Sisters Of Life

[inperpetuity]

[size=6][sub]When I visited them years ago, they were doing an experiment with a few sisters who began to live a strictly contemplative life. Does anyone know if they still have the contemplative community?[/sub][/size]

[ToJesusMyHeart]

On the Come and See a few weeks ago, they said nothing about a strictly contemplative group, but then again, nobody asked.

That would be very interesting. I think it's a neat idea, but I wonder how it would work since it's nowhere in their Constitutions (which I read).

[inperpetuity]

I thought the plan was to have a separate set of constitutions that would govern the contemplative sisters, but I don't really remember. If they are still in existence then perhaps postulants would be required to enter the active sisters similiar to the FI first, and then discern the contemplative vocation after initial formation. If you are in touch with them TJMH, maybe you can ask them about it next time, just curious.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='inperpetuity' timestamp='1353863162' post='2516329']
[size=6][sub]When I visited them years ago, they were doing an experiment with a few sisters who began to live a strictly contemplative life. Does anyone know if they still have the contemplative community?[/sub][/size]
[/quote]

Wow, that would be very interesting. The pro-life movement needs all the prayerful support they can get!

[Chiquitunga]

that sounds similar to what the Servidoras have [url="http://www.ssvmusa.org/Convents/St.EdithStein.shtm"]http://www.ssvmusa.o...EdithStein.shtm[/url]

[ToJesusMyHeart]

[quote name='inperpetuity' timestamp='1353871082' post='2516350']
I thought the plan was to have a separate set of constitutions that would govern the contemplative sisters, but I don't really remember. If they are still in existence then perhaps postulants would be required to enter the active sisters similiar to the FI first, and then discern the contemplative vocation after initial formation. If you are in touch with them TJMH, maybe you can ask them about it next time, just curious.
[/quote]

I called them yesterday and got the answering machine, so I left a message for Sr. A to call me back.

I will ask her!!!

[ToJesusMyHeart]

Update! I spoke with Sr. A awhile ago and asked her about this contemplative community. 

 

She said that is was a LONG time ago, before she herself even joined the community (and she just made her perpetuals), and they did a brief trial run of having contemplative sisters, and they found it was too difficult to have both contemplatives and actives living together, and they didn't have an option of putting the contemplatives in another convent (they lacked the resources), and so they discontinued the project. 

 

It would be cool though, in the future, if them or another pro-life group had a contemplative branch like the SSVM have. :)

Edited December 24, 2012 by ToJesusMyHeart

[DiscerningCatholic]

I originally thought they were of Dominican origin, Kateri, but since have learned that they follow the Rule of St Augustine.

 

So do all Dominicans orders...

Edited December 24, 2012 by DiscerningCatholic

[Kateri89]

So do all Dominicans orders...

 

So there isn't a Rule of St. Dominic?  :think:

[ToJesusMyHeart]

Nope!

 

St. Dominic did not find it easy to get formal approval for his preaching order; it contained too many innovations for sanction to be granted hastily; moreover, the Fourth Lateran Council had already voted against the multiplication of religious orders. It is said that Pope Innocent had decided to withhold his consent from giving Dominic permission to found his Order, but on the next night dreamed he saw the Lateran Church tottering as if on the verge of collapse; Dominic stepped forward to support it. That dream led the Pope to finally give oral approval to St. Dominic's plan, telling him to return to his brothers and select one of the Rules already approved.

 

The little company which met at Prouille, after some discussion, chose the Rule of St. Augustine, the oldest and least detailed of the existing rules, which had been written for priests by a priest who was himself an eminent preacher. St. Dominic added certain special provisions, some borrowed from the more austere order of Premontre.

 

The rule of Augustine is so basic and simple a Rule about living together in peace and mutual respect in a religious community dedicated to a committed Christian life and service, that the orders which adopted it could supplement and adapt it with their own constitutions. That fact allowed St. Dominic to give the Order a set of Constitutions strikingly different from those of other orders then recently founded. The Constitutions were thoroughly revised in the period 1960-68, but preserving the emphases of St. Dominic as they need to appear today, when the Order is much smaller in many areas than it was in the Middle Ages.

