What Does an IHM Have to do with a Secular Franciscan?

No, this is not a joke, but it certainly sounds like one! An IHM, Sr. Mary Catherine, is formally recorded in the National Secular Franciscan data base as “spiritual assistant” to the St. Anthony Franciscan Fraternity in Wichita. You may wonder, what is a secular order and a spiritual assistant?

History of Secular Orders

As the medieval religious orders began, many lay men and women yearned for the “more” of Gospel living, while being faithful to their state of life. In the case of the Franciscans, St. Francis of Assisi began the “Order of Penitents,” an official order for both laity and diocesan priests. Francis urged the Order of Penitents to live simply, grow in their spiritual lives, and especially be a light to the poor and outcast. The “Little Poor Man formed a simple rule for the "Brothers and Sister of Penance" and today they are known as the Secular Franciscan Order (prior to 1978 they were known as "The Third Order.") The OFS is more than another group in the Church. They are an order, whose fraternities are established according to Canon Law (303), and strive to follow the Gospel in their lives everyday -- lives of simplicity and service. Throughout the centuries this “Franciscan Third Order” as it was then called, claimed many saints and family of saints, such as St. Charles Borromeo, St. John Fisher, and St. John Vianney. Before they founded their own orders, St. Bridget of Sweden, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, and St. Katherine Drexel, among many other Founders and Foundresses of Religious Orders, belonged to the Franciscan Third Order. Many relatives of saints come from of Secular Franciscans, such as the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux and Maximilian Kolbe; the mothers of St. John Bosco and St. Maria Goretti.

What is a Spiritual Assistant?

A Spiritual Assistant, usually a Franciscan friar, helps form the spirituality of the secular order and builds community. Why, then, is an IHM a spiritual assistant? Because of the lack of vocations to the Capuchins, the Franciscans at this time find it challenging to provide spiritual assistants. According to the Secular Franciscans Constitutions, a spiritual assistant can be a religious of another order. The National Fraternity accepted Sister Mary Catherine because she is engaged with ongoing study of spiritual theology and formation from the Avila Institute, er tutelage under the regional spiritual assistant, Fr. Scully, OFM, as well of course her formation and experience as an IHM. Sister tries to implement the following: 

• To be one who inspires by her own prayer and example. St. Francis exemplified this in his famous walk through a town, “preaching a sermon” without words
• To be available for questions on Spiritual Theology, Catholic doctrine, and community. Her years of religious life and education have prepared her for this.
• To guarantee Franciscan spirituality
• To foster community, especially by going out to each SFO, and encouraging him/her in his/her unique gifts
• To encourage the SFOs in general and individually the urgent importance of their lay witness and apostolate

In the words of St. John Paul II, (The Spiritual Assistant)… must get to know the members of the Fraternity, one by one, and form them by harmonizing the education and abilities of each so that no one remains isolated or on the periphery. I am talking about a profound work that is carried out discreetly and quietly. Finally, our IHM Constitutions urge the Sisters to evangelize and catechize whenever the opportunity presents itself, under the authority of obedience. A Spiritual Assistant helps the laity to live faithful to the Gospel in the 21st century, especially by evangelizing their own families and respecting human life at every stage, so it is obvious that an IHM can serve in this manner. It is an honor to help these beautiful laypersons. Yes, there is a connection between an IHM and a Secular Franciscan, and though it is not a joke, it is pleasant!

Sr. John Marie and Sr. Mary Monica contributed articles to the Diocese of Salina Faith Magazine.  For the entire publication or past magazines, go to https://salinadiocese.org/publications/faith/

On Sunday, February 11, Lilly Timmermeyer was officially received into the community, becoming a novice. She will now be known as Sr. Benedicta Marie, after Pope Benedict XVI. His writings really captivated Sister, and she wanted to follow his example in her life. Sr. Benedicta Marie will be continuing her formation, preparing for her next step - profession of vows.

Pope Benedict XVI has the left the Church a great legacy; his love for our Lord and the Church is most inspiring. It is difficult to choose one quote of his. For the Sisters devoted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, one striking quote is from the theological commentary on the third secret of Fatima:

"To be 'devoted' to the Immaculate Heart of Mary means therefore to embrace this attitude of heart, which makes the fiat - 'your will be done' - the defining centre of one's whole life."

Image by Wengen from Pixabay

 Photos courtesy Wayne Mikols

Article taken from https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/fatima-scene-installed-at-ihm-convent/ 

Those who visit the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse property south of Colwich may now contemplate one of the angelic Fatima apparitions while praying the rosary.

The sisters have installed four statues on their property depicting the third visit of the Angel of Peace to Lúcia, Jacinta, and Francisco in 1916, a prelude to the visits of before the Blessed Virgin at Fatima in 1917.

Mother Cecilia Marie said a significant aspect of the IHM charism is devotion to Our Lady, in particular, her Immaculate Heart, something the Blessed Virgin revealed to the children in June 1917.

“The main message of Our Lady at Fatima is prayer for the conversion of sinners. The Angel is sent to prepare the children to receive Our Lady’s message of prayer and offering sacrifices for the conversion of sinners,” she said. “Our prayer apostolate is directed toward praying for the conversion of sinners, as well as adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.”

Mother Cecilia Marie said Mother Mary Magdalene, who was the General Superior of the IHM Sisters at that time, initiated the project when the three-year Eucharist Revival was launched.

The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative by the U.S. bishops designed to inspire, educate, and unite the faithful in a more intimate relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. It began on June 19, 2022, the Feast of Corpus Christi.

The angelic scene was installed not only for contemplation and veneration but also for the Sisters the faithful, in particular those who take part in the processions and retreats held at the motherhouse property.

