The Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament have a high and sublime goal: to offer ourselves to God for the salvation of the world, willing to give our whole being in Christian and non-Christian countries, in every social environment and in any activity where we can bring the name of Jesus, always guided by the Gospel. We strongly believe that God wants all men to be saved.
The motto “Oportet Illum Regnare” (Christ must reign) expresses our mission as Poor Clare Missionary Sister of the Blessed Sacrament.
“…The new sister, whom the merciful love of Jesus has chosen her to be His spouse, like a delicate little plant, was transplanted to the garden of religious life. Growing under His care, she may produce beautiful flowers of holiness.”
Blessed Mother Maria Ines Teresa
Vocational Discernment Process
The young woman that enters to this Contemplative and Missionary Congregation should be passionate about intimacy with Christ, a source of fruitful apostolate. Her soul must find God: “In the poor they help, in the ignorant they instruct”. If the consecrated life is in itself a journey that leads to a progressive assimilation of the feelings of Christ, formation cannot be limited to a specific period of time, but must last a lifetime and involve the person in all her dimensions. Since it is an integral and continuous process, the objectives of this formation involve the different dimensions of the consecrated person such as: human, spiritual, charismatic, fraternal, intellectual, and apostolic. Cfr. RF 49.
Inquiry
- The candidate visits her closest Poor Clare Missionary Sister’s community and attends a vocational retreat. She will be invited to visit the Regional House; where she may have an interview with the regional superior or the Sister in charge of formation.
- The candidate may request an application.
- The regional council will study the application and evaluate it. They will as well communicate the results of acceptance or other recommendation to the candidate.
The Stages of Formation in the Congregation of the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Aspirancy:
The Aspirancy in its two modalities: at home or in the convent, gives the young women the opportunity to lead the life that corresponds to their age and mentality. This stage initiates her into the way of life of the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters. Through a process of vocational discernment, the aspirant is helped to discover her strengths as well as the qualities required for a religious consecrated life. This process takes place exploring the dimensions of the consecrated person: human, spiritual, charismatic, fraternal and apostolic.
Aspirants may be at home or in a convent of the Congregation under the care and supervision of an assign Sister. After a certain time, if there is no obstacle from the aspirant, and if she is considered eligible, she may be accepted into the Postulancy.
Aspirant at Convent:
An aspirant is a young lady who freely decided to live for a while with the community of sisters. She wants to see if she feels that God is calling her to the religious life on this particular Congregation in order to enter the Congregation to becoming a Poor Clare Missionary Sister.
Postulancy:
This first stage period called Postulancy take from six months to two years. The Postulant must strive from the beginning, to assimilate the charism of her foundress, acquiring her spirit of joy, simplicity and trust.
The postulant is assigned to a community with apostolic activities, where she will be properly cared for humanly and spiritually, in order to continue her process of vocational discernment.
Novitiate:
The novitiate is the school where one learns the science of love of God and neighbor. All other virtues must be saturated in this great science.
From the Novitiate, a young woman must fall in love with the contemplative life, trying not to go out of her inner self, because from this life of union with God, she will get all necessary graces to sanctify herself and to pray for the salvation of the souls.
The novice prepares herself for the practice of virtues by reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures, especially in the holy Gospels, trying to grow in the love of God and acquiring His virtues. She will likewise, have the opportunity to be prepared in different studies, such as Theological Sciences, Catholic Doctrine, Dogmatic, Morals, Sacraments, Liturgy, History of the Church, Missiology, Catechetical Pedagogy, Anthropology, etc.
During the novitiate she will be formed in the missionary spirit, extending her prayers to all the world, living the spirituality of the congregation: MISSIONARY, MARIAN, PRIESTLY, EUCHARISTIC AND JOYFUL, and at its center is Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
The duration of novitiate is two years.
First Profession (Temporary Profession):
After the novitiate (which is a period of two years), the novice emits her temporal vows —first profession—, where she commits herself publicly before God and the Church to live in CHASTITY, POVERTY AND OBEDIENCE and receives the Poor Clare Missionary Sister of the Blessed Sacrament habit with a black veil. During three years, in which her faith and her vocation will mature and be affirmed to take the definitive step. At the end of the three years, the young professed will renew her vows for another three years, then she will be ready for her final profession, if it is the will of God.
“The concrete goal of this stage of formation, consists of having the young girl arrive at a perfect balance between the works of apostolate and the practice of a profound and intense spiritual life. She will bear in mind that we are CONTEMPLATIVE IN ACTION.” DF 184
Perpetual Profession:
After six years as professed Sister, she emits her the perpetual vows. From that day on, nothing belongs to her, nothing binds her to the world, her whole being belongs to God. The Poor Clare Missionary Sister of the Blessed Sacrament will dedicate herself fully to serving her brothers and sisters according to her abilities and the aims of the Congregation, all for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Have you ever asked yourself if you would be willing to commit your whole self to a love as great as divine love? Would you be willing to discover it?
We can help you in this process of listening, discerning and living the Word of the One who calls us from on high and who, while allowing us to make our talents bear fruit, also makes us instruments of salvation in the world and guides us to full happiness.
Contact us: Pro.voc.reg@gmail.com
