The joy of visitation

Sister Rejane  
This Random Nun Clip is brought to you by A Nun's Life Ministry. I am Sister Rejane Cytacki of A Nun's Life. And my guest today is Sister Violaine Paradis of the Congregation de Notre Dame. Join us for an adventure that explores these questions and more: Can you be an actress and a nun? How is the theatrical embodiment of a character connected to the incarnation of Christ?  May the joy of our conversation resonate in your own life's spiritual journey with Christ. Enjoy! Now tell me more, because you mentioned visitation. Right? And I know that's really important within your congregation, and the spirituality in your charism, that moment when Mary and Elizabeth come together. Can you talk more about what that means?

Sister Violaine  
Yes, of course! It's our spirituality, visitation. We say, Mary in her visitation and in Pentecost, as well -- Mary among the apostles as well. But the visitation is to be with, go forward, and be with. It's mutuality, it's learning from different generations, it's being visited by God, but being visitation ourselves for others, of his visitation for our world. And it's about life. Visitation is about life, because it's the life in Mary, the life of Jesus in Mary, the life of John the Baptist in Elizabeth. Yes, I am in communion with others and what she or he is living. In visitation it's two women, but I can see it with men as well. What is life? What is the living in that moment and how can I be attentive to this life? And being attentive to how the other is listening or visiting me and what I am. We are in very great joy because it's the theme of the World Youth Day this year.

Sister Rejane  
Oh, that's right!

Sister Violaine  
Going in haste, right? Mary arose and went in haste. So it's about going to others and to be witnesses of what they are living, even though you don't know yet, but you're going because you feel a call to. Marguerite Bourgeoys, our foundress, wanted that for us: to be as Mary in her visitation for others. To be part of that, listening to the needs of our world, and our church and our people, and be in a hurry to go and be with them, or feel the connection, communion with them, and as well with nature because how do I go in haste and doing my best to serve? Serve God, but as well, take care of the Earth?

Sister Rejane  
That is so beautiful. And that's also incarnational.

Sister Violaine  
Yeah, yes.

Sister Rejane  
I mean, it's just a complex, rich mystery of our faith. And I love it, because that idea of being with and accompanying is a different posture of being open to the other. And it's a mutuality, like you said, sharing, so that you're not coming into a different culture or a different person and saying, "I've got the answers. And this is why I'm here." I think our church has so often taken that different stance of imposing on top of you, instead of coming to meet and together, standing equally, to learn. And because you're right, I mean, Mary being young, Elizabeth being old, yet they still had much to give to each other in that.

Sister Violaine  
Oh, yes.

Sister Rejane  
Just thinking, I'm like, that's just a beautiful place.

Sister Violaine  
I think, for our time, we need that.  

Sister Rejane  
We all need that posture. Yeah. Well, and how much joy came out of that, too?

Sister Violaine  
Yes.

Sister Rejane  
When they met, and you just you can't help reading that that scripture with the joy when Elizabeth -- and John leapt in her womb? And she's just like, oh, my gosh! And that's what it should be. You shouldn't be dreading going to meet someone who's different than you. Be open and adventuresome and welcoming and, and usually joy does happen because it's Spirit-led. To hear full episodes of A Nun's Life podcasts, visit the podcast page at anunslife.org/podcasts.

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.