Vocations

On the 31st of each month our prayer intention in preparation for our General Chapter is "Vocations".You might be interested in viewing the Vocations blog of the Ursulines in the USA

Facets of Angela

Following on our celebration of the feast of St Angela here is a short video on facets of her life.

Novena to St Angela: Day Nine

DAY NINE:JESUS

"Always let your principal recourse be to gather at the feet of Jesus"

Last Legacy

Angela believed that wisdom was to be found at the Cross; there she said we would learn what to do.

"Take refuge at  the feet of Jesus Christ because if he directs and teaches you,you will be well taught."

Fifth Counsel

Angela at the feet of Jesus
Icon in the chapel of Angela's home at Grezze, Desenzano

Novena to St Angela:Day eight

DAY EIGHT: COMPASSION

"Be gentle and compassionate....you will achieve more with kindness than with harshness and sharp rebukes."

Second Counsel

St Angela attached great importance to gentleness as she respected each persons freedom. She says

"Be on your guard not to want to get anything done by force."

Third Legacy

A Rose called   "Compassion"
 St Angela's Garden of Compassion at St Thomas More's, Lancaster

Novena to St Angela:Day Seven

DAY SEVEN: MINISTRY

" Act,move, believe,hope,cry out to him with all your heart, for without doubt you will certainly see marvellous things, if you direct everything to the praise of his majesty and the good of souls."

Prologue to the Counsels

Novena to St Angela: Day Six

DAY SIX: CHARITY

"Love ...with a burning and passionate charity."

Second Legacy

Novena to St Angela: Day Five

DAY FIVE: TRUST

"Leave it to God; he will do marvelous things in his own time."

Eighth Counsel

Novena to St Angela: Day Four

DAY FOUR: FAITH

"Have hope and firm faith in God, for he will help you in everything."

Prologue to the Counsels

Pantocrator

For Angela the heart of faith is a person: JESUS. Growing in faith is about a deepening awareness of how much we are personally loved by God and so we can trust him to want nothing but our happiness. Faith is rooted in this trust.

Novena to St Angela: Day Three

DAY THREE : PRAYER 

"Be diligent in prayer, mental as well as vocal...by prayer one obtains  from God the grace of a spiritual life." 

Rule Chapter 5

Angela devotes the whole of Chapter 5 of  her Rule to the subject of prayer and gives an example of a prayer one could use. This prayer contains a lovely blessing which evokes the countryside of Lake Garda where Angela grew up.

"Your holy Name,be it blessed above the sands of the seas, above the drops of the waters, above the multitude of the stars."

Novena to St Angela: Day Two

DAY TWO: GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"Obey the counsels and inspirations which the Holy Spirit unceasingly sends into our hearts."

Angela at Prayer

Rule Ch 8

Novena in preparation for the Feast of St Angela

Today, 18th January, is the day for starting a novena in preparation for the feast of St Angela on 27th January, the day on which she died in Brescia in 1540. A way of praying this novena is to place yourself in the presence of Angela and reflecting with her on the text of the day, pray for the grace suggested by the extract. End with a Glory Be. Each day a fresh text will be posted.

DAY ONE: FIDELITY TO VOCATION

"Strive with all your might to remain as you are called."

Prologue to the Rule

Angela at prayer

Vocation rooted in Baptism

Today we keep the feast of the baptism of  Jesus, a key event in his life. There in the river Jordan, Jesus is confirmed in his mission by the Father. He knows himself as "the beloved Son" and is empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is also a key event in each one of our lives.Living  baptism is  every Christian's vocation. By this sacrament we share in Jesus' mission of bringing everyone to know that they are loved unconditionally by God who wants to be one with them. 

Discernment Weekend

Are you looking for some space and time to consider your call in life?

Why not consider attending a discernment weekend for single women (20-40 years) with the Ursuline Sisters in Wimbledon  from 15th-17th March 2013?

 For more information contact Sr Zela   zela@btinternet.com 

January Mantra

Jesus Christ, our only treasure

Our January prayer of the heart, in preparation for our General Chapter, is taken from the 5th Counsel of St Angela where she says:-

"Let them have Jesus Christ for their only treasure, for there also will be love."

The 5th Counsel, the longest of Angela's Counsels written for the guidance of the local leaders, is full of words of encouragement. Among them are  these words:-

"Also, let them hold this as most certain: that they will never be abandoned in their needs. God will provide for them wonderfully.They must not lose hope."

Happy New Year

May this picture of cherry blossom in the garden of  St Thomas More's, Lancaster,

 be a symbol of a beautiful and fruitful 2013 for all.

And in the words of the Book of Numbers

"May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord uncover his face to you

and

BRING YOU  PEACE