IHMs relate to Fatima message

“As Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we find a lot of resonance with the message of Our Lady of Fatima,” Mother Cecilia Marie said. “Prayers, sacrifice, adoration of Our Lord, prayers for the conversion of sinners were emphasized by our father founder in 1848.”

The Venerable Joaquin Masmitjá, who was born in Spain in 1808, founded the IHMs.

“Those are the things that we’re all called to do as a church militant,” she said.

The prayer the angel teaches the children is pertinent today when belief in the Eucharist is waning, she said.

Angel prayed with the children

Leaving the chalice suspended in the air, the angel knelt beside the children and made them repeat three times:

“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the sacrileges, outrages, and indifferences by which He Himself is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.”

Mother Cecilia Marie said the prayer reflects part of their spirituality. Through our own adoration, we can offer reparation to Our Lord in Eucharist, the Sacrament of His Enduring Love.

The statues are made of marble and were carved in Florence, Italy. Cody Swanson, sculptor, when contacted said, “I would like to offer my most sincere thanks to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was an honor of a lifetime to sculpt this work and I hope it will help the faithful to feel closer to the Lord and inspire veneration of the Eucharist.”

Recently, Sr. Mary Monica was featured on Divine Mercy Radio.  She was able to share her vocation story to those listeners; now we want to make it available to you.

 

Right click here to download

One quote of St. Louis de Montfort that particularly struck Sister was, "If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children." 

Sr. Mary Louise will continue her formation, preparing for her next step - profession of vows.

Who Are Lovers of Newman?

The IHM Sisters cherish St. John Henry Newman, who composed the Litany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, following in the footsteps of our foundress, Mother Joanne Brummel. 

 The Lovers of Newman consist of lay men and women, with some priests and religious, who, like the saints’ friends in the 19th century, seek to pray, study, discuss and evangelize from the saint’s wisdom.

Why the word “Lover?” A lover connotes one who will sacrifice all for the sake of the beloved. In ordinary language, a man will sacrifice watching the Super Bowl to discuss Newman’s sermons with friends. A woman will opt to read his sermon The One Thing Necessary over texting friends. At our gatherings, five elements mix for a perfect recipe: study, prayer, reading aloud, discussion and friendship. In a secularized, de-humanized word, grey and bleak, the Lovers of Newman rise as a colorful menagerie of Catholics from all walks of life uniting.

John Henry Newman again stirs a new Oxford movement in the atheistic technocracy of the 21st century.

Sister Mary Francesca was featured in the publication, Religious Life.  We wanted to share with you her article.

Please pray for vocations!

For more information, see their website: https://religiouslife.com/resource/rlm

Many times, we are asked to tell our vocation stories. This is just one aspect of our call. Our families have played a large part in us being in the convent; their love and support sustains us. We thought you would enjoy reading the story of Megan, the sister of Sr. Mary Monica.

-As a sibling, what do you appreciate about having your sister in the convent?  

 As a sibling, I love how I have gained a second family with all the sisters. I know that I am loved and cared for, and most importantly, prayed for, by all of the sisters whom I have built a great relationship with over the years.

 -What were some struggles you had to work through when your sister entered the convent?

 Sister Mary Monica is my twin sister and only sibling, so it was very hard when she entered the convent, because not only did I lose my best friend, but I didn’t have any other siblings to rely on when she left. I had to figure out who I was without her, which at first was very difficult and I had to accept the grieving process that came along with her entering the convent. There was a loss of the relationship that we had all our lives and having to accept that life would never look the same again, which took many years to do. Over the years though it has gotten easier, and God has blessed me in so many ways, most importantly, by teaching me who He created me to be as an individual person, not just as a twin or as someone who looks like another person. It has been over nine years since Sister Mary Monica entered the religious life and God is still forming our newfound relationship that we have with each other today and there has been so much healing that has happened between us that we never knew needed to happen. Though I still miss her and not having her around, God has blessed our family greatly and we wouldn’t change it for the world.

 -How do you see your sister's vocation benefiting you?

 I think by seeing how Sister Mary Monica has been able to give her life to Jesus and Mary over the years, I have been able to see her transform into the person God created her to be. This has also taught me to not to be afraid to say “Yes” to God when He asks me to do certain things in my own life and to have complete trust and confidence in His plan. I am not saying that my “yes’s” have been perfect and without fear and trembling, but I at least have a witness of faith life Sister because He has taken such great care of her, so I can trust that our Lord will also do the same for me and my family.

 -What do you like about the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community?

 I love the IHM Sisters because they are so devoted to their religious calling, and you know this because of the JOY that they exude anytime you are around them. They are filled with gratitude, humility, kindness, always smiling, they are so respectful to every person they meet. You know that the Holy Spirit is living within them and you can’t but feel loved when you are in their presence. There are so many good things to say about the sisters, I guess the most important thing to say is that they live their life to give glory to God in all things and to be a light to the world so others will come to know our Lord as well.

 -What are some words of encouragement to other families?

If you have a daughter or sister who is interested in entering the religious life, some words of encouragement that I would offer to families would be, “Do not be afraid”. If she is truly being called to this life, God has a great plan in store for her. She will be taken care of not only by her sisters, but by our Lord, who is calling her to be His Bride; What else could be more beautiful than that?! To have a sister or daughter who is married to our loving Lord, who will love her more perfectly than you could ever imagine?! Please support her in this decision, it is not easy for her to leave everything and everyone behind to discern such a radical call, but if she knows that she has her family in support of this decision, it gives her heart more freedom to enter in to see if this is really where God is calling her in life. Yes, it will be hard to let her go, maybe there is a lack of understanding of the religious life, or a fear that she will not be happy, but I promise that if God is calling her to this life, God will provide everything she needs to live out her calling just like God provides a man and woman to live out their calling to marriage or a priest through Holy Orders. You will also be blessed through her yes as well, I promise.