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Sr.
Florence shares her thoughts on religious life, discipleship and service
(article for Catholic Voice)
 Life
is wonderful when lived with a purpose. If there is no purpose for my
life or if I didn’t discover it, life would be difficult to bear. I am
delighted to say that I found the purpose of my life at 25 years of age.
It was when I chose religious life. I didn’t think of any particular
congregation at that time … there was simply the great desire to spend
my life in prayer and thanksgiving.
The Disciples of the Divine Master welcomed me and I began my journey of
discipleship. This journey is ongoing. What is the purpose of my life?
Simply this, to become his disciple.
Who is a disciple? What is discipleship?
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my
disciple” (Lk 14:26). “I will strive each day to become a disciple” –
These words are from Mother Scholastica Rivata, the first Disciple of
the Divine Master. She responded to the call to dedicate her life to
Jesus through the Eucharistic, Priesthood and Liturgical ministry. Her
life became a living candle that shines for the Eucharistic Master in
adoration and thanksgiving. I chose and was chosen to follow this way of
life.
Eucharistic adoration is not just to save one’s soul or to find rest in
the Eucharistic silence. It is to bring the world into the small chapel
of adoration together with me in the Eucharist. It is hard to understand
this without faith.
By Baptism, all Christians share in the priesthood of Christ. There are
ordained ministers too (the priests) who partake Christ’s priesthood in
a special way. My service to priesthood is my service to Christ’s
priesthood. It is my prayer and support offered for their formation,
life and ministry and also in their death bed and finally for their
eternal repose.
Liturgy helps me to encounter God. My service in the liturgical ministry
is my service to help people to encounter God. It is evangelisation.
Service in the Eucharist helps me to become Eucharist; service in the
priesthood helps me to reach out to the ordained ministers of Jesus, and
my service in the Liturgy helps me to share my life and faith to the
world.
My life is wonderful because it has a purpose. I am learning to become a
disciple in the school of Jesus Master. Every day I have new lessons
from Him. If any one is interested to know more about disciples, I think
they have to decide to become disciples.
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