Читать книгу Walk With Me, Jesus: A Widow's Journey - Ronda Chervin Ph.D. - Страница 16

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

on your own understanding rely not;

In all your ways be mindful of him,

and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Although Elizabeth loved the sacramental and devotional life of the Roman Catholic Church, she was surprised that there was so little educational opportunity for children. She dreamed of starting her own little school for the poor. Eventually the widow's hopes were met with a similar idea on the part of the highly educated Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore. He invited her to start a teaching order for girls called The Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph.

Elizabeth insisted that the bishop arrange things so her sons could be provided for at a flourishing Catholic school for boys, and her daughters could stay with her. The curriculum of the first school run by the newly formed order included reading, writing, arithmetic, English, French, and needlework. Quite a number of the students were boarders, so Elizabeth was busy from five-thirty in the morning until nine at night.

By no means was the way smooth for the new congregation of sisters. By 1809 Mother Seton was writing to Bishop Carroll of the difficulties. A cleric had ordered them to give up the direction of a priest who was greatly beloved for his understanding and inspiration. Instead they were to be ordered about by a superior they thought did not enter into the spirit of their own plans. Saint Elizabeth was willing to accept for herself the cross of the many misunderstandings that took place at the beginning of the foundation, but was not ready to see her sisters suffer.

For a while, another sister was appointed to head the order, which was followed by much turmoil. Elizabeth was especially anxious to retain charge over her own children under the new circumstances. Finally, the sister appointed as the congregation's head left, and the spirituality of the sisters grew in peace and joy."

Observe the sweet ironic humor of this account of the community Elizabeth wrote to her dear spiritual friend Antonio Filicchi, who helped the order financially as well as by his prayers:

"Now then you will laugh when I tell you that your wicked little Sister is placed at the head of a Community of Saints, ten of the most pious Souls you could wish, considering that some of them are young and all under thirty. Six more postulants are daily waiting till we move in a larger place to receive them, and we might be a very large family if I received half who desire to come, but your Reverend Mother is obliged to be very cautious for fear we should not have the means of earning our living during the Winter. Yet as Sisters of Charity we should fear nothing...."

FOR PONDERING

Do you have a task at hand that seems too great to handle, a task that only seems to underscore the empty spaces in your life?

Is God using the death of your husband to bring to life some new work through you? Or is it possible that God might now be calling you to a new path or a new endeavor?

What might it be? Write about it.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty God,

Somehow, life moves on - even after the most devastating losses. There are still places to go, things to do, bills to pay ... the list is endless, and my resources are few. Help me, Lord, to know where my priorities should be. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.