Transcription
Life. We invite you to join us for conversation looking at life through the lens of love. You are loved. You are made in God's image, and your life matters. Let's talk about it.
Hello and welcome back to Let Love Podcast with the Sisters of Life. I'm Sister Veritas. This is Sister Andy.
Sister Andy: It's also again a wonderful thing to be back.
Sister Veritas: Double joy.
Sister Andy: Double joy. And actually, that's what we're talking about today. That's why I think I'm feeling it even more.
Sister Veritas: I know that love brings you joy.
Sister Andy: I love that. It's what we all want.
Sister Veritas: It's what we all want. Can't wait to unpack it.
Sister Andy: Yeah, and just good to be with everyone. And it's a great thing to think about, isn't it? Like joy. And I mean, it makes one of the things that makes me first think about is actually bringing joy to the streets of New York. You know, they call it Manhattan, but I think for the Sisters of Life, it's a playground.
Sister Veritas: Yes. And it's, I do. I think after living in New York City for 13 years, well, yeah. It's a miracle in itself. Especially being from Maine.
Sister Andy: Being from Maine. I know, right? I had to learn to walk on sidewalks. I didn't have those growing up. But, you know, it's been so powerful to me to see the power of a witness of joy. What do you, what have you experienced, Sister, on your adventures on the streets of New York City?
Sister Veritas: Well, I think, I mean, for sure, one of the first things that makes me think of is one of our Christmas traditions. There's, you know, 20, 20 of us sisters going down and walking like along Fifth Avenue or other big streets in New York, singing Christmas carols. And it's, it's like, it's amazing. It's like the blue and white wave. And you literally watch people's faces, like, you know, they're on their phone or like super focused or whatever. And it's like their heads lift. And it's almost like this first, like surprise, wonder. And then the smile starts to to widen. And it's just, there's, it's like they're so happy. They're so filled with joy just to see these, you know, multitude of sisters singing Christmas carols. It's so powerful. It's amazing. All the encounters we have. And sister, pray for me. And it's like, you can actually, it's almost like you could watch a little light walking along the street and like lighting up the whole street with smiles.
Sister Andy: Amen. It's one of my favorite things that we do each year.
Sister Veritas: Yeah, and we are, we sing. We don't hold back.
Sister Andy: No, no. And people will ask, why? And who are you? And, I mean, I think atheists turn into full, full-blooded believers. Truly. And I think we've experienced that.
Sister Veritas: Yeah, just joyfully singing Christmas songs. Yeah. It's amazing. It's amazing. And people singing with us, you know, it gives permission. It's amazing. Yeah.
Sister Andy: You know where else I see it is, uh, rollerblading in Central Park. It's power play. I believe you. I firmly believe that you cannot watch a sister rollerblade without smiling. No. I remember I was rollerblading Central Park, beautiful Sunday morning. And I was taking off my blades because I was gonna walk back to the convent. And this woman crept up, like she was timid, but she came up to me and she's like, "Listen, I'm not religious, but, but who are you? And what is going on?" Like, it was amazing. She was so captivated.
Sister Veritas: And I see this even when we might not be the best rollerbladers, right? You know, I've had a personal experience with that. You mentioned it. It was actually you. Also have had the same experience. But rollerblading down the Henry Hudson Parkway, right? And, you know, I'm like, one of those rollerbladers like, um, I can stand up and move forward kind of thing.
Sister Andy: That's pretty good.
Sister Veritas: Yeah. I think people can sometimes be concerned for me. Yeah. But there's this one time we were rollerblading and my wheels actually started disintegrating. But, you know, it was fun to keep trying. And it's the joy that people, they were like, joyful of like the sisters who were super fast. And then they had joy at me with my wheels disintegrating. If you know, we use the equipment we have, right?
