September 19, 2024
In recent years, one of the fruits of the teaching on the Church as communion has been the growing awareness that her members can and must unite their efforts, with a view to cooperation and exchange of gifts, in order to participate more effectively in the Church's mission. This helps to give a clearer and more complete picture of the Church herself, while rendering more effective the response to the great challenges of our time, thanks to the combined contributions of the various gifts.
(...) Today, often as a result of new situations, many Institutes have come to the conclusion that their charism can be shared with the laity. The laity are therefore invited to share more intensely in the spirituality and mission of these Institutes. We may say that, in the light of certain historical experiences such as those of the Secular or Third Orders, a new chapter, rich in hope, has begun in the history of relations between consecrated persons and the laity. Vita Consecrata §54
On August 15, 2023, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, I was welcomed into the Community Maria Stella Matutina. Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, I pronounced my consecration, surrounded by the sisters. From that moment on, I became an oblate in this wonderful family.
The consecration was simple, which made it very powerful. Especially when I listened to the words of the sisters while looking at Jesus. He was so close. As the sisters supported this intimate moment with their singing, Heaven seemed to be on earth for a moment.
I became an oblate because God seemed to be calling me. He invited me. For a while, I discerned through prayer, and finally decided to say 'yes'. To be honest, I didn't know what my 'yes' would mean, but I trusted that God would show me. That's what happened the next day.
At 3pm, I sat alone in the chapel and prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I enjoyed being alone with God in silence.
After praying, something beautiful happened within me. I became deeply aware that God had ‘truly’ created me, that he was ‘truly’ creating me anew every day, that I was ‘truly’ his child, that he loved me ‘truly,’ that he was ‘truly’ present and could see me. This awareness moved me and brought tears to my eyes. I thanked God for having discovered this truth.
Later that day, a sister told me that I had become aware of what it means to adore God. It means putting oneself in God's presence. This experience made me see what God was now asking of me as an oblate. Just as the sisters are called to contemplative prayer and to the adoration of God, I too am called to this as a laywoman. In a different way, of course, to suit my daily (professional) life. So, together with the sister, I began to think about an appropriate form.
In addition, a friend of mine unexpectedly came by the convent. She decided at the last minute to stay the night and suggested we spend some time together. Very nice on the one hand, but on the other, I would have preferred to keep silence. Nevertheless, I welcomed her and we had a wonderful conversation. In the end, it was good to put my ideas aside and make room for God's invitation to live fraternal charity.
When I look back over the past few days, I was unconsciously engaged in the sisters' mission: the search for truth, a life of contemplative prayer, and its fruit: fraternal charity. This mission appeals to me greatly. Through my consecration, I'm now trying to consciously live the mission of the sisters in my daily life as a laywoman. There are ups and downs. Nevertheless, I try to stay on the road with God, being open to His Will and His Grace.
