On Wednesday we broadcast our first live podcast here at A Nun’s Life. You’ll notice a new widget on our sidebar which is an audio player for our live podcasts and past episodes. Be sure to listen to our first podcast Lying Awake Book Discussion 08-12-09.

Sister Maxine and I are in the process of creating regular podcasts–both live and pre-recorded–for the A Nun’s Life community. We’ll be exploring topics similar to what we are doing on the blog while at the same time taking full advantage of the benefits of an audio format.

We have two live podcasts already scheduled. Today at noon CST (time zone converter) we will pray The Angelus live with you. Join us for a 15-minute sacred pause at midday.

On Tuesday at 1 p.m. CST (time zone converter) next week we will be interviewing Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, Executive Director of the National Religious Vocation Conference, and Patrice Tuohy, Executive Editor of VISION Vocation Guide. They’ll join us to discuss the newly released study on Catholic Vocations and Religious Life. This is a very important study and I encourage you to click on the link to read through the executive summary and other related resources. We’d like you to join us by listening and also submitting your questions using the comment box below or during the live broadcast there will be a chat box that you can use to ask questions.

For an email reminder for the Tuesday podcast, please leave a comment below with your correct email or email us (NOTE: your email address is never made public). We’ll give you more details this weekend about the survey and the Tuesday podcast.

Yesterday I spent the day in Monroe, Michigan, at my IHM Motherhouse. I am a member of committee that is responsible for engaging the IHM community in a process of prayer and reflection on religious life and our IHM charism. It is one of the most engaging experiences I’ve had the privilege to be involved in.

While at the meeting yesterday, we talked about many things — how the process was going, what our next steps are, etc. The meeting continued throughout the morning. Then, while we were in the midst of discussion on some topic or another, the Motherhouse bell rang. It was noon, and the bell signaled the praying of the Angelus. Our discussion stilled and gave way to silence. Then we began to pray together the Angelus.

I can’t tell you how meaningful that was. It symbolized so much to me … our apostolic work combined with contemplation; our identity as Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters; our shared life of prayer, community, and mission; our own “yes” to the work of the Holy Spirit alive in us, in our IHM community, and in our world.

At noon today I invite you to pray the Angelus with me and with my IHM Sisters. Here are the words to the Angelus.

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace …

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, full of grace …

And the Word was made Flesh.
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace …

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.