I'm off to Stamullen, Co. Meath this morning for the Solemn Profession of my friend, Sr Cora Marie as a sister of the Visitation Order. It promises to be a great day. Our bishop will preside over the ceremony - he's flying back from the US where he was on a mission for the national seminary to be present. Can I please ask you to remember her in your prayers? Today was specially chosen because it is the feast of St Margaret Mary Alocoque, the most famous member of the order. St Margaret Mary is, as you know, the visionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the one chosen by the Lord to promote devotion to the symbol of his love and mercy in a time afflicted with Jansenism. Providence decreed that this apostle should be a member of an order renowned for its gentleness and devotion to the love of God, as exemplified most profoundly in its founder, St Francis de Sales.
Today is most appropriate for Sr Cora's profession because she is named after the Sacred Heart of Jesus himself: Cora means heart. She did not choose this name when she entered, she was baptised Cora, Marie was added when she was received into the order. God has great panache! The one he would call to the order of the Sacred Heart was prepared when she was named. Every Visitation sister is called to reveal through her life the virtues of that Heart which has consumed Itself with love for mankind. This is an apostolate which is badly needed in these times when so many people are looking for God. That will be Sr Cora Marie's task, and I hope other women will join her. If you are interested in the Visitation Order, see their website: http://www.visitation.ie/
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