Hold Me Like Holy Water

This weekend was absolutely amaaaazing. The Sisters of Life arrived on Wednesday night and left Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday, the officers for the Duhawks for Life, along with Rusty, went out for dinner with the sisters when they arrived. We went out for Chinese. When we suggested Chinese food, Sister Antoniana was like "Oh! I had been praying for Chinese!" It was quite funny. So we drove downtown to Yen Ching. While we were walking to the restaurant, the pedestrian walk light was red, but there were no cars. All of us stopped to wait for the green, and the sisters laughed at us, because they had never seen anyone stop at a light, much less one where there wasn't a car in sight! I personally do not know why I stopped, as I am used to running across the streets of Chicago, but whatever. It was cute. When we got to Yen Ching, we introduced ourselves to the owner as students from Loras who know "Father John". He's like "Ah yes! Pope John!" and laughed at himself. He was very funny. The entire restaurant was on stand-still when the three habited sisters walked in, and it was wonderful. We had a delicious dinner, and came back to Loras for Wednesday night Mass. After Mass we had a social with cookies and watered-down lemonade and everyone got to experience just how amazing these sisters really are. I don't think I stopped laughing. :) Then on Thursday morning we had Morning Prayer with the sisters, and they left to have breakfast with the President and Father. So Rusty and I did our holy hour, and Annie came with two students from Illinois State/Illinois Wesleyan (I met one of the girls a few weeks back when I visited Annie, and the other one goes to vocation camp with me in the summertime!). After meeting up with them, then we found the sisters for the brown bag lunch. We got kicked out of our room by the Administration folks who needed the room (it really was no problem...), so we had to eat in Campus Ministry. The lunch went really well. There were a lot of good questions, and the sisters had amazing answers for everything. They are so holy and good, and it was wonderful to just sit and be able to listen to them sharing their wisdom and knowledge with us. I love to listen to holy people speak - just the beauty of their words is enough to make you absolutely fall in love with Christ and His Church. Thursday afternoon the sisters had a table set up in the concourse and we watched the musci video from MTV entitled, "Can I Live?" It was absolutely bone-chilling. I had goosebumps watching it - it was so very real. I think it's amazing that this rapper can use his popularity and whatnot to preach truth (even though he doesn't realize it...he is!) - it was really something. I would strongly urge you to look into it. Then we had Mass, and dinner with the Illinois State/Illinois Wesleyan girls. Sister Immaculata told us her story - she's so amazing! :) Then we went to the presentation that Sister Mary Gabriel gave. Gosh, it was awesome. The way she explained the dignity and worth of the human person was so beautiful and passionate. I don't know how anyone could listen and choose to remain a part of the culture of death. It was just too captivating. Then we had a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Life that Sister Immaculata and Sister Antoniana led, and it was beautiful. Their prayers were straight from their hearts, and you could tell that they loved Jesus with everything they are. It was probably one of the best holy hour experiences I have ever had. On Friday, I had breakfast with the sisters. We shot grapefruit juice at each other (ah...Nashville), and discussed the article in the school newspaper about how pro-lifers are hateful people. It was a good breakfast - both intellectually stimulating and fun. Then we went to Rusty's class and Sister Mary Gabriel gave an amazing explanation of why life is always to be respected and why we cannot ever look at life from an economic or convience-oriented viewpoint. The students asked some good questions, and it was really interesting. The presentation given afterwards was dreadful, so it is good that Sister was there to shed some of God's light and truth on those students that day. Then we went down to the grotto to pray the Angelus and a decade of the rosary. After that, we decided to go to my apartment so that they could see where I live (and I could show off my POD room, of course) :), so off we went. Sister Immaculata and Sister Antoniana signed our quote board/signature wall. They wrote the most beautiful and inspiring quotes. We will treasure them always. Then we went for lunch, and chatted about the difficulties that ensued in getting them to campus (especially in regards to certain professors and whatnot). Sister Immaculata and Sister Antoniana commended Rusty and I for our efforts and reminded us to never give up even though our efforts may seem in vain, because when our work is for God, He will always bless what we do, no matter how feeble it may seem. Their words were very wise and motivational. Then we went on a tour of the campus and just happened to run across the very professors that we had been discussing. Sometimes God's sense of humor is too much for me. It was actually quite providential that the sisters were able to stop by that particular department because it was quite an opportunity for them to prove how good they truly are - Sister Immaculata was discussing philosophy like the best of 'em with one of the profs. Go Sister! We informed her later that the professor she was speaking with was probably one of the most controversial Catholics on campus. She totally handled the situation like the rockstar that she is, though, with peace, joy and grace. A-maa-zing. We had cake and cider and discussed wonderful things, then left to continue our campus tour. Later we went to Mass, then I began setting up for the discussion night at the K-House. Sister Immaculata led a really impressive guided discussion on the dignity and vocation of women based on JP2's "Mulieris Dignitatem". I was really impressed with how some of the guys in the group articulated their emotions and ideas about women. I am so blessed with holy guy friends. The guys were all saying how they see women as an image of Mary, and when women mistreat their bodies by being suggestive and lewd it saddens them because they want good, holy women who have respect for themselves and the God who made them beautiful. It was awesome to hear that. I mean, the guys I know live these ideas well - they are very respectful of women. But I never hear them actually discuss it. So, it was beautiful. And the way the women were expressing their feelings was wonderful too. Basically we were discussing the long and short of Catholic sexual teaching and Theology of the Body without having read and studied it. And so...we are planning to start up a Theology of the Body group which will discuss these ideas and teachings in depth according to the text. Yay! Then we surprised the sisters by kidnapping them and taking them to Cold Stone Creamery to get ice cream. They were so excited that they jumped up and down. It was priceless. It took a long time for them to decide on a flavor, and once we were served we went outside (even though it was freezing) to eat. It was great. We laughed and danced and sang "Lean On Me" and joked around, and it was probably one of the best nights EVER. :) When we got back, Sister Mary Gabriel even said "This is the most fun I've had since I entered!" Heh. That's how I felt too - only, in my terms, of course. It was the most fun I'd had in a loong time. They were sooo good and fun and holy!! It was just like the great times we have at vocation camp in the summer. Then Saturday morning Father said Mass, and we went out for breakfast, which was a lot of fun. Sister Mary Gabriel told Cardinal O'Connor stories, and we laughed and talked a lot. Then we went to the Cathedral and Father gave a tour, complete with a brief organ recital (which was awesome), and a visit to the reliquary hall. Yay. We saw the graves of the archbishops of the past, and Father gave the sisters his blessing. Then we tied up loose ends, and they left. :( I miss them dearly. They were an amazing presence on this campus, and the joy they brought is greatly missed. We are so grateful for the four days we were able to spend with them - how blessed some people are, who spend each day with such beauty, holiness and grace.

God bless those sisters - what a blessing they are. :)

I'm out- this is wayyy too long, but I couldn't bear leave any of it out!

Caritas et veritas.