my favorite sister...

For the week end of prayer for the vocations, Laura had the GREAT idea to post a small tribute to the religious people who made an impression on your life...

I will start with a favorite sister, I will be away this week end but I'd love to schedule an other one for Sunday...

Anyway here goes the story of how I met my favorite sister.

In college we had different buildings for the first two years and the following ones. When I arrived in the nice old building there was a catholic aumonerie across the street. I was tepidly christian, more interested than practicing, and certainly prompt to judge cathlic people, based on mostly ignorance and bad previous experience. I met there some great friends, and a wonderful priest (but that's an other story)..
Bref, during this year we went for a student's pilgrimage to Chartres

It was cool, fun and very spiritual. Truly a life changing experience for me. I went praying for two main intentions: getting some respect for my dad, and clearing things with my boyfriend (unsure as to getting engaged or not).
When I got back my dad quit smocking (the very first sign of will power I ever saw in him) and my boyfriend broke up with me.
Awkwardly that was the BEST month ever. It was Easter and I went to all celebrations...
My life became meaningful and interesting. I was really starting to believe in God and trust Him and it makes all the difference in the world..
"where is the sister? "you're asking... Hang in there one more minute we're getting there.

After that Palm Sunday pilgrimage we had such a good time that we (our little chapter of walk= 5 people) decided to go again, just by ourselves.
We planed the road, and looked for a place to spend the night.
I looked on the yellow pages for sisters to dwell us for a night.
Here I am calling a small community I had never heard of: Filles de Jesus de Kermaria
The lady on the phone had such a sweet voice. She was very soft and nice.
Turned out they just moved in and she barely knew her fellow sisters in the new community, but they took the risk to welcome us for one night.

The lady on the phone was sister Liliane. (YAY in doing this post I found there is a full article about her on their website!!)
She was the first sister I met who was glowing with joy and enthousiasm.
All 4 sisters were happy and positive, peaceful but full of personality.. They were just like every other human being, only a better version.
They really made an impression on me, and the following year when I went for a vocational year I spent a lot of time with them.
I went to Britany with them, for a 2 week stay in their retirment house, I even went to Cameroon to meet other younger sisters and the noviciat.
I would have loved to become one of them. I was somewhat on the way there...
Obviously God had other plans for me :)
But I received so much from their company, I somehow still try to follow their charism, just because it echoed so strongly with what I am deep inside.

Thanks sister Liliane for showing me how happiness is easy, how following God is a joyful way, no matter how hard it gets.

And because it's May I'll post the prayer I say every night, in communion with them:
(and I invite every one, which ever religion you have, to meditate on the "humility which frees us")

Mary, teach us to honour

the Sacred Humanity of your Son,

the Incarnate Word,

with no other desire

than to do the Father's will.

Help us to go forward,

using every available means

to grow in humility which frees us

and in simplicity which leads us to peace,

gentleness and confidence in God.

May we be united to Christ our Lord

and filled with his Spirit

so that we may seek

the Father's glory in all things.

May we, with living faith,

firm hope and glowing charity,

work with Him for the salvation of mankind.

Amen.