Sister Andy: And I do remember many, you turned many hearts that day towards the Lord. I think so. You're there, their ministry to you in the disintegrating wheels. Yeah. But even, I mean, I remember Sister telling me, she, she had, she was really good at like going, you know, like moving, but breaking was something she was still learning. The thing about Central Park in New York City, it's a bit unforgiving. Yes. And so she was, she caught an unexpected downhill. And she's coming into this major intersection. I mean, honestly, it could have been really bad. But she, she managed some sort of cry for help. And lo and behold, this guy just rollerbladed right up next to her and literally picked her up. Like, yeah, cradled her in his arms safely. Uh, navigated the city streets and placed her. I mean, this was like something out of Superman. But the joy it brought to the people, they were all cheering. Witnessing the big save. And then I'm pretty sure this guy is still smiling. I mean, seriously, you save a nun. Oh, it's so, I mean, that makes your life. It's so epic. But joy. It's right. Christian joy. And it's different. It's distinct. Yeah. And it lights up a room. Yeah. And I can't wait to unpack this. Yeah.
Sister Veritas: Should we start with a prayer?
Sister Andy: I'll start with the prayer, Sister.
Sister Veritas: All right.
Sister Andy: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus, you came that we might have joy. You desire our happiness, our deep joy. And Lord, we ask you to, to lighten our, our understanding. Light in our minds, our hearts. Fill us with yourself that we might have and live in this gift. Uh, yeah. Help us to know your goodness in this moment, in every moment. And we entrust ourselves and our hearts to, to you and to Our Lady as we pray. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Our Lady, Cause of Our Joy, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sister Veritas: What a title, huh? Cause of Our Joy. He's, she is wonderful. It's amazing. It's her. Yes. Yes, to the Lord. And that's, I think, true for all of us. Yeah. Our yes to the Lord. And I think especially Sisters of Life, joy is a topic close to our hearts because our founder, Cardinal Connor, from the beginning, and he, he said, there can be no Sisters of Life without joy. Yeah. So he said, women consecrated to the cause of life, laying down their lives that others might have life, in a sense, lives animated, upheld from He who is life himself. That joy is an essential, absolutely essential. That we have a God who's with us, Emmanuel. We have a God who has redeemed us. He's won the victory. Uh, that no darkness or pain or suffering can overcome. So to be a Sister of Life is to, uh, yeah, receive this great gift of, of joy that comes from the Lord. And I don't think it's just true for us. Actually, this is classic of all of God's witnesses. Yeah. All, it's like, it's really a Christian call to be joy, to be joyful. You know, and look at the saints, right? I mean, the saints were, par excellence, joyful people. Amen. You know, even those who suffered the most, actually tended to be the most joyful. It's right. This huge paradox.
Sister Andy: Well, one of my favorite quotes. I love it. Saint John of the Cross. He says, "The soul of the one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing." That's awesome. Saint John of the Cross. Let's, let's give him a new image. He is amazing. Saint of Joy. I mean, to swim in joy. Swim in joy. How could we not want that? Amen. Or even Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Yeah. To be offering your life for another and in the midst of that to be peaceful, serene, joyful. He had that quiet smile. He brought joy to his fellow prisoners, as they were awaiting death. Yeah. That's powerful. It's powerful. Saint John Bosco. Yeah. Right. Uh, a saint from Italy. He was a father and teacher of the youth. Born in 1815 and a priest. He was an educator. He was a writer. And how did he appeal to the street kids that he worked with? These, this multitude of children suffering from industrialization during that time. Juggling joy, the warmth and tenderness of fatherhood. Mother Teresa. Yeah. Right. She said, "Joy is a net that catches souls." It's so attractive. It's so compelling. And she stole the world stage, not just because she was serving the poorest of the poor, but how she was doing it. Yeah. With a smile on her face. With a love that was like, like oil. Yeah. Anointing all those that she came into contact with. It's so powerful. And you think of, like, you know, Saint Philip Neri, the patron saint of joy. That's his. It's amazing. It's an amazing patronage. But he was one who was, he, he took himself so lightly, in a sense. He was so full of humor. You know, like, one time he shaved off half his beard and kept the other half on. You know, just to demonstrate his, you know, like to make, anyway, for humility's sake. But just like this, this joy and delight in life. You know, he had, he had so much fun living, you know, for the Lord. Or do you think, I mean, like you're saying about Maximilian Kolbe, but like the martyrs. I mean, heaps and heaps of martyrs literally walked singing to their deaths. You know, dancing to their deaths. So full of joy. Right. I even think of Saint Margaret Clitherow, one of the great English martyrs. And she, um, when she was in prison in the Tower of London, she was having such a fabulous time with her fellow prisoners. You know, these fellow Christians who were caught. And just having a grand old time and so joyful. And she's like, "I almost feel guilty because it's just been so wonderful being in prison." You know? But it's like, in the world's eyes, it doesn't make sense. How, how can you be that joyful as you're preparing for death? You know, unbelievable. And, and there she was in prison because of her faith, right?
