We were blessed to have Theresa from our Raleigh Madonna House join us for April's meeting. Theresa shared a brief history of The Madonna House and it's founder, Catherine Doherty, as well as related her personal faith journey that led her to join this community of lay apostolate. During the discussion, we heard of a charismatic and innovative Doherty who experienced Catholicism in a way that many before her time had not -- focusing on the small, everyday gestures of love and devotion to Christ that many of of us do "unconsciously." Doherty taught that by being aware of how these "small matters" connect and draw us closer to God, we may truly live in Christ on a deeper level. From these teachings, The Madonna House apostolate became a center for hospitatity, listening, and personal conversions.
Our local Madonna House is the home of three women, Theresa, Joanne, and Echo, all of whom have taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They live on charity alone, as all of their clothing, food, and basic necessities are donated to them. This reliance on the Lord to provide allows them to provide for others as well. The house itself is a center of prayer and hospitality - where anyone may come to pray (poustinia), share a cup of tea, or find a listening ear and a kind heart. While it is quite difficult to explain precisely what The Madonna House
is or
does, one may suggest that in many ways it is simply The Lord's Home -- one of many places God reveals Himself in a tangible, loving way to all who seek Him.
Theresa concluded her discussion with a reminder that we, as Wives and Mothers, are the basic "formers of Souls." She encouraged us to:
- Be forgiving
- Perform the duty of the moment joyfully
- Maintain a constant awareness of the "little things"
- Live a life of simplicity
- Do all in Love
While these practices are universal to all Catholics in their ability to bring us closer to God, they speak especially to those of us who spend each day raising young children and nurturing our families. The mundane tasks of running a household can often seem vapid and can become almost-robotic in their expressions. If we can direct these small moments and little things into an outward expression of ourselves as Children and Women of God, however, the moments become devotions rather than mere actions.
To read more about The Madonna House, please visit
http://www.madonnahouse.org/.
- by Maria File
