Ursuline

Reflection on a personal vocation

I am 57 years of age and have been in religious life as an Ursuline sister since I was 53 – not long and certainly not young to have embarked on this, my third, vocational journey. My first vocation was as a wife and my second as a mother of two wonderful children. My husband died in 1990 and my children are now adult. So, my reflection on vocation began many years ago. So, what do I mean by vocation? For me it is a calling from God, a summoning, to live a certain type of life. I believe that God called me first to be a wife and a mother and has now called me to religious life.
			Sr. Elizabeth Labrow worked as a health visitor for many years, and is currently engaged in an MA in Pastoral Theology at Heythrop College, London.
For me, entering the Ursulines has been the start of a new vocation, a new way of living, but also an extension of my previous vocations.

This third vocation has added a new dimension to my life which in no way negates my previous vocations of wife and mother – indeed it fully incorporates them and gives them greater meaning. We ‘Sister Mums’ have much to offer our religious congregations.

To many, to begin a religious vocation so late in life seems a giant step. I believe that it was an act of faith which guided me along the path. I was so much inspired by the words on a card written by Barbara J Winter:

“ When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.”

I believe that, in entering religious life, I learnt how to fly! It was my very deep love of God and a desire to serve his people which drew me towards religious life.

I know, from experience, that it is possible – and sometimes easier – to love God and serve his people without entering religious life. However, when God summons, he can be very persistent and, in the end, after much prayer, discussion and soul searching, I realised that, for me, the way to do God’s work was as an Ursuline.

Now that I have answered God’s call and am an Ursuline, I have found a different and wonderful joy and peace in my life. I am still a mother but I also live in a community of religious sisters – a very unusual situation for them.

They have been totally supportive of my dual role. My children, family and friends have also encouraged me constantly along the sometimes formidable way.

Living in community can be both a challenge and a blessing. I know that, in future, there will be new situations bringing new challenges and, thank God, new blessings. This is the way of religious life.

There is much to challenge us both physically and spiritually but we strive to constantly grow with the grace of God’s love. Not least of our challenges these days is the reduction in the numbers entering religious life and the increasing average age of our remaining sisters. Gone are the days when we had groups of novices.

Many young people no longer see the relevance of religious life and many mature people do not realise that it is an option for them. However, there are a few who still hear God’s call to enter religious life and, whilst he continues to call, we will continue to serve in whatever way he asks. This is the nature of our call to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.

There have been occasions (albeit few) when I have wondered how I will manage to continue to be a mother and a religious sister but the words of our Foundress, St. Angela Merici, stay with me:

“Have hope and firm faith in God, for he will help you in everything.”

And indeed he does.

I know that my vocation is no more important to God’s plan than any other vocation, but I know that it is the right one for me – the one to which God has called me:

“Whether you turn right or left, your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, follow it” Isaiah 30:21

God calls many types of people to religious life. There is no prototype. The only thing that religious have in common is their individuality, their wish to seek, love and serve God and to give him glory – see him as life in all its wholeness. God calls us to use our individual gifts to the full in his service.

By God’s grace I continue on this vocational journey as an Ursuline sister. I pray that my life experience will bring a richness of love to those I meet on the way. As the Lord of life calls us, let us take his hand, surrender our lives gladly and love as he commands.

If you feel that God is calling you to religious life:

Pray about it – ask God to help you to respond in whatever way he may be asking of you.
Talk to someone you trust – preferably with some knowledge of religious life.
Be prepared for a lack of enthusiasm from others!
Do not be afraid…………...

“He who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (Thessalonians 5:24)