by Sr. Marcia Kruse, ASC
Is there any need for sisters in our country? Lay women, married or unmarried, can do everything we did in our ministry. Who needs us?
No worry, you say, the third world countries have lots of vocations. Religious life won’t die, just in our country.
So, American society no longer needs us, women consecrated to the Lord? What do we bring? The world is thirsting for meaning in life, for spirituality, not necessarily from the established churches. Why such a drug problem, suicides, mass shootings, hate crimes? Many Americans find their lives empty, meaningless. Churches are half empty. The old faith is not filling their need.
And we sisters stand by and say we are useless, outdated? Someone else can feed the hungry, heal the sick, teach the kids. So what do we do? Ride off into the sunset?
Was it our ministry that kept us alive and pertinent and useful? Our cheap labor?
It seems to me there will always be a need for someone to go to the mountaintop, or deep into the cave, to seek and find that meaning, to enter the holy of holies, to absorb the mystery of God, to put on the mind and heart of God, and bring it down from the mountain, out of the cave, so the world may know the thoughts of God, feel the heart of God, so that the world can see the face of a loving God through us.
While parents need to concentrate on and care for their young, we will look after all God’s children, the common good, our common home, and see that no one falls through the cracks. Because we’ve “been to the mountain,” or dwelt in the cave, we can bring meaning to people’s lives.
It is being in the furnace of God’s love that keeps us singing and glorifying God.
Where are the young women and men who would dare to enter the deep recesses of God’s heart and come out with flaming torches to touch hardened hearts and warm desperate souls?
Daring souls who will speak God’s truth to power, bring justice to the courts, dispel prejudice and hate? Hardy souls who would then come together at night, sit around the fire, confirm each other, soothe each other’s hearts, and prepare for another day of showing God’s face to the world.
God’s world needs us. God needs us.
Sister,
Well that’s a very nice essay. No worries though, one look at the statue that was formerly at Ruma affirming their joy and courage will convince anyone of your Order’s importance and necessity, now more than ever. You’ve planted many seeds, no drought lasts forever. “Job well done” is out of place perhaps, it seems there is always more to do. But i will say “good job” and thank you.