On this day every year, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity pause and remember that our Congregation began on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1866 Mother Gabriel (then Teresa Gramlich) and her meager belongings were transported by a team of horses to Clarks Mills, WI. The next day Teresa began her task as a teacher preparing the church’s choir loft as a classroom. In the days ahead, she would be joined by other young women called to be Franciscan Sisters.
We share from our Constitutions heartfelt words from the spiritual document of our Constitutions:
Our Congregation is consecrated in a special way to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. We unite ourselves with Him, Who, as Son, loved His Father and lived to do His Father’s will. We strive to love Him Who first loved us, to declare ourselves for Him, and to adopt His Gospel way. We clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience so that we can love others as He loved us.
In our manual of prayer is this Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart:
Heart of Jesus, pierced for love of us, we renew our baptismal promises to reject Satan and all his empty promises to live only for You. While we are united to You through the sacrament of Baptism, and this union is constantly perfected by the Eucharist, we give ourselves to You again today to fix more deeply in our hearts this resolve to serve You faithfully. Give us the grace to love and serve You always. Amen.
We pray for young women called to be Franciscan Sisters today. Are you desiring a visit to our Motherhouse this summer or some days of retreat? Call or text Sister Julie Ann at 920-323-9632. Click here.
