So, as I've mentioned before, I have not necessarily had the most beautiful experience with Households here at Franciscan. After I was turned down from household last fall, I was less than excited about trying again. But strange things happen in Austria...
As most of you probably are aware, Grace was my roommate in Austria. Grace is in Rosa Mystica household, and from rooming with her, I certainly learned a lot about this household! We had 15 images of Our Lady Rosa Mystica hanging all over our room, and after her trip to Monti Chiari, the apparition site of Rosa Mystica, Grace brought back a statue of Mary. Along with all the sneaky comments she'd make to me, I'm surprised I didn't intent from Austria!
In all seriousness, though, I don't think Grace knew how much her words were affecting me - in a positive way! I had brought Rosa Mystica's covenant (like a mission statement, telling what the household stands for and how they live) with me to Austria, and I read it at least once a week, praying with it and thinking about it a lot. In some ways, I felt like I was part of Rosa already.
This semester, Grace convinced me to come to a Lord's Day (a gathering on Saturday afternoon where we read scripture together, share intentions and praises from the week, and break bread together. Each household has a Lord's Day every Saturday- it's really neat!). I went and was pretty much convinced that this was the household for me, but I still needed to give it a little time and then to talk to the coordinators (girls who lead household for the semester).
Grace happens to live with one of Rosa's coordinators, so one day she made a comment that "If you're gonna talk to her, you should call today, because she's going out of town.... hint hint...." Little did Grace know that I was already planning on calling that afternoon!
I made the phone call, but there was no answer. (I was terribly afraid to leave a message for fear that Grace would hear it!) I tried again that night, and spoke with the coordinator. She was really excited for me and we set up a time to meet.
A week ago Tuesday, I met with both of the coordinators and talked to them about intenting. This conversation was a lot different from the one I had last fall, with the other household, which re-confirmed in my mind that Rosa is definitely the right household for me. They asked when I wanted to intent, and we decided that it'd happen on Thursday.
So last Thursday, I spent the day pretty much dying from excitement. I attended rosary with the Rosa girls, and when we were done, I took off the sweatshirt I'd been wearing to reveal a shirt that read "Rosa Mystica Intent".
screaming ensued
Grace had been sitting across from me, and immediately after the rosary was done, she started telling our friend Lauren a story. Lauren's not in Rosa, so she was aware that I'd be intenting. Grace is so used to her household sisters screaming that she ignored it and went right on with the story, until they started yelling "Intent! Intent!" Grace turned to see me, her eyes got huge, then she promptly curled up in a ball and started crying. She's not one to cry, normally, so I started crying because she was crying. And then she came and sat on me, naturally :P
It was such a beautiful experience, and I am so incredibly blessed to know these wonderful women. I can't wait to start delving deeper into my relationships with them, and to go through formation with Household.
Turns out that God's plans really are the best ones.
As most of you probably are aware, Grace was my roommate in Austria. Grace is in Rosa Mystica household, and from rooming with her, I certainly learned a lot about this household! We had 15 images of Our Lady Rosa Mystica hanging all over our room, and after her trip to Monti Chiari, the apparition site of Rosa Mystica, Grace brought back a statue of Mary. Along with all the sneaky comments she'd make to me, I'm surprised I didn't intent from Austria!
In all seriousness, though, I don't think Grace knew how much her words were affecting me - in a positive way! I had brought Rosa Mystica's covenant (like a mission statement, telling what the household stands for and how they live) with me to Austria, and I read it at least once a week, praying with it and thinking about it a lot. In some ways, I felt like I was part of Rosa already.
This semester, Grace convinced me to come to a Lord's Day (a gathering on Saturday afternoon where we read scripture together, share intentions and praises from the week, and break bread together. Each household has a Lord's Day every Saturday- it's really neat!). I went and was pretty much convinced that this was the household for me, but I still needed to give it a little time and then to talk to the coordinators (girls who lead household for the semester).
Grace happens to live with one of Rosa's coordinators, so one day she made a comment that "If you're gonna talk to her, you should call today, because she's going out of town.... hint hint...." Little did Grace know that I was already planning on calling that afternoon!
I made the phone call, but there was no answer. (I was terribly afraid to leave a message for fear that Grace would hear it!) I tried again that night, and spoke with the coordinator. She was really excited for me and we set up a time to meet.
A week ago Tuesday, I met with both of the coordinators and talked to them about intenting. This conversation was a lot different from the one I had last fall, with the other household, which re-confirmed in my mind that Rosa is definitely the right household for me. They asked when I wanted to intent, and we decided that it'd happen on Thursday.
So last Thursday, I spent the day pretty much dying from excitement. I attended rosary with the Rosa girls, and when we were done, I took off the sweatshirt I'd been wearing to reveal a shirt that read "Rosa Mystica Intent".
screaming ensued
Grace had been sitting across from me, and immediately after the rosary was done, she started telling our friend Lauren a story. Lauren's not in Rosa, so she was aware that I'd be intenting. Grace is so used to her household sisters screaming that she ignored it and went right on with the story, until they started yelling "Intent! Intent!" Grace turned to see me, her eyes got huge, then she promptly curled up in a ball and started crying. She's not one to cry, normally, so I started crying because she was crying. And then she came and sat on me, naturally :P
It was such a beautiful experience, and I am so incredibly blessed to know these wonderful women. I can't wait to start delving deeper into my relationships with them, and to go through formation with Household.
Turns out that God's plans really are the best ones.