Sr. Louise Marie Vestition

We rejoiced once again at the end of May on the beautiful Solemnity of Pentecost. Sister Louise Poncini received her Dominican habit along with her religious name, Sister Louise Marie of the Most Holy Trinity.

May the presence and the love of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, constantly abide in her heart and sustain Sister in her religious vocation.

On this beautiful Solemnity of Pentecost we have reason to rejoice. In sending the Holy Spirit, God kept his promise and did not leave us orphans. At our baptism, we received sanctifying grace, the infused virtues and were given the Holy Spirit and His gifts to guide us on our earthly pilgrimage back to the Father. Today we also have cause for rejoicing because we celebrate the feast day of two of our elder sisters. In faith, Sr. Maura and Sr. Mary of the Holy Spirit left the world ( before our younger sisters were born) to seek the face of God through a life of prayer and sacrifice as Dominicans. The number of their years together adds to well over 100 years. We wish them a Happy Feast Day.

However, the principal reason we gather today is another occasion for celebration. Through the deepening of her Baptismal vows, by which she died to self and rose to new life, Sr. Louise chooses this day to begin her novitiate—to seek “the higher things of God” and to be “hidden now with Christ in God” through her Dominican vocation. By Sr. Louise’s “yes” in response to grace, she has been given the courage to enter more deeply into what it means to be a Dominican-- to be a lover of truth.

She has chosen to exchange the created goods of this world for the Creator of all good things. This will not be an easy task, Sister, but you have your community, the life of observances, liturgical prayer and enclosure to help you. When it seems the hardest for you, it is at that time when you enter into the sufferings of Christ. Look at your daily cross as a gift from God. At that time he is very close to you. Love Christ and love His cross.

May we always be inspired by the following prayer written in the 10th Century “It is not for his gifts, but for the Giver that I long. It is not glory to which I aspire, but the Glorified One whom I desire to embrace. It is not rest that I seek, but the face of the one who gives rest that I implore. It is not the wedding feast, but the desire of the Bridegroom that I languish.” This prayer will keep everything in perspective. Sr. Louise, may you always set your heart on Christ seated at God’s right hand.” Blessings to you through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on this your Clothing Day. May you persevere in God’s grace.