As a young girl, I fell in love with Jesus in the Eucharist. "Draw me- we shall run!"(Song of Songs) I heard the Lord whisper these words to me many years ago when on a Life in the Spirit retreat. It was the day after I had returned to the Sacraments, my return to the Catholic Faith. To tell what my profession of religious vows means to me, I must reflect on my past experiences and encounters with Jesus, the King of my heart.

As a young girl, I fell in love with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. I felt that I had a special relationship with Him, but as I approached my late teenage years, I strayed from my Catholic Faith. In this "straying," I was searching for God, especially in relationships. It was through praying the rosary and attending a Life in the Spirit Retreat when I was 26 years old that I found Whom I was looking for. I had returned to the Catholic Church, but this time I owned my Faith and became very dedicated to living it.

Soon after my first Retreat, I was attending daily Mass and praying almost everyday before the Blessed Sacrament in the adoration chapels near my home. I had also joined the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites of which I was a member for six years. As I prayed, I felt Jesus was "drawing" me into a relationship with Him that I never dreamed possible. I had dated good and holy Catholic men, but these relationships were never enough for me. It was as though Jesus wanted me to be His- His completely, His alone.

I didn't understand these interior movements within me for several years. Once I did realize that Jesus was asking me to be His bride in the religious life, my spiritual director told me that he was waiting for me to be aware of this for a "long time."

Jesus continued to pull me ever deeper in the desire to be a religious. I had visited several communities and even experienced what religious life might be like, but I had not found the community He was calling me to until I met the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church. The Lord opened the door to my visiting these Sisters. The moment I arrived at the Motherhouse, I felt a great peace and that I had found my "heavenly home on earth." It was here that I felt I belonged. It was (and is) a feeling or state that can't be fully expressed in words.

For almost nine years now, I have had the privilege of being a Sister of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church. I have learned and continued to learn daily the importance of living our four vows that we take. The years have been graced with many joys as well as trials-interior and exterior. Each day I hear Jesus tell me: "You have not chosen Me. I have chosen you. You are mine." Striving for perfection in our love of God and love of neighbor through our living of the four vows is now such a part of me. It seems like this is what I was made for. God's will is revealed to me each day that He is calling me to be His bride. He also reminds me when I do struggle that "His grace is sufficient for me." As Mother Anthony states, too, He reminds me that we must learn to wait and be patient even in our desire to conquer our faults or failings.

What does my Profession mean to me? It is the fulfillment of a desire He has given me for many years now- to give myself -freely and deliberately, willingly and completely- to Him in the consecrated life. Only Jesus can give this desire and only He can fulfill it. My Profession is a new beginning for me and it will be an ever-deepening union with Him through the sharing of His cross in living the evangelical counsels. Each day I earnestly hope and pray that He would make me worthy of such a sublime calling. I pray for the following three graces in living my holy vocation as Mother Marie Alma, our foundress, prescribes: "To pray for faith, courage, and conviction." And, as Mother Theresita instructed us: "Listen to Jesus calling you each and every day."

It was with great joy and with a "joy filled trembling" that I awaited the precious moment in time in which I was able to profess: "God of Love and Infinite Majesty, from all eternity, You have chosen me to be Your bride. Today in response to your unfailing love, I vow myself to you forever…." When I heard Mother Anthony, our Superior General, say, "Amen," it was the Voice of Jesus with His seal of confirmation, His approval and acceptance of the longing within me to publicly proclaim that I am totally His and He is mine forever. Indeed this day was the most glorious day of my life. I will never forget the many graces and kindnesses He has bestowed on me that awesome and holy day. It is with great joy and with a heart filled with gratitude that I begin the ascent in fulfilling the mission to which He has called me. May He be praised and glorified in each and every moment as I strive to grow in holiness and lead many souls to Him. May this poor soul so privileged to be His bride be truly a "praise of His Glory." Amen.