Abbey Enters the Monastery!
“What are you seeking?”
“I am asking you, Mother and Sisters, to permit me to enter community life, to follow Jesus more closely under the mantle of Our Sorrowful Mother.”
Abbey requests Mother John Mary’s permission to formally enter the postulancy
During Evening Prayer on July 9th, the Passionist feast of Our Lady of Holy Hope, Aspirant Abbey officially entered St. Joseph’s monastery! Her joy was infectious, and all the nuns joined in welcoming her to our community as a postulant. We share with you Mother John Mary’s exhortation from the entrance ceremony, as well as some photos from the happy day.
Dear Abbey, on this feast of the Memorial of Our Lady of Holy Hope we joyfully welcome you as you enter the postulancy of St. Joseph Monastery.
Mother John Mary gives an exhortation to the candidate during Evening Prayer
Yours has been a unique aspirancy. As you were leaving the day after the Feast of St. Joseph, March 20, I asked St. Joseph to bring you back quickly. We had no idea how quick it would be! For there you were at midafternoon prayer!
I think St. Joseph had a hand in your entry today. He wanted to give his spouse Mary a gift in honor of her role in the work of redemption that brought hope to the whole world. We commend you to Our Lady of Holy Hope. We know she will be close to you as you begin your postulancy in the monastery dedicated to his name. As you come forward to begin this new stage in the journey of discovering the Father’s plan for your life may our Lady of Holy Hope teach you how to put all your trust in our Father as she did. No matter the trials and heartaches, joys and sufferings, that came to her, she always trusted, always hoped in God’s mercy. May she now help you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, your unfailing ray of hope and consolation.
Exchanging the Sign of Peace with her new Sisters!
May St. Paul of the Cross, Mother Mary Crucified, St. Gemma, your special friend, and all our Passionist saints intercede for you as you enter our community in a fuller way to seek Jesus in His radical love of death for the sake of life and glory and redemption.
Today we also ask our Lord’s abundant and joyful blessings upon your parents Julie and Gene. May they know the overflowing love and joy of God in their hearts and an abundance of hope in their life as they commend you to the Father’s plan for your life.
One happy postulant!
Please keep Abbey in your prayers as she enters more deeply into Passionist life during this year of postulancy — and keep asking the Lord of the Harvest to send more generous young women to join us at the foot of the Cross!