Edited December 24, 2012 by ToJesusMyHeart

[Gabriela]

So there isn't a Rule of St. Dominic?  :think:

 

I asked the same question a few weeks ago. I was totally confused. :-D

[emmaberry101]

So do all Dominicans orders...

 

Thanks for correcting me, DC (or should I say Dominican Extraordinaire? :P)

[TheLordsSouljah]

Does anyone know if the Sisters of Life are considered a Dominican order? They wear the beautiful Dominican style habit, albeit in blue and white instead of black and white but in all the time I've been discerning with them and researching the history of their order, I don't ever recall reading anything about them being Dominican. They were assisted by the Nashville Dominicans along with other orders when the community was being formed but that's the extent of what I've read. I was just curious. I seem to have an affinity for Dominican orders :)

 

To the extent of my knowledge, when the original eight respondents to the call of Cardinal O'Connor began the new order, they began with the Nashville Dominicans so as to start their journey as religious. As (I'm pretty sure) they were all lay women before starting, they needed help getting on their feet. For this reason (not to mention their Dominican-style habits!) they are often affiliated with them. However, they are a completely separate order now and their charism and works are very unique. 

Thanks for starting this post!! Love the Sisters of Life! Hope to join them after College. :dance5:

Pax

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

The government St. Dominic and the early friars chose for the Order is such that the constitutions are always open to being revised in order to better live the mission of preaching. So, the constitutions of the friars have NEVER been approved by the Holy See. There is a fundamental constitution that stays and a rather complex process if something needs to be changed in the ordinary constitutions. The friars may also propose changes to the Nuns' constitutions but this has to receive the approval of the Master AND the Nuns and now, since 1917, the Holy See. Unfortunately, with the new code of canon law in 1917 the Nuns lost our process where our constitutions could be tweaked as needed and now it requires the approval of the Holy See which makes it rather involved and complicated. We have something called "ordinations" which the Master gives the nuns and these are lived sort of on a trial basis and then they would be made part of the constitutions but it doesn't happen as easily as it used to.

 

It's not that the constitutions are constantly in a state of flux but the government of the Order is very much tied into our spirituality. General Chapters are a big deal. We were the first Order to have a General Chapter. The Master just convoked the 2013 Chapter which will be held in Croatia!

 

It sounds all very dry but in practice it is has an amazing effect on our life. Our constitutions are very much a part of our everyday life, not so much as "rules" but as the way we strive to live the Gospel.

 

Merry Christmas!

[ToJesusMyHeart]

To the extent of my knowledge, when the original eight respondents to the call of Cardinal O'Connor began the new order, they began with the Nashville Dominicans so as to start their journey as religious. As (I'm pretty sure) they were all lay women before starting, they needed help getting on their feet. For this reason (not to mention their Dominican-style habits!) they are often affiliated with them. However, they are a completely separate order now and their charism and works are very unique. 

This is correct. 

 

"Throughout the first years of Formation, the new community was greatly assisted by the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, who provided our postulancy residence and first directors. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma provided our first novice director, Sr. (now Mother) Assumpta Long, O.P., and assistant novice director, Sr. Yvonne Mary Loucks, RSM. They remained with us for one year before Mother Agnes Mary was missioned as Superior General on August 22, 1993. The Little Sisters of the Poor and the Hawthorne Dominicans granted us the privilege of working in their apostolates before we had our own."

 

http://www.sistersoflife.org/about-the-sisters-of-life/history

 

Thanks for starting this post!! Love the Sisters of Life! Hope to join them after College. :dance5:

Pax

Wonderful to hear! What year are you in for school? Have you attended a Come and See with them yet? (I'm also discerning with them)

Edited December 26, 2012 by ToJesusMyHeart

[Rosa immaculata]

Update! I spoke with Sr. A awhile ago and asked her about this contemplative community. 

 

She said that is was a LONG time ago, before she herself even joined the community (and she just made her perpetuals), and they did a brief trial run of having contemplative sisters, and they found it was too difficult to have both contemplatives and actives living together, and they didn't have an option of putting the contemplatives in another convent (they lacked the resources), and so they discontinued the project. 

 

It would be cool though, in the future, if them or another pro-life group had a contemplative branch like the SSVM have. :)

 

Ave Maria!

