“Come celebrate with us,” Sister Dorothy said when I spoke with her on the phone earlier this month. The Ursuline Sisters and Associates were preparing their annual celebration for the Feast Day of Saint Angela Merici, their founder. For the past few years, I was already back at West Virginia University by this time, the spring semester well underway, and I hadn’t been able to attend a Feast Day celebration. Now was my chance.
Last Thursday night, on the eve of the actual Feast Day, my mom and I arrived at the Motherhouse as the Ursuline Sisters and Associates began gathering in chapel. I smiled back at many familiar faces and hugged my friends who I hadn’t seen for several months or years, now within arm’s reach. We began mass by singing “All Are Welcome” and listened to the presider’s homily about humility. He cited the writings of Saint Angela, in which she referred to herself as an “unworthy servant of Jesus Christ.” As the priest explained, humility does not mean being a “wallflower,” but being attentive to the needs of others.
In fact, the Feast Day homily continued to resonate the following Sunday at my home parish, as the pastor gave a homily about the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”—their wisdom often goes against secular logic. The pastor at my parish recalled a visit to the grotto where Jesus was born. The entry way was low, so he had to stoop to enter, a posture of humility. The pastor’s story seemed to respond so inherently to the words of Saint Angela, shared at the Feast Day celebration. It was a small memento I could hold onto and carry with me.
Following the Feast Day mass and initiation of the new associates, we gathered in the Motherhouse dining room for a delicious meal. The tables displayed pictures of Saint Angela. The smell of Italian food gave testament to the Ursuline’s proud heritage. A palpable energy of laughter and camaraderie reminded us of Saint Angela’s presence. As we gathered in her honor, she was with us.
In fact, the Feast Day homily continued to resonate the following Sunday at my home parish, as the pastor gave a homily about the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”—their wisdom often goes against secular logic. The pastor at my parish recalled a visit to the grotto where Jesus was born. The entry way was low, so he had to stoop to enter, a posture of humility. The pastor’s story seemed to respond so inherently to the words of Saint Angela, shared at the Feast Day celebration. It was a small memento I could hold onto and carry with me.
Following the Feast Day mass and initiation of the new associates, we gathered in the Motherhouse dining room for a delicious meal. The tables displayed pictures of Saint Angela. The smell of Italian food gave testament to the Ursuline’s proud heritage. A palpable energy of laughter and camaraderie reminded us of Saint Angela’s presence. As we gathered in her honor, she was with us.