Sister Veritas: I imagine. Right. First, she was harboring priests. Wow. Yeah. Wow. Yeah.
Sister Andy: Well, here's the deal. It's like, whoa. We all desire happiness. Down to a one, whether you're of faith or not of faith. We desire happiness. And joy is this hallmark sign. It's this flag. And I think what we know and can, uh, deduce from just experience is that it's a gift from God. That in a sense, looking at God's creation, spending an afternoon in the park with those that I love, in communion, will elicit and fill my heart with something incredible. That gift of joy. Versus, again, it can be fun. But an afternoon on Netflix. It's like two different experiences. And maybe technology gives pleasure. Maybe other things give measures of or tastes of goodness and happiness. But the, what we're looking for, what our hearts are thirsting for, is this spiritual gift that comes from the life of God. Yeah.
Sister Veritas: It's really true, Sister. Joy. I mean, there's a great quote from G.K. Chesterton, and he said, "Man is more himself when joy is the fundamental thing in him." It's amazing. We are more ourselves when joy is the fundamental beat of our heart because that's what we're actually made for. We're made for eternal joy. And we can actually, in Christ, living in Him, we can start living that now. And we're not just talking about, you know, feeling happy or excited or it's actually like this deep, um, presence, this deep reality that nothing can shake, not even the greatest darkness.
Sister Andy: Sister, I love that. Well, it points us to actually, there's an incredible quote in a beautiful document that was written by Paul VI back in 1975. And, uh, it's called "On Christian Joy." So there you go. But he speaks exactly of that. And he says this, in essence, "Christian joy is the spiritual sharing in the unfathomable joy, both divine and human, which is in the heart of Jesus Christ glorified." Wow.
Sister Veritas: But, and I just, can we just lean into that for a second?
Sister Andy: Yes. Let's lean into it. Because here we are. We're Sisters of Life. So we're always going to reference the reality. We've been made in the image and likeness of God. And joy comes when we live in correspondence to that image and likeness. You know, that we've been made to know and love God, to be in contact with God. We have been made to be known and loved by God. In a sense, Jesus showed us what it means to be human when he planted his life so deeply and essentially in this giving and receiving with God the Father. So he gives his whole self to God. He receives his life from the Father. And boom, what happens? The Holy Spirit. Right. New life of the Holy Spirit. One of his greatest gifts being joy. And that as we live in truth to who we are in God, when we do God's will, when we seek to follow God into relationship with the living God, joy fills and floods our minds, our hearts, and our souls. It's a side effect. It will come. And it's something, a gift that we can simply receive.
Sister Veritas: Yeah. And it's an indication. Like you're saying earlier, it's like an indication. The presence of joy actually indicates the presence of God. It's like this little, you know, uh, "I'm at home. God's God's at home. Lights are on." You know, it's like, it's amazing. It's amazing.
Sister Andy: Well, I do remember, Sister, even this was before I entered the convent. And I mean, this was in God's providence. I ended up at a Sisters of Life profession of vows. And this was one of my first times I really ever encountered young sisters and sisters in general. And, and I was, I was alive in my faith, but I was actually blown away. Like, I, I was almost angry about it. The joy on the face of these sisters professing their vows, giving their whole lives to God, basically. And bright women, intelligent women. I actually was almost resentful. And I, and I just believed it. I'm like, "There's no way. Like, they're faking it. Like, they actually cannot be that joyful. They cannot be that happy." Wow. And then, well, I talked to them. And you hear their stories. And as you stand in their presence, you're like, "Whoa, this is for real." And it's something supernatural. And then, of course, right, God leads me down a similar path. Praise be to God. But it can be shocking, actually, because it doesn't make sense in terms of the world's standards. In terms of, it doesn't make sense giving up everything and being filled with joy. What it does, it's like, it's not a human equation. It's a divine equation. You know, it's powerful. It really is.