 

It would be so marvellous that these sisters have a contemplative community: pray for the Life in the cloister, ah, so beautiful; it would be indeed the same concept as the Servidoras and the FSI (always the FSI, aha): the contemplative communities are created to pray for the missions of the apostolic branch of their order, and of course for the Pope, the Chruch and the entire world!! If someone is attracted by a contemplatve life within the Sisters of Life, don't hesitate to say it to the sisters! They will (or already are) be aware of that particularity necessity for certain souls and for their mission, and surely in the future, this creation will happen:). It is a so marvellous order...

 

Prayers for this project to be achieved one day!

[TheLordsSouljah]

This is correct. 

 

"Throughout the first years of Formation, the new community was greatly assisted by the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, who provided our postulancy residence and first directors. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma provided our first novice director, Sr. (now Mother) Assumpta Long, O.P., and assistant novice director, Sr. Yvonne Mary Loucks, RSM. They remained with us for one year before Mother Agnes Mary was missioned as Superior General on August 22, 1993. The Little Sisters of the Poor and the Hawthorne Dominicans granted us the privilege of working in their apostolates before we had our own."

 

http://www.sistersoflife.org/about-the-sisters-of-life/history

 

Wonderful to hear! What year are you in for school? Have you attended a Come and See with them yet? (I'm also discerning with them)

 

That's so good!! I have just finished first year, with two years left to go in my BA degree. No, unfortunately I haven't been to a Come and See yet (I am from Sydney in Aus.... but I will be going to see them in June next year - can't wait! I saw some of them a few weeks ago when they came to Sydney for a conference, and met with Sr Antoniana, so she is aware of my vocation. How far are you along your discernment process?

[nikita92]

Rosa- you are talking just contemplative and not cloistered correct? Thanks

[ToJesusMyHeart]

That's so good!! I have just finished first year, with two years left to go in my BA degree. No, unfortunately I haven't been to a Come and See yet (I am from Sydney in Aus.... but I will be going to see them in June next year - can't wait! I saw some of them a few weeks ago when they came to Sydney for a conference, and met with Sr Antoniana, so she is aware of my vocation. How far are you along your discernment process?

 

Yay June! So exciting. :) 

 

When I was on Come and See, there was a girl from Australia there. She was in her later twenties. They have a postulant from New Zealand, if I remember correctly. Now whenever I read your posts on here I will read them in an Australian accent. ;) 

 

I'm just moving along slowly but steadily in the process with them. I hope to make my live-in retreat with them this summer, and if all is still going well, I may apply for entrance next year. I graduate college in May 2014, so I have to pace my discernment with my education. I can't really rush it. I do feel a strong attraction to them, but I'm going to be visiting a few other communities soon if the Lord permits it. 

[TheLordsSouljah]

Yay June! So exciting. :)

 

When I was on Come and See, there was a girl from Australia there. She was in her later twenties. They have a postulant from New Zealand, if I remember correctly. Now whenever I read your posts on here I will read them in an Australian accent. ;)

 

I'm just moving along slowly but steadily in the process with them. I hope to make my live-in retreat with them this summer, and if all is still going well, I may apply for entrance next year. I graduate college in May 2014, so I have to pace my discernment with my education. I can't really rush it. I do feel a strong attraction to them, but I'm going to be visiting a few other communities soon if the Lord permits it. 

 

Ahh, I know, right?? I just WISH WISH WISH we had them in Australia.... we need them so badly... we currently have in Victoria one of the harshest abortion laws IN THE WORLD, so we need to step up the pro-life support game. I figured the Lord placed me here for a reason, so perhaps I may live someday a lot less than sixteen-thousand kilometres from home. He might even use me for it! One never knows. He has the most unexpected plans and the biggest sense of humour.... honestly....!!!! I'm just like, 'God, take me on an adventure!!' Hehe, not sure if that was the wisest thing to pray... He probably will... :wacko:

 

Well, who knows! If lots of things fall into place, I graduate in December 2014, and will probably enter in September 2015, God willing. May His beautiful love guide you in your discernment. We may just be sisters one day!!

Be not afraid!!! I'm so happy for you! :)