Sanctity is Within the Reach of All…

Dear Family, Friends, and Benefactors,

Pax et Bonum!  We pray you are all well and in the peace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our community life here in Burlington continues on peacefully and quietly, as we are at long last able to follow the daily horarium of a Capuchin Sister. We have frequently been asked if life according to a schedule, day in and day out, is monotonous and…well…boring?  We laugh heartily at this idea, as we count ourselves among the most blessed in this world to have all of our daily acts blessed by the virtue and act of religious obedience. With each sound of the bell, we hear the voice of our beloved Spouse reminding us of His presence and calling us to His loving service. We live in the constant peace of knowing that if we simply keep our Rule faithfully, it will keep us unto eternal life.  Our seraphic father, St. Francis, left this testament at the end of the Rule:

“And whoever observes these things, may he be blessed in heaven with the blessing of the Most High Father, and on earth with the blessing of His Beloved Son with the Most Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, and all the powers of heaven and with all the saints. And, as far as I can, I, little brother Francis, your servant, confirm for you, both within and without, this holy blessing. ” 

We live each day in the presence of God, ever longing after and aspiring towards that which is the only purpose for the short breath of this life: eternal happiness with God in heaven. It is our fervent prayer that each of you, most of whom must work and live amidst the chaos of a world that falls daily further into apostasy, may find this same joy. It is attainable for each and all, and in every situation. Many of the greatest saints lived in the world. Two excellent examples from the Third Order of St. Francis come to mind. On August 23rd, we celebrated the feast of Queen Blanche. Despite the numerous duties incumbent upon her as the Queen of France, and though she was surrounded by luxury, she practiced a life of prayer, penance, and love for the poor. She reared her son, the future King, St. Louis IX of France, whose feast is celebrated two days after hers, to prefer death rather than to ever commit a deliberate sin. Her example and solicitousness for his eternal salvation gave to the world a great saint, who would become the patron of the Third Order of St. Francis, to which both he and his mother belonged. Truly, in this example, it is made manifest that a form of religious life can be lived even amidst the busy occupations of the world and that sanctity is within the reach of all.

In close, we wish to thank all who continue to help us raise the money needed for a permanent convent. Our first aspirant will arrive sometime in September, and others hope to follow her, so we continue to beg the charity of your prayers that Divine Providence will provide for those who long so ardently to consecrate their lives to Him. Be assured of our continued prayers for all of your intentions, and please pray for us!

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Your Capuchin Sisters of St. Joseph

NB:  Tax deductible donations can be made by following the donate link on our website. God bless you!

Sister Seamstress stays very busy these days with sewing and mending tasks.

Thanks be to God for our sisters, the hens, who provide Sister Cook with an abundance of eggs.