Our modern world has almost completely lost the understanding of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom-of a life entirely consecrated to God. Many people believe celibacy to be impossible. They think celibacy in the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church is a remnant of the Dark Ages which will eventually be done away with. Likewise, they look on religious life as repressive and contrary to nature, a mode of life which is passing away.
   Along with its failure to understand religious chastity, our society has also forgotten about extravagant generosity, about radical self-sacrifice for the good of the Beloved, and about spending lavishly to proclaim an ultimate truth. This radical, unthinkable generosity goes hand in hand with true religious chastity. Celibacy for the kingdom of God is a gift from Him and a magnificent expression of the lover for the Beloved. It is not passing away; it is not an idea that has seen its day. It is an invaluable gift to the Church and to the world.
   On July 26, 1992, two brave women, now Sister Hannah Joy and Sister Grace, responded to the call of Christ the Bridegroom to consecrate themselves entirely to Him and became the first novices in the Sisterhood of the Life in Jesus Community. They joined a long line of men and women who have penetrated the veil that separates this world from the next.
   When these women first began to discern their vocations to a consecrated celibate life, there was so much we did not understand. Over the years the Lord has taught us, revealing more and more about this holy and beautiful calling.
   What would the Lord have us understand about religious chastity? So many of us have our preconceived ideas of religious sisters and brothers, of monks and nuns. Depending on our background, experiences, and what we have been taught, we may have fond memories of brothers and sisters, or we may cringe to remember our days in parochial school. We may be tainted by anti-Catholic sentiment, or we may have no experience at all. Regardless of our memories, feelings, or opinions, it is important to come to understand the spiritual and supernatural reality of the lives of those men and women who have given their whole being, body, soul, and spirit, to God and for the good of His Church. I believe the Lord would have us recognize that these men and women are a gift to the Church; I believe He would have us listen to the word He speaks through them.
   Consecrated men and women proclaim to the Church and to the world that Christ is worth giving up all for and that He is the ultimate goal of all believers. In sacrificing all for God, they remind us that He alone can satisfy the human heart; He is the fulfillment of all our desires. Men and women who are called to serve God in this particular and holy way, through their spiritual and prophetic surrender, point those who have eyes of the Spirit to heaven and to the nuptial union which exists between Christ and His Church, between God and the soul. They remind us that each one of us is created for union with God.
   In Ephesians 5:32, Saint Paul tells us that the marriage between a man and a woman reveals to the world the mystery of the union between Christ and His bride, the Church. He gave us marriage to be a picture of His love for us, of His mysterious union with the Church. He gave us the consecrated celibate life to be a clearer icon of that same mysterious union, to proclaim that eternity with God is a reality. In heaven, we shall enter into a nuptial embrace with God that will bless us beyond all measure and will fill our deepest longings.
   The response to a call to the consecrated celibate life is motivated by love. It is a response to Love Incarnate: Jesus Christ. The primary goal of consecrated men and women is to belong completely to Jesus and to worship Him with all that they are. Then, out of  His love for them and their love for Him flows service to others.
   The primary service of our sisters at Life in Jesus is prayer, interceding for the Church and the world in the Divine Office. Because of the vocation of these consecrated souls, I believe they also have the opportunity to develop an efficiency in prayer that many of us simply dream of. Often we receive letters, phone calls, or personal requests for our sisters to pray. People who have even a simple knowledge of God's call on the lives of our sisters are confident that they are known and loved by God and that He hears and responds to their prayers. In addition to their work of prayer, our sisters also work in the community office, serve in music ministry, work in the kitchen, serve at retreats, work with young women, and teach in our Sunday School, among other things.
   For our sisters, part of their call is to be a clear visible symbol of the bride of Christ. In the early years of formation, as our first novices approached profession, Mother Jean and I and our two novices sought wisdom from the Lord with respect to the kind of clothing they should wear. (During their noviate, they wore a simple navy jumper with a white blouse.) We were debating between a simple modern habit and a traditional habit. I remember the novices showing me a photograph of two sisters standing next to each other; one wore a modern habit and the other a more traditional habit. All of a sudden I had an epiphany: the Lord opened my eyes to see the importance of our sisters wearing a traditional habit, which unquestionably points out the call to be an icon of the unity between Christ and His Church. Because of their visibility in their traditional habits, they have had increased opportunities to minister the love of Jesus in grocery stores, on airplanes, and everywhere they go. Many people see the habit and know that this woman belongs to God. Others realize that they can approach a habited sister and pour out their heart or ask for prayer.
   Twelve years after the foundation of our sisterhood, we have four life-professed sisters and three novice sisters, one of whom will make her profession in the fall, taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They have come from different backgrounds with different experiences and talents. We have sisters with artistic talents, musical ablities, computer skills, nursing training, sewing skills, and more. All share a common love for Christ and His Church. We await the day we will have a brotherhood for men seeking to fulfill a religious vocation.
   Some of the basic prerequisites for the sisterhood, which apply to the brotherhood as well, require a person . . .

1. To have a deep love for Christ, sense the Lord's call, and desire to give himself or herself to the Lord in prayer and acts of sacrificial service and mercy.
   
2. To be between the ages of 18 and 49 years of age. The older a person is when he or she begins, the more difficult the journey often is.
3. To be single. They may or may not have desires for marriage and a family but feel God's call to a celibate life.
4. To be in sound health of spirit, mind, and body. The call to the sisterhood or brotherhood can be rigorous in all ways, and sound health is important.
5. To be debt-free and willing to abide by St. Paul's admonition to owe no one anything but to love (Romans 13:8).
6. To be willing to pursue a life lived under the vows.

  Our community is very grateful to God for our professed sisters and novice sisters. They are loved by all, especially the children. We continue to pray for the day when God will send us a number of young men who have the heart and courage to surrender all to be a gift to Christ and His Church in this place. Please pray that the number of sisters joining us will grow and that men of faith, character, and courage will join us as well.
   Today men and women are willing to fight and die to secure peace and democracy. I pray God will raise up men and women who are willing to give their lives radically to Jesus Christ. God bless you for your love, prayers, and support.