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To Jesus, My Heart, My All, Forever

6/28/2017

"By virtue of their dedication lived in fullness and in joy, consecrated women are called
in a very special way to be signs of God's tender love toward the human race and to be special witnesses to the mystery of the Church, Virgin, Bride, and Mother." ~ Vita Consecrata, 57

Gallery of professional photos here

Perpetual profession of vows of Sister Maria Faustina of Our Mother of Mercy

The final profession of vows is a solemn and grace-filled moment for the Sister, the Community, and the whole Church. It represents the moment when the Church affirms, ratifies, and makes permanent the response the Sister made to Christ's loving call many years before. She professes the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the rule of life of her community, committing to strive for perfect charity in her way of life. By perpetual profession, the Sister enters into a spiritual marriage that is unbreakable.

The Examination

After the homily, the Sister to be professed stands before the Bishop holding a lighted candle. The Bishop questions her on her readiness to dedicate herself to God and to seek perfect charity according to our constitutions.

"Dear daughter, in baptism you have already died to sin and have been set aside for God's service. Are you now resolved to unite yourself more closely to God by the bond of perpetual profession?

"I am."

The Litany of Saints

Following the examination, the Sister prostrates before the altar for the praying of the Litany of the Saints. The Bishop asks those present to join in praying that Sister may be strengthen in her resolve and address Sister:

"Sister, you are dead to the world and your life is hidden in Christ. God forbid that you should glory save in the cross of your beloved Crucified Spouse, that having lived daily in Him, you may one day be conducted by our heavenly Mother to the eternal consummation of your Divine espousals.

The Sister is covered by the community with a black pall symbolizing her death to self with Christ to rise with Him in glory. This Litany of Saints is a special litany for the Rite of Profession and saints dear to the Sister and to the community may be added.

"Saint Maria Faustina, ora pro nobis!

"Saint Teresa of Calcutta, ora pro nobis!

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, ora pro nobis!

At the conclusion of the Litany, the Bishop prays:

"Arise, and live ever as one in the world but not of the world.
Be not a foolish, but a wise virgin with her lamp ever trimmed."

The Profession of Vows

The Sister, holding a lighted candle, kneels before our Mother Superior to profess her perpetual vows, while the other perpetually professed members of the community stand by as witnesses. The Sister, the Superior and the Bishop sign the vow document on the altar, where it remains for the duration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Solemn Consecration

After the profession of vows, the Sister kneels before the Bishop as he prays the prayer of consecration. This prayer is a prayer of praise of God's mercy, a brief synopsis of salvation history
and an asking down ofHis special graces on this His chosen bride that she may be
faithful and fruitful in her life of consecration.

The Presentation of the Ring and the Crown of Thorns

Following the solemn consecration, the newly perpetually professed Sister kneels before the Bishop to receive the gold ring of a perpetually professed member of the community (engraved within 'To Jesus, my heart, my all, forever), while the Bishop says:

"Receive this ring, for you are betrothed to the Eternal King. Keep faith with your
Bridegroom so that you may come to the wedding feast of eternal joy."

The Sister responds:

I am the Bride of Him whom the angels serve, who the sun and moon gaze upon with admiring wonder.
The Lord Jesus has placed His ring upon my finger. He has clothed me in the character of His spouse."

The Sister then is crowned by our Mother Superior with a crown of thorns:

"Receive, beloved Sister, the crown of thorns in memory of the crown of the Lord,
and through this may you know that not to be joined to your Thorn-Crowned Head, that is Christ,
is to be a delicate member, and if you bear the crown of thorns of tribulation in this life He shall render you, His spouse, a crown of glory forever."

At the conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice, the Sisters renew their total consecration to Jesus through Mary before
the image of Our Lady of Fatima as is our custom on all major feasts and occasions in the life of the community.

We are deeply grateful to our dear Bishop, Bishop Robert Vasa, for his ongoing support
of the community and for witnessing
Sister's vows on this special day.

We thank all of our priests, especially
Fr. Raul Lemus for hosting the ceremony
in his parish church.

We thank YOU, dear friends, for your
prayers and support. May God bless you all!

Full photo gallery

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

6/23/2017

Praised be the Divine Heart which wrought our salvation...

...to It be glory and honor forever! Amen.

You loved me from all eternity, therefore you created me.

You loved me after you had made me,
therefore you became man for me.

You loved me after you became man for me, therefore you lived and died for me.

You loved me after you had died for me,
therefore you rose again for me.

You loved me after you had risen for me, therefore you went to prepare a place for me.

You loved me after you had gone
to prepare a place for me,
therefore you came back for me.

You loved me after you came back to me,
therefore you desired to enter into me
and be united to me.

This is the meaning of the Blessed Sacrament.

The mystery of love.

By Archbishop Alban Goodier, SJ

"Arise, then, O soul beloved of Christ! Cease not your vigil;
bring close your lips, that you may draw waters out of the Savior's fountain."

~ St. Bonaventure

Courage!