Sister Veritas: Well, and even as you speak of the divine equation, it's shocking when you read the Beatitudes. Yeah. Because how can a good God tell me that it's a blessed thing to be poor? That it's a blessed thing to suffer persecution, to mourn? What's going on there? That we either have a God who is cruel and mean, or there's a gift that He wants to give, a supernatural gift that He wants to break into our lives with. And a gift to possess wherever we are, whatever we're looking at, wherever we're standing, no matter how light, how dark, how painful, how crappy. Right. And it's like, I mean, it really, it's like a lifting of our chins, you know, the Beatitudes. And it's, uh, it's actually an entry into His own heart, into His own person, into Himself. You know, because in the Beatitudes and His promise, it's actually, that's, you know, I've heard it described, that's actually a portrait of Jesus. Well, you know, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, you know, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." That's actually a portrait of the Lord, especially on the cross. Wow. And so He's actually, He's saying, "I want to give you myself. I, who am the source of all joy, I want to give me to you." Amen. You know, and that's, He is the secret of true joy, of deep joy, of enduring joy.
Sister Andy: Well, even as you say that, Sister, it helps me make the distinction that joy isn't necessarily a feeling, right? Um, it's not excitement. It's not, um, kind of being bedazzled with life and running around in tulip fields carefree, right? Um, it's actually this, this deep receptivity of the divine life, the resurrected divine life that God wants to share with me. Yeah. At every moment. Yeah. It's His dwelling in us, Him dwelling in us, and me claiming that gift and the reality of that. And, and like you're saying, actually, I'm really glad you made that distinction of of it not necessarily being a feeling all the time, because I mean, I'm sure you've had encounters of this too, but I literally remember one person. I was having a bit of a rough day, you know, like a little stressed about things. But talking to this one person, and they're like, "Your joy is so powerful." And I was like, "Oh, I'm so glad it's Jesus." You know, but I'm like, it's for me, it was like, "Wow, I'm so glad that you see that, because I feel like a total mess right now." Amen. But it was like, "No, because it's, it's Jesus in me." Isn't that astounding? It's amazing. And it's, um, and it radiates. Joy radiates. Um, and He's invested in our joy. Like He wants it. Like you think of His first miracle. Jesus' first miracle, the Wedding Feast at Cana, right? It seems like this, you know, changing water into wine for the sake of the joy of the bride and groom, right? That was His first miracle. Was for our joy. How, I mean, that says a lot about the heart of God.
Sister Veritas: Well, and I love that, Sister. And then it's a wedding feast that again, if we step back in that eternal perspective, God desires to wed His life to ours, to share His whole life with ours. And that is forth from that sharing comes this incredible joy, resurrected life. Yeah. Yeah. It's powerful.
Sister Andy: Well, and in that, though, it's like, how do we claim the gift? It's a great idea. I think I have like four, maybe five like sound bites. Sounds great. I'd love to, yeah, talk about it.
Sister Veritas: Well, I think first, it's slowing down and tucking in to really savor, to savor life, to savor the, the simple gifts. To take on life in each moment. Like we do at Jolly Rancher, you know? Just, I think we can run through life and it, it opens up fields. Like even Jesus, He was aware of the lilies of the field. He was aware of the gift of God's creation. And God has inscribed Himself in, in life around us. And to, to slow down and savor. Yeah. I think it's so important. And to realize God's presence in everything, right? Like, I think I was so struck, even entering the convent, you know, sweeping the floor. Like sweeping the floor. I was so overwhelmed with joy, with happiness. I remember like, I'm literally, you know, I have a degree in whatever. And all. And after being the floor, and I am so overjoyed right now because I'm doing it for the Lord and because He loves me. And it's like, you know, we're not always going to have that feeling all the time. But it's like, little things. He's present in every little thing. Washing dishes. Amen. Gardening. All to have art. To be able to see, you know, our eyes open to that.
