A potential nun does not march into the monastery announcing which boundaries she will or will not accept.
"This wall of the enclosure suits me, but I'm not comfortable with that one..." No, she does not say it.
Or if she does, she is told that her vocation is elsewhere. These are the boundaries of this monastery, she is told; these are the walls beyond which those called to serve God here do not go.
The boundaries are important to those in a physical monastery. They are important to those in a "spiritual" one as well, which we will discuss next time.
For now, let's take another swift glance at the physical enclosure.
"If Christ's love is the enclosure wall... He encloses you; He IS the enclosure. So it is the most spacious place in all the world."
"And whereas some think that we are immured behind walls, we know the walls as simply a beautiful expression of our immersion in Christ our Lord."
Above quotes from Mother Mary Francis PCC, from the booklet "Walls Around the World"
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A beautiful link:
A Divine Enclosure Set Round Our Hearts
Photo at top of post: Visitation Monastery Mobile, Alabama; public domain photo, digitally enhanced
For a look at our own boundaries, click this line
Oh how beautiful is Mother Mary Francis' quote! I think I could meditate on it forever! Enclosed within the most spacious love of Christ...
ReplyDeleteMother Mary Francis wrote so many wonderful things! And isn't it amazing to ponder the most spacious love of Christ.... the most vast enclosure possible!
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