6/20/2017

Fall in Love

6/16/2017

Adsum!

6/12/2017

June ninth marked an important event in our Diocese: the Ordination of Ricardo Negrete to the transitional diaconate. Deacon Ricardo has been serving a pastoral year at the Cathedral parish, so we have had the opportunity to see and interact with him regularly, along with praying for him daily in our prayers for our priests and seminarians. It is by our prayers first and foremost that we as women religious support our clergy, but occasions such as this ordination give the Sisters the opportunity to express their love and support in more visible ways.

Sister Seamstress re-lining the dalmatic with red silk

Mrs. Z and the Sisters

When during the Ordination Deacon Ricardo was invested with the dalmatic of a deacon, he was clothed in an antique gold dalmatic (probably over a hundred years old), made of brocade woven with metal and lined with silk. As his ordination approached, the deacon candidate entrusted this treasure to Sister Seamstress, asking that she repair the ravages of age so that it could again could be used at the service of the altar. This type of service is not one of the primary apostolates of the community, nor do our resources allow it to be a very large part of our life, but it is a direct expression of our charism to communicate the beauty of the faith and a tangible expression of the hours of prayer offered on behalf of our clergy. Sister Seamstress was able to repair much of the delicate fabric, and with a new lining of red silk, the dalmatic is once again at the Lord's service.

The choir, under the direction of Mrs. Z., was privileged to chant the Mass propers for the Ordination Mass in melismatic and simple chant . The choir also had the opportunity to sing some beautiful 4-part polyphony pieces, including Victoria's Ave Maria and an eastern-rite sounding Come Bless the Lord. What a blessing it is to serve the Lord in serving His ministers and His people!

Monthly Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus

6/7/2017

To choose the heart for an emblem
is to dedicate oneself to the only Heart
which does not lie,
and it is encircled with thorns.
~ Jacques Maritain

I believe, O Lord; but strengthen my faith!
Heart of Jesus, I love Thee; but increase my love.
Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee; but give greater vigor to my confidence.
Heart of Jesus, I give my heart to Thee;
but so enclose it in Thee that it may never be separated from Thee.
Heart of Jesus, I am all Thine;
but take care of my promise so that I may be able to put it into
practice even unto the complete sacrifice of my life. Amen.
From a prayer of Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ

A Most Efficacious Prayer to the Sacred Heart

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, we know that there is but one thing impossible to Thee, to be without pity for those who are in suffering or distress. Look down then, we beseech Thee, on us, and grant us the grace for which we humbly implore Thee, through the Immaculate Heart of Thy most sorrowful Mother to whom Thou didst confide us as her children; and whose prayers are all powerful with Thee. Amen.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
Give it an increase of divine love, with the grace of final perseverance.

First Profession

6/1/2017

"The kingdom of this world and all its pomps have I despised for the love of Jesus Christ my Lord: whom I have see, whom I have loved; in whom I have believed; to whom I have given my love."

May 31, a joyful and grace-filled day, the feast of the Visitation and the feast of the Queenship of Mary, marked the clothing of four new novices and the First Profession of Vows of Sr. Margaret Mary of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Sr. Margaret Mary is the first daughter of the Diocese of Santa Rosa to make profession in the community, making this a significant profession for the Diocese as well as for the community. The Profession Mass was celebrated by His Excellency, Robert Vasa, Bishop of Santa Rosa, assisted by the priests who have played a significant role in Sr. Margaret Mary's life and spiritual formation: our Chaplain, Fr. Jeffery Keyes; the Rector of the Cathedral, Fr. Frank Epperson; Fr. David Anderson, the Pastor of the Eastern Rite Catholic Church; and Fr. Raul Lemus, a dear family friend and former Pastor.

"The Lord hath clothed me
with a garment of salvation;
He hath covered me with
a veil of gladness:
and His hand hath crowned
me as a bride...

Sister Margaret Mary receives the newly
blessed veil of a professed Sister of the
Marian Sisters from Bishop Vasa.

Mother pins on the blue veil

"...It is Jesus whom I love; I am become the spouse of Him whose Mother was a virgin,
and who was begotten spiritually of His Father, of Him whose sweetest music already sounds in mine ears: If I love Him, I am chaste: when I touch Him, I am pure; when I possess Him, I am a virgin....

"...He hath given me his ring for a pledge, even He who excelleth all the sons of men in greatness and in splendor. Already His Flesh united to mine by the heavenly food which he hath given to me, and His Blood glows in my cheek....

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

"...O ye holy virgins, obtain for me that chaste, tender affection,
which may give me the right to make my nest, as a turtledove,
in the would of love which is in the Heart of Jesus, my Spouse."

Text from the unrevised Pontificale Romanum

Please join us in praying for Sister Margaret Mary,
for her growth in holiness and perseverance in her holy vocation.

Mary, our Queen and Mother, pray for us!

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To Jesus, My Heart, My All, Forever

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Courage!

Fall in Love

Adsum!

Monthly Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus

First Profession

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