Friday, February 12, 2010

TITLES AND ENTITLEMENTS

What is it, I wonder, about honorifics?

Father this?
Mother that?
Brother such and such?
Sister so on?
Bishop and Reverend Father/Mother?

Why?

This is self-revealing. In certain ways, it is driven by ego and a lack of esteem for self.
The titles offer personal sanctuary and spiritual elevation where, perhaps, that risen state
is not appropriate. The title lifts where the person may hide. I say this for I feel that I do this and it is become a revelation to me.

In my day, I meet people. 'Sister, they nod' ... That is a feel good and personal/emotional massage. People show their respect for the Life of a Religious and that is all well and good; however, if I thrive on the attention, live for the recognition, need that noticing: something is very amiss, indeed.

In my heart lies a Hermit. In my heart lives a Hidden life for Christ. Wearing a Habit on the outside of my enclosure where others peer into my privacy and perhaps wonder of the life being publicly displayed, prayer is being said and pondered about that.

A monastic Habit worn outside the Hermitage is a signpost of a life lived for something larger and more potent than myself. That I do believe. How I wish to state that another way exists in this land of profound materialism and 'give-everything-to-me-now-especially-if-it-new' mindset and culture.

What need be kept in the forefront of my mind and heart is that the black monastic Habit does not become something of vanity, pride, and self-absorption. Indeed, that the black monastic Habit state both to myself and to all that this person has died to the World and lives NOW in Christ Jesus, through Mary, ever-Virgin.

Oh, may this be so.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Bless you for that most wonderful post Sister. We all need to be reminded from time to time that our lives are lived in the service of Our Lord and not the service of self.