cross reveals the heart of the Father toward His Son and towards us:
“My Son, I wish to give you a bride who will love you. Because of you she will deserve to share our company, and eat at our table, the same bread I eat, that she may know the good I have in such a Son; and rejoice with me in your grace and fullness.”
“I am very grateful,” the Son answered; “I will show my brightness to the bride you give me, so that by it she may see how great my Father is, and how I have received my being from your being. I will hold her in my arms and she will burn with your love, and with eternal delight she will exalt your goodness.”
In prayer, intentionally place yourself within the loving, safe gaze of the Father who made you and loves you. Say to Him, “Father, you are good and you made me good. I want to know you more and I want to receive your love for me. Your plan for my life is perfect. Please reveal the desires of my heart to me, that I may follow you wherever you lead.”
Be assured of our prayers, in Christ, our Life,
Sr. Bethany, Sr. Faustina, and Sr. Ann
