How great is the goodness, O Lord,
which you have in store for those who fear you.
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord whose wondrous mercy
he has shown me in a fortified city.

One I said in my anguish,
“I am cut off from your sight”;
Yet you heard the sound of my pleading
When I cried out to you.

Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones!
The Lord keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.

Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31: 20-25

Life as a Sister: Community-based Outreach

Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised. / For, after a just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; / he shall not delay. / But my just one shall live by faith, / and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him. / We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.

Hebrews 10: 32-39

Life as a Sister: Using Your Gifts

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light [for all] what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence  of access through faith in him.

Ephesians 3: 8-12

Saint Paul, pray for us!

Life as a Sister: Spirituality

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3: 31-35

Life as a Sister: Exploring Religious Life

God our Creator,
we give thanks to you,
who alone have the power to impart the breath of life
as you form each one of us in our mother’s womb;
grant, we pray,
that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,
may remain faithful to this sacred trust
and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life.

(Collect Prayer from January 23 Mass)

Show us, O Lord, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The Lord himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.

Psalm 85: 8, 10, 11-12, 13-14

Life as a Sister: Exploring Religious Life

The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God and wins the esteem of men. Let us, then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another.

Romans 14: 17-19 (from Divine Office morning reading)

Life as a Sister: Using Your Gifts

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer me.
Of you my heart has spoken,
“Seek the face of God.”

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.

Do not abandon or forsake me,
O God, my savior!
Though father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.

I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong;
be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27: 7-10, 13-14

Life as a Sister: Deepening Your Relationship with God

As  Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the Sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:23-28

Life as a Sister: Exploring Religious Life

When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
Because I bore your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16 (from Divine Office morning reading)

Life as a Sister: Deepening Your Relationship with God