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Daughters of St. Paul
Seven years passed by. Father Alberione's group of young women had proved their will power and constancy of purpose. It was time for them to take another step. They wanted to be religious sisters. Father Alberione instructed them on the essentials of religious life.
"Religious life is the following of Christ," he began, "but how, in our everyday living, can we do this? First of all, with the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience."
These three vows, or sacred promises, bind religious closely to Jesus. With the vow of poverty, the sister chooses to do without extra things that she does not really need, and to work hard in her very special apostolate. By the vow of chastity she promises to think and be pure, and to give her heart totally to Jesus. By the vow of obedience the sister gives Jesus her will, and obeys her superior whom she knows represents God. These vows make religious life very special and precious to God.
Father Alberione explained, "When God creates a soul, He prepares it for a particular mission. He arranges everything and gives everyone qualities for the present and for the future, in such a way that each can attain that determined degree of eternal glory in heaven.
"Everything has already been foreseen in the mind of God. In creation, therefore, the Lord gives those natural qualities of intelligence, tendencies and health that each person will need for his or her vocation.
"The Lord disposes the parents the child will have and the surroundings in which he will live. Yes, the Lord disposed everything before creating our souls; He prepared the family, the parish, the schools and the environment according to His designs.
"A vocation, then, is not born in a heart at ten or fifteen years, but at the beginning of life when the Lord created the soul. The vocation comes from the heavenly Father and every infant who is born has his own vocation, his own destiny."
June 22, 1922 - the weather was hot as the young girls took turns stepping to the altar rail and kneeling down.
The next sister stepped forward, and the next, and the next. It was the first public profession of the faithful group. New they were religious sisters, bound to Jesus for a lifetime. Father Alberione inquired among them about their choice of a superior. Would Teresa Merlo be the best? He had prayed earnestly to know. He approached each sister individually, and asked her opinion. Everyone agreed. He took his decision to the only one whose opinion he didn't ask.
"I have thought it well to appoint a superior of our small Congregation," spoke the Founder.
"Oh, yes," Teresa Merlo, now Sister Thecla, agreed. "A good superior is essential for our spiritual growth."
The priest nodded his head. "You are absolutely right." He hesitated a moment. "The choice has been decided," he said softly.
"Fine," Sister said good-naturedly. "I will obey whomever you wish. Who is the new superior, Father?"
"You," he replied. Sister Thecla stared at Father Alberione. Her dark eyes reflected her concern. "But, it is not ..., but it must be a mistake."
"Instead," interrupted the priest, "it must be God's will." He put on his hat and walked to the door of the convent.
"Have courage ... This is God's work, not our own. With Him we can do all things."
Mother Thecla needed advice. She went to a priest whose holiness and sound judgment were well-known. "Father Chiesa," she said with apparent calmness, "Father Alberione has given me too much responsibility and I am not at all capable." She expected the priest to agree, to speak up in her defense, but he replied simply, "You do not have to do anything. You only have to obey and to believe. And you will see." ********************
The Congregation needed a name. these women were called to be the St. Pauls of the modern era. Should they be called "Sisters of St. Paul?" The title was close, but not good enough. They were the little ones, the children of such a mighty protector! Dare they think they represent him as his religious or should they instead hope to be his humble children, his daughters? The Founder pondered and prayed, his usual custom, and came up with the Congregation's name. Daughters of St. Paul they would be.
Yes is Forever, by the Daughters of St. Paul, Copyright © 1981, Daughters of St. Paul. |
"I, Sister Teresa Merlo," spoke the first, "in honor of the most Holy Trinity, of Mary, Queen of the Apostles and St. Paul, the Apostle, for the greater glory of God and that of my neighbor, with the help of divine grace, offer, give and consecrate myself to God with the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience."