Tag Archives: St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Vocations, Women's Communities

Visitations Sisters’ Secret: God Is Our Vocation Director

4 Comments

Any sign of growth in a religious community is a cause for rejoicing, and the Toledo, Ohio Visitation Nuns have much to be thankful for. The nuns recently accepted Sister Ashlie as a postulant (center); and Sister Katie as a first-year novice (second right); Sister Toni as a second-year novice (second left), Sister Maria Teresa (right) as a first-year temporary professed, and Sister Maria Cecilia (left) as a third-year temporary professed.

There were also two sisters recently who made their final profession: Sister Katherine Chantal (left); and Sister Veronica Teresa (right).

Thus, of seven of the 17 sisters in the community are more or less, new members.

What is surprising and hopeful is that these milestones all have occurred within the last nine months. Many communities in the western world, whether contemplative or active, go for years without seeing new faces.

“Our Secret”

“Our secret is that God is our Vocation Director,” said the community’s superior, Sr. Marie de Sales. “He sends them to us. It is interesting, we haven’t received a vocation from our Diocese in many years, but we hear from women in other states. Currently the women in formation are from Indiana, California, Illinois, New York and Texas.”

The backgrounds of the new members are varied: some were homeschooled; some attended Catholic grammar schools or high schools; they frequently came from devout Catholic families or were converts to the faith; and some came from families of four or more children.

Also, many were very active in their parishes in different ministries. The Sisters in formation are between ages 25 and 57. In the last week or so they’ve heard from two young women in their twenties.

How would you describe your charism/spirituality?

Sr. Marie de Sales: We are Daughters of Prayer; we are contemplatives (Seekers of God) striving to be all for God and as our Holy Father, St. Francis de Sales said, “to give to God daughters of prayer, and souls so interior that they may be found worthy to serve His infinite Majesty and to adore Him in spirit and in truth.”

How do you pray for the world events that seem to be so troubling today?

Sr. Marie de Sales: We hold it in our hearts and lift it into the Heart of Christ.

You are contemplative, with a set schedule of prayer, meals, recreation, and so on, but to what extent do you interact with friends and visitors in the Toledo area?

Sr. Marie de Sales: We go out for doctor appointments, grocery shopping, to visit one of our Sisters who may be in rehab, a nursing home or the hospital. We have visits in the parlor with our family and some friends. We attend daily Mass, and the Guard of Honor Holy Hour monthly. Our Sisters who serve as extern Sisters are the face of the monastery for the people who do come to the front door, the Mass, etc.

How do your new members typically find out about the Toledo Visitation?

Sr. Marie de Sales: It seems to be mostly word of mouth, particularly referred by another community (if older). We started our Facebook page ten years ago thinking we would receive vocation inquiries from it. There have been no more than three or four inquiries with Facebook during that time.

Founded by two saints

The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary was founded in 1610 in Annecy, France by Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal. The Visitation came to Toledo in 1915 from their Georgetown Monastery in Washington, D.C. at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Schrembs, the first bishop of the Diocese.

Today there are Visitation monasteries all over the world.

For information, or to inquire about a vocation to the Visitation Sisters, contact the Vocation Directress, Sr. Gianna Marie, Monastery of the Visitation, 1745 Parkside Blvd., Toledo, OH 46307-1599. Email toledoviz@toast2.net, or call 419-536-1343. Visit their website at www.Toledovisitation.org.

Cloistered life, News

First Federation of the Visitation Order Elect New President & Council

2 Comments

We have just celebrated the Feast Day of St. Jane Frances de Chantal on Saturday, so it is wonderful to learn of the recent election results from the Assembly of the First Federation of the Order of the Visitation held  on July 26-28, 2017.

Meeting at the Visitation Monastery in Rockville, Virginia, the Assembly participants elected a new Federation President and Council. Sister Sharon Elizabeth (Toledo, OH) was elected Federation President. She will be assisted by her Council comprised of Mother Rose Marie (Mobile, AL), Mother Marie de Sales (Toledo, OH), Sr. Mary Emmanuel (Tyringham, MA) and Sr. Frances Marie (Rockville, VA). Mother Miriam Rose (Tyringham, MA) and Mother Teresa Maria (Snellvile, GA) were elected as alternate councilors.

St. Jane Frances was the co-foundress of the Order of the Visitation along with St. Francis de Sales. Founded in 1610,  in Annecy, Savoy (France), their desire was “to give to God daughters of prayer, and souls so interior that they may be found worthy to serve His infinite majesty and to adore Him in spirit and in truth.”

The Visitation Order was founded for women who could not handle the austerities of the traditional cloistered life but who truly had a call from God to give themselves entirely to God as a spouse of Christ. They also traditionally accept belated vocations (check each community for the information).

It is sometimes forgotten that St. Thérèse of Lisieux had a fifth sister, Léonie, who was not a Carmelite. Léonie was a difficult child and a poor student who nevertheless desired to enter religious life. Her mother once wrote that unless a miracle was worked, “my Léonie will never enter a religious community.” St. Thérèse predicted that after her death, Léonie would enter the Visitation Order and take her name and that of St. Francis de Sales. Indeed it came to pass. Léonie’s name in religion was Sr. Françoise-Thérèse  and her cause for canonization was opened in  Caen, France on July 2, 2016, the anniversary of her profession (1900).

The six monasteries of the First Federation (which are cloistered) are located in Mobile, AL, Snellville, GA, Rockville, VA, Philadelphia, PA, Tyringham, MA and Toledo, OH.  The four highlighted are IRL affiliates.

 

News, Women's Communities

Chantal Artisans

1 Comment

In May, we will see the ordination of many men to the priesthood. Are you looking for a special gift to give one of these newly-ordained men? Is your Pastor having a Jubilee or Anniversary of Ordination? Would you like to remember a loved one by donating a vestment in his or her memory? Something magnificent  to consider are beautiful vestments created by the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary in Tyringham, Massachusetts.

The monastery belongs to the illustrious Visitation Order that was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal in France in 1610.  They were unique for their time in not practicing severe penances. Rather they are called to “interior renunciations, great simplicity and joy in the common life.” Even though they are a contemplative, cloistered Order, they welcome individual women retreatants, giving priority to those who are considering a vocation.

The sisters sing the Liturgy of the Hours five times each day and have special mission entrusted to them of prayerfully  spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Visitation Monastery in Tyringham is dedicated to the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of His Mother, Mary. Thus their monastery is called Mont Deux Coeurs or the Mount of the Two Hearts.

Sr. Gemma Maria is a master seamstress who has been practicing her craft for 40 years. She is now guiding other sisters in the design and creation of sacred vestments. Each Sister within the monastery contributes some artistic handiwork for the enjoyment of others. In order to provide for their growing community and to help to support themselves, they have brought together their creative talents to launch this endeavor.

The beauty and elegance of a well-made vestment enhances the solemnity and sacredness of the Liturgy.

We are privileged to share our artistry and our labor for the Lord with you!

For more information, visit Chantal Artisans!