Blessed Frances Siedliska

Another year of life and of work for God: blessed 2017

“Once again you are coming to the close of another year of life and of work for God. Here is one more reason for you to adore and praise his infinite goodness and mercy in having guarded, protected, and preserved you. This year has passed, and in the same way, our life will pass. We will appear before our Lord and God with the fruits and labors we accomplished for him. Our King and Master will not leave unrewarded any effort of ours or any sacrifice…”

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Frances Siedliska)
Founder of the Congregation of Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

From Nazareth to the street

In the days following the Newtown tragedy many people are applying the concept of hero to those who lived and died with dignity offering themselves for the good of others. The adults at the Sandy Hook School can certainly be labeled as a heros. We can also bestow the title of hero on those who responded: police and fire personnel, healthcare professionals and social workers, and members of the clergy and consecrated religious.

Here on Communio I want to single out the good and exemplary witness of Monsignor Robert Weiss, Father Ignacio Oritgas, Father Luke Suarez, Sister Mary Ellen Genova, CSFN and Sister M. Thaddeus Rajka, CSFN. The deacons are to be mentioned here, too. Each of them, with affection for the self lived the law of the Gift given in spirit of the family.

Continue reading From Nazareth to the street

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Frances Siedliska)

The great foundress of the Congregation of Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth is liturgically remembered today. As she lay dying Mother Mary of Jesus spoke the word charity in five languages. One of the many reasons why I like Mother Foundress is her strong sense that “An interior life is essential for the active life.”

On July 4, 1885 the Nazareth Sisters arrived in the New York Harbor and eventually landed in Chicago where they made their first foundation in the USA. For 125 years they have served the Church in a variety of ministries, namely education, pastoral ministry in parishes, hospitals and and orphanages.

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd’s liturgical prayers are here.

Blessed Frances Siedliska (Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd)

Come bride of Christ, and receive the crown, which the Lord has prepared for you for ever.

O God, You gave Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd the charism to model her life upon the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth; grant us the grace to imitate her and to inspire Christian families with the desire to lead a life worthy of their vocation for Your greater glory and for the extension of Your kingdom on earth.

The vocation of a professed sister of the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN) is to live the Trinitarian life of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in perfect love. The point of this blog, I might add with enthusiasm. Mother Foundress described the vocation of the sisters as following the hidden life of the Holy Family of Nazareth wherein the love reigned in relationship with God and neighbor. More concretely, Blessed Frances designed this congregation of sisters to live a life of prayer, community living and ministry; the work of the sisters is to witness the life of the Holy Family in the human families of today through the renewal of life known in moral and religious renewal. As a graduate of a CSFN school, I am happy that there is a liturgical memorial to praise God through the intercession of a great Beatus.

I’ve mentioned the sisters before on this blog (and here, too) and recommend the order to young women.