"The only reason one can choose to be a Servant of Mary, Minister to the Sick is to be a Spouse of Jesus and delight in His company"
"Blessed Sisters who were found worthy of the palm of martyrdom, pray for us; may your example motivate us to generously follow Jesus in the fulfillment of his divine and adorable will."
- from testimonies of Blessed Martyr Sisters
“We come to the religious life to serve, following the example of Christ and the Virgin Mary.”
- Venerable Soledad Sanjurjo
"We must love our vocation very much. Taking care of the sick is something very great."
- Blessed Mary Catherine
For Love Alone
For Love Alone is a 16-minute film on the vocation to women’s religious life. The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) commissioned this film to be produced by Grassroots Films, the acclaimed producers of the film on the priesthood, Fishers of Men. This film, completed for the Year of Consecrated Life, aims to share the beauty and depth of the vocation to the religious life.
A Day in the life
5:00 a.m.
At the sound of the bell: V/Hail Mary most pure. R/ Conceived without sin. V/Arise, sisters, to praise God and his most Blessed Mother R/Amen. We recite a prayer as we put on our Holy Habit. Our Night duty Sisters are preparing to return to the convent after their night vigil with the patient.
5:30 - 6:30 a.m.
Meditation: We recite the Angelus or the Regina Caeli, according to the liturgical season followed by the 'Veni Creator' to begin our one hour of meditation.
6:30 - 7:30 a.m
We pray the Liturgy of the Hours followed by the Celebration of the Eucharist.
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast: A Sister reads a chapter from Sacred Scripture or The Imitation of Christ during our meal.
8:30 a.m
Spiritual Reading: We gather in our Community Room and a Sister reads while we sow, knit or crochet. At the end of the spiritual reading we offer our silence by reciting: "We offer you O Lord, all the moments of this hour, grant us the grace to employ them in the accomplishment of thy most holy will. Amen."
8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Visiting Nursing: The sister assigned as the Visiting Nurse goes out to assist our patients with showers, wound care, medications, run errands and bring them Holy Communion.
9:30 - 11:00 a.m
Assignments: At this time we perform our different chores and responsibilities. These include: house chores, college classes, answering the phone/door and administration.
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
We pray the Prayer of Praise to the Blessed Trinity followed by the examination of conscience and Psalm 51.
11:30 a.m
LUNCH: A sister reads a number from our Constitutions followed by a book (the life of a saint, documents from the Church, the history of our Congregation, etc.). We observe silence in our meals except on Thursdays and Sundays. After lunch, we go to our Chapel and recite the 'Te Deum' and the Angelus.
12:00 - 1:00 p.m
RECREATION: We gather in our community room to do puzzles and share. We also have the option to play outdoor sports such as volleyball or basketball or walk around our garden. At 12:30pm, our Sisters assigned to night duty go to bed.
1:00 - 5:45 p.m.
LUNCH: A sister reads a number from our Constitutions followed by a book (the life of a saint, documents from the Church, the history of our Congregation, etc.). We observe silence in our meals except on Thursdays and Sundays. After lunch, we go to our Chapel and recite the 'Te Deum' and the Angelus.
5:45 - 7:00 p.m.
ROSARY, MEDITATION and VESPERS: In union with Mary, we meditate on Christ's mysteries as we recite the rosary in community. Then we have half an hour of meditation followed by the Liturgy of the Hours.
7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
RECREATION and SUPPER: We gather at our community room for recreation and at 7:30pm the bell is rung to proceed for supper. Our Sisters assigned to night duty arise at 7:00pm and they join us for supper.
8:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Sisters assigned to night duty make their half hour of meditation. At 8:30 pm volunteers or the patient's family members come and pick up Sister to drive her to her patient's home.
9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Our Sisters who stay home do the examination of conscience,pray the Liturgy of the Hours and then go to bed. Sisters on night duty remain in their patient's home until 5:30am.