Wondering how God is calling you? Are you curious about how your job or set of relationships is really a vocation? Do you want some awesome discussions around faith in real-life and more? Think hanging out with Catholic sisters and a fun thoughtful, faith community is cool? Then you are in the right place! Welcome! Explore and be sure to visit with us every weekday at 6 pm CT in our chat room.
A Great Ad for Becoming a Catholic Sister
Sister Maxine and I recently visited the exhibit Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America which is currently at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, Ohio, until August 28 (it then opens at Ellis Island on September 24, 2010. It was FABULOUS!
One of my favorite pieces of the exhibit was this advertisement from Mother M. John Hughes (1831-1897) for the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aberdeen, South Dakota:
We offer you no salary; no recompense; no holidays; no pensions; but much hard work; a poor dwelling; few consolations; many disappointments; frequent sickness; a violent or lonely death.
While other visitors’ responses ranged from amused to shocked, I have to say I was rather edified! In fact, it kind of made me proud to be a Catholic sister! (P.S. Our thanks to Sister Danielle of the Immaculata IHMs for giving us a heads up about this part of the exhibit!)
What does this advertisement say to you? How might a similar ad be phrased for today?
* * *
Join A Nun’s Life Community for prayer today via our live podcast “Praying with the Sisters” and chat room. Just before 6 p.m. Central Time (your time zone) join us at http://aNunsLife.org/LIVE … more info on that page.
Get your nun schwag! -- We've got cool nunly items including this awesome mug at 
{ 6 comments }
Thanks, Sister Julie and Max for this information. And to think I was a part of this great global service! I am humbled and grateful to God that I was called to such life-giving service to further the reign of God on this earth. A few of us are going to Cleveland on Thursday to witness this event ourselves!
Ah, the dear, dear PBVMs! I was given the best education by them (grs. 1-8).
I think this quote sums up religious life to a “T” except it needs some thing at the end: “We offer you no salary; no recompense; no holidays; no pensions; but much hard work; a poor dwelling; few consolations; many disappointments; frequent sickness; a violent or lonely death”–but the spiritual benefits are out of this world!!!
Makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
And, Another Sister Julie, you are so right!
This really made me think pretty much immediately that entering into the Sisterhood is not for the faint of heart.
is that true in the 21st century?
Irina, it’s not exactly the ad we’d put out in the 21st century! However this ad does communicate the sense that even today one follows God’s calling wherever it may lead!