Sister Andy: Yeah. Sister, even listening to a young married couple speak about how they spend their time after their first child is born, or being with them. And it's this beautiful pace of life that simply delights in baby smiling, baby blinking their eyes, baby looking. That's true and simple things, yet so filled with life and bringing such rich joy. You know, watching baby fall. And I mean, um, savoring the simple gifts. Yeah. Around us. Yeah. And, yeah, I think that's really important. Savoring the simple gifts.
Sister Veritas: Second, I don't know, keeping an eternal perspective. Yeah. That is so important, Sister. I think similar to what we've talked about already, but remembering like, I am made for eternity. My life is actually eternal, actually. And, and every, to see everything in that kind of broader vision. Yes. That light of, of what I'm called to. It somehow puts things in their place. You know, it's like this little thing that was driving me crazy. Wow. Even that belongs to God, and He's going to do something with it. Absolutely. No, and I don't have to. It's, it, it helps us not to worry so much, I think. You know, I don't know if you have thoughts precisely, Sister. I think you say it so beautifully. Or not to get hung up on the little things. Um, that, you know, what, it's okay if I don't get this errand done today. You know, and I'm not gonna let that ruin my day. If I don't, okay. You know, I, I woke up and I, I tried to love the person next to me as best I could. And, um, the eternal perspective. And, you know, in the light of eternity, what does this look like? And I think it can free us up. Yeah. It can give us space. Yeah. And, uh, yeah, and prevent unnecessary worry. Yeah. Yeah. And because if you, you can't help anyone. You don't have to live worried. You know, trust. I mean, the eternal perspective also rests in like, God is taking care of me. He sees my whole life. He sees me. He sees my heart. Sees my needs. And when you don't have to worry about yourself, like, it's like the experience of being a little kid, you know, when you're totally taken care of. And you can play in the mud and you're so happy. Amen. Because Mom and Dad are taking care of you. Like, we can actually live like that. We're called to live as children. Jesus said, you know, "Unless you become like a little child, you can't enter the kingdom of heaven." Amen. That's what He's calling us to. That's that, really, I think, the eternal perspective. There it is, Sister. Yeah. And as we live there, we do taste that kingdom now, today, in the present moment. We gain access. We get into contact with that.
Sister Veritas: I think third, um, I think we have to be intentional about seeking to encounter this risen Lord, to allow Him to share His heart with us and the life of His heart with our hearts. And I think the, the easy, easy points are the life of the sacraments. Yeah. In a sense, the Eucharist, receiving Our Lord, truly present, risen and given to me, this gift of love. Um, confession. Oh, it's wonderful. Compassion is awesome because as we turn away from sin, yeah, and we allow love to, to, to, to wash over our sinfulness, we are able to turn our life to God. And that's what we're made for. We're made to stand and live looking at God, to worship Him, to adore Him, to praise Him. And actually, it's so powerful when we worship, when we praise, when we adore, when we're living in those dispositions, oh my goodness, check your heart. Yeah. Because we're free. We're carefree. We're light. Yeah. We're filled with joy. Yeah. As we are not looking at ourselves and not weighed down by our sins, but looking at God. Um, yeah. I think, Sister, I think it's so powerful.
Sister Andy: Well, actually, I think that's a great segue to, to the fourth point, would be, um, you know, giving of ourselves. This self-forgetfulness, this kind of outward-facing posture of the heart, which is exactly what you're saying with praise and worship. Um, but it's, I mean, it really is, I think, the secret of happiness. The saints say, you know, Saint Teresa talks about how it's the secret of joy is self-forgetfulness. Because when we're like you're saying, when we're facing outward, we can receive. We're not, you know, naval gazing and trying to figure everything out in our, in, you know, in ourselves. Not, not to say we shouldn't, you know, do or examine and that kind of thing. But it's like, I'm, I'm held by someone and I'm living for something other than myself. Amen. Yeah. Amen. Sister, I think it's so huge, actually, because I think as if we turn inward for too long, we get caught in these tumbleweeds. Meanwhile, if we turn outward and bring it, uh, actually turn it over to God, um, He actually will take care of it and He'll do a much better job. Yeah. Um, yeah. Yeah, it's really true. Yeah. And I mean, I can, I can attest to this myself, you know, being, remember once I've been stressed and like worried of all these things and like, Jesus, help me figure out this problem and this problem and this problem. Ah. And I remember just pausing and I was like, because really, I was trying to figure it out and just telling Him how I was trying to figure it out. But just pausing and I was like, "Praise You, Jesus. Bless You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus." And it's like, suddenly it like, it all just washes away. And it's like, joy comes, you know? Yeah. Um, yeah. And actually the joy of, kind of connected to self-forgetting all this, the joy of almost the reality, I can't do it. I can't figure it out. You know, I, I, I'm not supposed to. It's really, um, there is a joy from that that Jesus will do it and He wants to do it. Yeah.
