It is nice to have permission to have access to my son through the phone and letters. Once I am formally in the novitiate, I shall not be able to send or receive letters or calls for six months.
There is a real need for young vocations here in London, in Ireland and Scotland. Most of the nuns in the order are under 49, but not here.
Sadly, there is only one very old Irish nun and a very few English ones. Most of the vocations are coming from the East, and now, Nigeria. One reason is that the Western girls lack stamina and the understanding of penance.
Kneeling on wooden floors, sleeping in school beds from the 1940s, and eating what is given, rather than having choices, are activities mostly not understood by the modern world. Benedict understood the road to perfection, as all these things destroy self-will. One really understands the Scripture about becoming a new creation, and Christ's words to Nicodemus about being born again when one is giving up all semblance of personality and the ideas one had of one's self.
This is an amazing stripping of self which I am experiencing daily. Many tears, but many graces....one feels like a newborn child, waiting for God.
Today, Mother Novice Mistress in class noted that the society (I would use the term culture) creates vocations, or does not do so.
Sad that the Anglo-Saxons and Celtic girls have no interest in Tyburn. What a great challenge. If they could only see and experience the joy and love of this community--but, where is the desire?
One must want to be taken into the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and follow Him wherever He is.
I fit in, so far, so far....
To be continued...