|
This
community is one of about 160 autonomous
monasteries of the worldwide Order of
the Visitation of Holy Mary, founded on
June 6, 1610 in Annecy, France by St.
Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de
Chantal. The monastery is strictly
contemplative with papal enclosure and
solemn vows. It belongs to the First
Federation of United States monasteries,
all of whom observe papal enclosure with
solemn vows, and have retained the
traditional habit of the Order.
The best
known saint of the Order is St. Margaret
Mary Alacoque, who received the
revelations of the Sacred Heart
resulting in the First Friday devotions
and Holy Hours. On May 10, 1998, seven
Visitandines of the First Monastery of
Madrid, Spain, martyred during the
Spanish Revolution of 1936, were
beatified. They are Blesseds Maria
Gabriela, Teresa Maria, Josefa Maria,
Maria Ines, Maria Cecilia, Maria
Engracia, and Maria Angela.
The nuns
sing the Divine Office together in choir
five times a day, spend an hour and a
half a day in mental prayer, observe
silence except during recreation after
dinner and supper, and engage in a
variety of work: maintenance of the
monastery, gardening, distribution of altarbreads, correspondence, art work,
computer projects, needlework, and
crafts.
The spirit
of the Order emphasizes love of God and
neighbor in humility, gentleness,
kindness, and thoughtfulness. Physical
austerity is minimal to pave the way for
the reception of those who would not be
able to practice it. However, sufficient
health for following the Rule is
required. St. Francis de Sales’s
masterpieces: Introduction to a
Devout Life and Treatise on the
Love of God clearly explain the
spirit of the Visitation.
By a special indult of the Holy See, the
Visitation Sisters may bring aspirants
into the cloister for a VOCATION
RETREAT, which enables them to
experience life in the Visitation
cloister for a weekend, a week, or
longer. These retreats are
arranged on an individual basis and
require a letter of recommendation from
the spiritual director, pastor, or
equally qualified person.
Formation consists of Postulancy for six
months to a year; Novitiate for two
years, one a canonical year; Temporary
Profession for three years with simple
vows, which can be prolonged for not
longer than another three years; and
then Solemn Profession with solemn
perpetual vows. Age for admission
is eighteen years and over.
Although the Founder specified no age
limit, each community must try to
balance the sisters’ ages so that the
community can be viable. Great
prudence has to be exercised with regard
to receiving older subjects.
|
|
