What a strange time we are all experiencing.
Walking outside of our convent—which is on our school and parish grounds—I'm met with quiet. We are used to the sounds of faithful activity: the children playing during the day, faith formation classes, guitar groups, youth group at night.
I saw a post on social media that said, “This is the Lentiest Lent that ever Lented.”
More than that, these days have a feeling of Holy Saturday. A very,very long Holy Saturday.
The Silence of Holy Saturday, the Silence of Now
Holy Saturday is a day of emptiness, but also of hopeful anticipation of the Resurrection.
I always find myself in a mix of emotions—a little lost without the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, excited for Easter, and a bit anxious for the Triduum to be over.
As Sisters, we are in silence from Holy Thursday until the Easter Vigil, which intensifies the whole situation as well.
Every year, I feel an urgency during the Triduum to pray for the Church to “stay awake.” I feel that same intensity and silence now as we are facing this pandemic as a Church.
Our Mission Has Not Changed
As I was praying before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament yesterday during our Holy Hour, the Lord reminded me that, even though the world looks quite different right now, my vocation and your vocation has not changed.
Exteriorly, my apostolate looks different. I spend a lot more time looking at a computer screen now rather than the beautiful faces of my students entrusted to my care. However, the computer screen is a tool, and not the work. The work, the apostolate, the goal of each of our vocations—whether single, married or religious—has not changed. My ultimate role as an educator has not changed. I am still to do everything I can to get those entrusted to my care to Heaven.
It’s easy to lose sight of that in the everyday business of our lives. As Pope Francis said in his special Urbi et Orbi address on March 27th, 2020:
Prayer and quiet service; these are our victorious weapons.
Bringing You Before Him in the Eucharist
As a Sister and bride of Christ, I am all the more aware during this time that we represent the entire people of God when we pray before Our Lord in the Eucharist.
We know that it is our privilege and our duty to unite ourselves more completely with Christ and His people. Our lives are set apart precisely for God and for you. So I am taking this time very seriously.
I am being called to pray for you personally, and for us as a community of Faith. I am praying that we are all healthy and safe, and that the Lord draws us closer to Himself and to our families.
Let's Not Waste This Time
We all know Lent is a time to slow down and turn to the Lord. Although not one of us could have predicted Lent 2020 would look quite like this, let us make the best of this time. Let's become the saints God is calling us to be, because our mission has not changed.
This is not the Lent we chose, but it is the Lent that God chose for us. And He is always good and always about our good.
May the Lord continue to light the way. Jesus, we trust in You.
Our Mission Has Not Changed #BISblog //Click to tweet
Sr. Mary Claire of the Holy Family is a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) and currently serves in Phoenix Arizona where she shares the love of Jesus with her middle schoolers. A Tennessee girl who could live on Dr. Pepper and popcorn, she'd love to road trip with St. John Paul II, Servant of God Leonie Martin, and Captain America.
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