To Celebrate and Defend Life

Happy Feast of Saint John Bosco! I feel like January could be renamed Salesian Month because of all the Feast Days this month. We had Blessed Louis Variara, a missionary priest in Argentina, Blessed Laura Vicuna, a student in the Sisters' school in Chile, St. Francis de Sales, our namesake and bishop in France during a time when the church was in great need of renewal, Blessed Bronislas Markiewicz a Polish priest who worked with poor and orphaned youth, and St. John Bosco, our Italian founder, father and teacher of youth. Needless to say, we've been doing a lot of reflecting on and celebrating these great Saints from our own community and learning from their example how to strive for holiness in our daily lives.
One opportunity we had this past week was to participate in the March for Life, a peaceful protest on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion in the U.S. We traveled with a group of about 50 including students from our high school, teachers and Sisters. What an incredible witness to see so many young people, over 500,000, fighting for the most helpless, the most vulnerable, the most precious in our society. We began with the Life is Very Good rally in Arlington. Seeing all the seminarians, priests and bishops file in for Mass was really moving, and then looking around at all the religious communities and young people I could truly feel the unity of our Church, standing together for something we believe in. We listened to live music from Steve Angrisano and Matt Maher, heard from a speaker who is a sidewalk counselor at Abortion Clinics in Texas and celebrated a phenomenal Mass with Bishop Paul encouraging the young people to live their faith and defend life each day. Then we headed to the Mall for the March itself. I went on the March twice in college so I sort of knew what to expect, but each year is very unique. This year had a different feel, due to my current status in formation, and our being there with the girls. I had a feeling of being really connected to this group, representing our Community and having a purpose. It started snowing just as we began marching and it infused a sense of calm, peace and hope on our pilgrimage. We ran into a few people we knew, which was pretty incredible given the number of people there, prayed a rosary, and joined in the songs and chants of groups around us. Overall, it was a beautiful gift to be able to join together with so many faithful people who are defending Life!

Spending the day getting to know some of the students better was also a big grace. It was an opportunity outside of our routine and a chance to build rapport, ask questions and learn about one another. These young women are truly amazing and so mature. After discussing with them topics from being open to vocations and fighting against Abortion, we agreed that what we really need to do is educate others about what we believe and encourage them to do the right thing. And how beautiful it is that precisely this education is a huge part of our mission as Salesians.
We have been doing some reading on the Preventive System of Education and in honor of St. John Bosco's feast I want to share a few pieces with you that I find really encouraging for educators today. He had a dream or vision in which two of his former students appeared to him and showed him the state of the past and current students and school. This is the advice shared with him, which he now shares with us:
When a person knows he is loved, he will love in return. Affection can't be shown without a friendly relationship and unless affection is seen there can be no confidence. Confidence sets up an electric current between pupils and educators. Hearts are opened, needs and weaknesses made known. This love enables educators to bear with weariness, annoyance, ingratitude or the troubles, failings and neglect of the students. With this true love only the glory of God and the good of souls will be sought.
Humility is the source of all peace and we must learn to put up with the failings of others since there is no perfection in this world, but only in the next. Put an end to criticism which makes the heart grow cold, and most of all, make every effort to live in the holy grace of God. If we are not at peace with God, we are not at peace with ourselves nor with one another. May you know the true Peace of Christ this blessed day!

... To follow the star

Happy Epiphany Week! I love that we are still relfecting on and unpacking the many lessons the Magi, in their search for/ finding of Jesus, have to offer us this week. Well, I have been trying to follow their example of seeking out Jesus in the events of my life this past month.

I had a wonderful trip home and was able to spend a lot of quality time with my family and catch up with many friends. I was also able to share a little with them about my life here in formation with the Sisters and some of the adventures of living in community, although sometimes they are difficult to comprehend. Many events that would happen in normal daily life are more enjoyable, more novel and just more hilarious in the convent.

Take for example, the fire alarm going off at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. After grabbing our coats, glasses, shoes etc. and running down the stairs, we realized we weren't sure where the meeting spot is for fire alarms. We went out the back door, got locked out, then let back in and joined the rest of the group complete with pajamas, bathrobes, slippers and veils, waiting for the alarm to stop. Then we were greeted by the police and firemen (in full gear) with truck lights flashing trying to figure out the cause. Pretty soon we were recruited by Sister and given a task: buckets, mops, towels ... each returned with her item and we began to clean up the inside "rain" falling from the ceiling in one of the rooms. One of the sprinkler pipes had burst and was leaking, which set off the alarm. Even in this inopportune situation we were able to work together and enjoy each other and I was reminded again of why I love living in community.

I also realized how hard it is to find quiet and time to pray living in the world. In the two weeks on break it was so difficult for me to balance prayer and truly be present to the people around me. As Sister reminded us yesterday in class, you can't live the life of prayer in the same way, when you aren't living in community. I definitely experienced that and longed for it, to refocus and recenter myself on Jesus. One of the most beautiful moments of my vacation was being able to visit the little Adoration Chapel at my parish. It is such a grace to be able to spend some time in front of our Lord and really feel at home.

Every time I read about our founders, St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello, I am amazed by their presence of God and awareness of Him in every aspect of their day. In their relations with others, always raising their conversations to a higher level and redirecting the minds of their companions to Him, in offering their work and really seeing it as a opportunity to give glory to God, in being truly present and faithful to the times set aside for prayer making it a priority to develop and deepen their spiritual life. They give us an example of really living in union with God and seeking him diligently, as the Wise Men did 2,000 years ago. I pray that as this Christmas season draws to a close, we are able to continue trying to find Jesus in the events, conversations and work of each day.