Sister Veritas: Well, and I think as you say that, Sister, it frees us from the spirit of control or kind of this overdrive and control or self-preservation. Um, we're able to actually, rather than spin all this energy preserving myself, as we turn ourselves over and as we give ourselves to God and to others, um, all this space is created to to welcome this life that is God. And I think probably brings, uh, the last point, which, um, number five, to live in joy is to, to establish a regular life of prayer that really, that fits your life. You know, that we don't want to try to be a contemplative cloistered nun when we're, we're a mom of five or working a nine to five. Um, but that God intends, um, and wants to live life with you. And just finding those touch points where you can open your heart to Him, hear His heart speaking to you, and find traction and just being mindful and present to this great life that is seeking to live with, to be with, and to bless at every moment. Um, so, yeah. Right. Savor the simple gifts. You know, lift your mind and heart into the eternal perspective. This is perspective of faith and a living God. You know, seek ways to encounter the risen Lord. Give of yourself. You know, self-gift. It's imitating the perfect man, Jesus Christ. And then, yeah, finding ways to pray in through each day.
Sister Andy: I love that, Sister. I think it's so powerful. Yeah.
Sister Veritas: Well, before we go, do you have any any thoughts?
Sister Andy: My thought is to leave you with, um, just the word of God, which is a short and simple quip that I think can be very helpful. Um, and it's from Nehemiah, if I said his name, the obscure prophet. Prophet alert. But, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Wow. The joy of the Lord is my strength. And to think about that. What was the joy of the Lord? To do God's will, to do the Father's will, to receive His life from the Father, to allow His life to pass through that Paschal Mystery, to claim the gift of resurrection for Himself, but also for all of us. And that we have access to that. How about you, Sister?
Sister Veritas: I well, I love that. I think it's a really powerful challenge, Sister. Um, I think I think I want to challenge myself and, uh, everyone, I guess, to, um, to kind of engage that self-forgetfulness we talked about. But not in the sense of like, "Lord, I, I'm so, you know, help me to be self-forgetful," because that's actually still looking at yourself. But, but in moments when we're stressed or we're, you know, we're, you know, worried, just take a moment to praise Him for something or to tell Him a wonderful thing about Himself. Like, "Jesus, You're so kind. Jesus, You're so good." Something, but just to actually, um, "Lord, You are." Yeah. You know, blank. I think that would be a good challenge. And I think I think joy will come from it.
Sister Andy: How beautiful, Sister. Yeah. Yeah. Praise be to God. Amen. Let's go claim the gift. Amen.
Sister Veritas: Should we close in a prayer?
Sister Andy: Sounds good, Sister.
Sister Veritas: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Father, we thank You for Your love. We thank You for thinking of us, for Your goodness, uh, for making and creating us, um, for Your eternal designs that hold us in love always and that seek to bless us. And through all things, whatever we might be facing or carrying, we ask for the grace to entrust our lives to You, Father. And for the grace to receive Your love, especially those places we need most to receive Your provident care, where You most desire to care for us. And to receive the gift of the spiritual gift, the life of Your Spirit, of joy, that shares in Christ's resurrection, that You might fill and flood our lives, our minds, our hearts, our perspective, our day with that gift of joy. And we thank You ahead of time for Your goodness, as we say, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sister Andy: God bless and keep all of you. We'll see you next week. We're praying for you. God bless.
Sister Veritas: This was Let Love Podcast for the Sisters of Life, a religious community of women consecrated for the protection of the sacredness of human life. Be assured of our prayers and learn more at sistersoflife.org.