THE CALL OF GOD’S LOVE

On this occasion of the feast day of our Mother and Queen of the Holy Rosary which is also the feast day of our Congregation, as we entrust to her all the needs of our Institution and acknowledge the Blessed Mother Mary as protectress and model to each one of us in our calling, I am humbled and honored to share with you my response to the Lord who called me.   

 I would say my vocation as many others´ are, is a response to the call of Love because I believe, the source of every perfect gift is God Himself, who is Love (Deus caritas est). Vocation for me is always a call to love in truth. It is also the story of God’s loving initiative. He is Love and He first loved us, (1 John 14: 19-20) so we know what love is, therefore remain in His love (John 15:10). Every specific vocation is therefore born of the initiative of God; it is a gift of the love of God. He is the One who takes the first step, like the calling of the first four disciples, Jesus gazes at them and takes the initiative to call them. Not because He has found something good in them, but because of the presence of His love poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5).

On September 10, 2022, at 10 am, a beautiful morning with good weather, in the Church of Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Taiwan (Formosa) my six companions and myself (7 of us), made our lifetime religious commitment thanking the years of graces after our first temporal profession back in Macau in 2016. How great God is that He binds us together, all these years, in his perfect love! 

We were and are still complete seven. Hopefully, with the grace of God, the perfect Seven will continue to embark on this journey until death do us part, and the love that we shared will continue to live on. It seems, the symbolism of a perfect number sounds true to us. We couldn’t put it in the right words how grateful we are to God, who kept pace with us despite of who we are.  He preserves us with His love. We are awed by the way He sees us and loves us. And of course, we are also grateful for those who are part of this gift of calling.  Our families who were in the first place the ones who showed us the true image of God as love. To all the sisters, especially the sisters of the Queen of China Province, for the many ways, they inspired, enriched, and challenged us to grow to become the persons God wants us to be. 

When we respond to the Love of God, we are called into a deeper commitment like Mary and are keenly attentive to the needs of others in every situation. Mary’s Fiat inspires us to be firm in the conviction of our Yes to the Lord and to live out what we professed. As an MDR we are sent to go beyond the borders, to be the signs of hope, and most importantly to respond to the needs of the time, especially where the Church needs most of our presence.

Anna and Companions