We Belong to Him

“I am Albanian by birth. Now I am a citizen of India. I am also a Catholic nun. In my work, I belong to the whole world. But in my heart, I belong to Christ.”

— St. Teresa of Calcutta

November greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ,

Each day, the Church sets Saints before our eyes and hearts to esteem and emulate, but we are launched into November on day one with a colossal Solemnity that represents them all to us!  The number of saints who reign with Christ is vast.  “I saw so large a number,” reports St John, “that nobody could count them.”  The Solemnity of All Saints brims with so much wonder and love that the Church affords us an entire octave to ponder, live out the graces, and, in the end, bolster our resolve to join the saints, known and unknown, that unceasingly cheer us on.  Surely His Majesty does not discount the pleas of so many of His friends for us!

St Teresa of Calcutta reminds that all are called to holiness and that holiness is assuredly linked to following God’s Will.  Each has a plan that is heaven-sent and heaven-destined.  Each has a place in that great cloud of witnesses.  Our cooperation is essential.  Despite our family of origin, geographic location, vocational call and work, St Teresa reminds that in our hearts, our authentic selves are known in an unreserved relationship with Jesus. Simply put, we belong to Him. 

As pilgrims in progress it is challenging to avoid dividing our allegiance to other things or relationships versus allowing Christ to be the nucleus.  As Catholics, the sacramental life comes to the rescue.  The Holy Eucharist is, after all, the Sacrament of Unity.  Both our interior lives and external relationships can benefit. We learn first-hand from Our Lord Himself in the Blessed Sacrament.  He is the Way to rightly-ordered love and relationship with Him and others.  Yet we are dull of mind and compromised in vision. Holy Church offers more help through the closely-related sacrament of Reconciliation.  (Consider reviewing Oct 2016 Communique regarding Confession.)

A way of life through the graces of the Eucharist and Reconciliation fosters our spiritual vigor in our rootedness in Christ.  St John Paul II reveals, "The Eucharist is the secret of my day.  It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world."  St Bridget affirms the benefits of Confession: "Just as an animal becomes a stronger beast of burden and more beautiful to behold the more often and better it is fed, so too confession - the more often it is used... conveys the soul increasingly forward and is so pleasing to God that it leads the soul to God's very heart." St John Bosco concurs, "You can fly to heaven on the wings of Confession and Communion," and "There are two things the devil is deadly afraid of: frequent Communion and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament."  

As Seven Sisters we seem poised to make friends in heaven and enemies in hell.  Each week we return to Our Lord to seek the holiness of another, mutually opening ourselves up to holiness for ourselves.  We beckon a whole-ness of heart for the other, a total belonging to Christ that makes the heart true to its design and destiny.  Availing ourselves to frequent Confession and Communion will hasten the removal of obstacles of resistance to God’s love and His Will, and in turn strengthen our weekly Holy Hour offerings.

Hungarian-born Ferenczy’s subject in Birdsong, appears to have a tender awareness to something above and beyond.  Even in her full and expectant maternal state, she seems to give pause to listen, perhaps to even seek intently, something more that offers an even greater fullness. Does the warble of a bird solicit an attentiveness that then reaches above it? 

Seven Sisters by and large exhibit an unmistakable depth of joy, living witnesses of Christ’s desire to instill His joy – and that it may be complete (John 15:11).  However, perhaps a bit like Ferenczy’s subject, Seven Sisters understand that its completion is not in this earthly life. In St Matthew’s parable of the talents (Mt 25:23), following a statement of the master, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, the master further rewards the servant by an invitation to “Enter into the joy of your master!” Another version puts it: “Come and share your master’s happiness!”

The happiness of the saints is complete. What augments the delight of the saints most may very well be the thought that the joy is eternal.  We too are destined for this.  The priest or bishop we pray for is destined for this.  Unreservedly belonging to Jesus compels us toward this. In season and out of season until all seasons converge. The sacramental life, especially frequent Communions and Confessions, offers strength and clarity.  What a joy in the journey as we seek complete joy – for ourselves, for another!

United in prayer and mission...

that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest...

 ... eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day....  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not 'spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted...'  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

... your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

 Janette
+JMJ+    
sevensistersapostolate@gmail.com

Karoly Ferenczy – Birdsong, 1893

SEVEN SISTERS – in and out and about:

 Heartfelt welcome: Total groups: moving toward 1300. New groups registered in October to cover more priests in daily prayer:  Additional groups in USA states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho (NEW!), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington.  Only FIVE USA states do not YET have the benefit of a Seven Sisters group:  Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming.

SEVEN SISTERS Guideline BOOKLETS: Available as free download from Web site.  Hard copies passed on for printing cost of $2 each + P/H. Order thru Web email with amount desired/address

SEVEN SISTERS Tri-fold BROCHURE:   Effectively used in parish pamphlet stands (ask pastor’s approval prior), Adoration Chapels, Retreat Centers, Bags/Packets for Women’s Conferences/Retreats, Women’s clubs, Serra clubs – or simply handing out!  Full color version and one with a color exterior and B/W interior (my personal favorite and a bit cheaper to print).  Available on Web as free download.  Recommend 80# silk for best printing results.  May also order through the Web site.  Indicate address/quantity.  25 for $10 + P/H.  Invoice accompanies order.      

NOTES to Anchoresses:   If you do not receive a Communiqué by the beginning of a new month, contact me through the Web site email.  (Goal is to send the last week of the previous month.)

Some of you have a genuine gift to encourage participation of others in the Apostolate and help start many groups – do not squelch the zeal!  However, we encourage a woman to be an Anchoress for only one group. This way the joy of leadership is extended and it is a more manageable role for each Anchoress. The focus and energies remain in the best place: the prayer efforts!

ALSO:  While all Seven Sisters are remembered in daily prayer, the Apostolate only keeps record of the names and contact information of the Anchoresses. Each Anchoress is responsible to keep record of her group’s members and assist in keeping them in the loop of communication. Team work at its best!  Please inform of all NEW groups/Anchoress/priest/other changes thru Web site.

RECENT … and AHEAD on the calendar:

> Gratitude to Colleen for organizing 6 Oct Informational at St Ambrose, Woodbury, MN

> Gratitude to Patti and Sue for organizing 25 Oct Informational in Fargo, ND

> Gratitude to Bev, Kathy, Sue for organizing booth, radio spot, talks (and so much more!) at THIRST Conference (25-27 Oct), Bismarck, ND – incl designer hats and T-shirts supporting prayer for priests!

> Gratitude to Patti for arranging 28 Oct meeting with Bishop Folda of Fargo, ND

> 9 Nov 2019 (Saturday) – 6th Annual St Paul-Mpls Archdiocesan Time of Reflection and Renewal, St Ambrose, Woodbury, MN – 7:45 am – 2:30 pm – Theme:  Mary Magdalene: model and mentor.  Special guest Speaker: Fr Declan Gibson.  The day will be both inspirational and informational. Contact: Anita (marywhims@msn.com).  FREE WILL offering taken that day. 

MASS as substitute for the HOLY HOUR: While Mass is arguably the highest form of prayer, it is not the form of prayer given in the inspiration of this Apostolate.  We do best to stay close to the inspiration, submitting always to God’s Will and Way.  Importantly, every Holy Hour is intimately tied to holy Mass, as our Jesu Hostia must be confected during the Mass.

Some other thoughts: Each Mass has an intention, which, whether known or unknown, we are to offer this as participants of a Mass.  In the Confiteor, we ask for prayers for ourselves and others ask our prayers for them.  The Prayers of the Faithful are offered for many intentions.  Imbedded in the Eucharistic prayers are solicitations for prayers for the Pope, Bishops, priests and both the living and the dead.  One can easily see then that the Mass has many intentions and not solely the one priest for whom one is committed to pray. Offering your personal intentions and Holy Communion at a Mass for the priest would certainly benefit the priest, but would not serve as a substitute for your Holy Hour. 

Especially when access to a Church or Chapel is limited, some Seven Sisters keep fidelity to their Hour by arriving early for a Mass on ‘their day” and beginning the Holy Hour for their priest.  Then they attend the Mass and then pray the balance of the Holy Hour for the priest after the Mass. In his book, Those Mysterious Priests, Archbishop Sheen states that a Mass never interrupts a Holy Hour.

MATTERS of the HEART:

Ø  “I observe a middle of the night hour (Sat, 1-2 am) so I never have a conflict unless out of town.  And when I travel, I have found a church/chapel with an Adoration Chapel open or a Mass offered or a place to pray before the Tabernacle.  I had a very special experience at the Shrine of St John Vianney in Ars on his Feast Day, Aug 4.  It was a Saturday (2018).  There was an Adoration Chapel located across the way from the Shrine so I was overjoyed to be able to offer my Seven Sister’s Hour for my pastor, on the day I typically do, at the very shrine of the priest’s patron and one of our tri-patrons! And it was one of my sons who stumbled upon the building that housed the Blessed Sacrament.  A treasure of the heart!” (Debbie K, Minnesota)

Ø  “What a blessing the Apostolate is.  It is a gift for me to be more conscious of the needs of our priest and pray and sacrifice to be in some small way an aid in his daily struggles.  I don’t believe I will ever stop being involved in this Apostolate.  It has helped me love.” (Mary L, Wisconsin)

Seeking TESTIMONIES:  Please consider your experience as a Seven Sister – and send me a few thoughts – or paragraphs - of testimony.  Consider asking the priest or Bishop for whom you pray to offer the same.  These will be a regular part of the Communiqué and Web site. Send thru Web site email, or hand written great too:  Janette Howe, 43 Nord Circle Rd, St Paul, MN 55127

REMEMBRANCE of those SEVEN SISTERS who have PASSED: We want to remember those Seven Sisters in name and in prayer, who have gone before us to their eternal rest. Visit the Web site. Click on ABOUT folder and scroll to bottom, choose: IN REMEMBRANCE.  Follow prompts… OR you may submit info via the Website email. Please check site monthly for additions! Special mention of Donna Zroka (Minnesota) who was a part of the Seven Sisters France pilgrimage this past July.  She passed unexpectedly on 10/19/19. +RIP+ 

PRIEST who has PASSED to ETERNAL REST: If the priest for whom you pray has entered eternal life, the group may be led to continue to pray for a length of time for the soul of that priest. Perhaps a novena of Holy Hours or the offering of holy Mass(es) for the priest.  You will know.  Several groups have/are offering Holy Hours for an entire year for their beloved deceased priest.  

SPANISH translation of Communique:  This is generously done every month by Zahyra B, Anchoress for a Seven Sisters group in Venezuela.  They are then posted (and archived) on the Website.  If it is easier to receive through an email account, please let me know. Expect 2-3 days for translation. Commitment Prayer/Booklet in Spanish (on the Web for free download).