She Said "Yes"!
Sr. Frances Marie exchanges the Sign of Peace with Fr. Tony Hollowell (celebrant for her Profession Mass)
With great joy, we bring you news of the Perpetual Profession of Sr. Frances Marie of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, CP!
August 15th was a day full of graces and blessings, and a large group of family and friends came to share in the celebration. We look forward to sharing more photos of the occasion with you!
In the meantime, we thought you would enjoy reading the homily given by Deacon Matt Wenke (Sister Frances Marie’s father) at Solemn Vespers that evening. Warning — it might bring a tear to your eye!
Homily for Solemn Second Vespers of the Assumption, August 15th, 2022 — Perpetual Profession of Sr. Frances Marie
by Dcn Matt Wenke
Today, we celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven and we also celebrate the full and perpetual assumption of our daughter and sister into this Passionist community and into a deeply personal and perpetual relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What do these two occasions — the Assumption of Mary and our daughter and sister’s perpetual vows — have in common?
1 - She said “yes”! Mary said yes to the Incarnation of Jesus in her virginal womb. She said yes to a life-long and eternal relationship with the Holy Spirit, with Jesus, and with God. Mary was already the daughter of God the Father. Now, to conceive Jesus, she became the bride of the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, Mary became the Mother of God … the Mother of God’s Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Frances Marie, also, said yes. She consents to become Jesus’ bride and, in a mystical way, the bride of Jesus’ Church in a unique and deeply intimate way. Frances Marie becomes, today, an official daughter-in-law to Mary — a resident in a special inner circle of Jesus’ followers that will last, eternally. Frances Marie, then called “Nora,” told me over eight years ago, “Dad, you’ve got to wrap your mind around it. This is where I belong. This is where I feel called to be.” As Mary said yes, even with questioning how it could happen, Frances Marie said yes, seemingly without even a shadow of a question of how!
2 - She gave up all. Mary gave up all — her very life — to make room for Jesus in her womb. Mary gave up her reputation for the Virgin Birth. Don’t think there weren’t people who counted up the months between Mary’s betrothal to Joseph and Jesus’ birth. There were gossips even then. Consider that Joseph, too, had to risk and give up all. At some point, giving up all emerges as an unavoidable choice for all Jesus’ followers.
Some of Sr. Frances Marie’s family in prayer before Mass. L-R: Jude (brother), Dcn Matt (father), Mary (mother), and Phillip (grandfather)
Frances Marie gave up all. I watched with a tender heart as she sorted her possessions all out in piles on her bedroom floor to give away to her brothers, her friends, to charities, etc. She showed no caution — no holding back. I was inspired and in awe.
3 - She submitted. Mary submitted to the Will of God. She consented to the Virginal Conception — though others might question or accuse and though it might put Mary in danger. Mary submitted to the Holy Spirit’s promptings … to walk 70 miles immediately to share the joyful news and to serve Elizabeth; to flee her homeland and move to a foreign country — Egypt — to save Jesus’ life. She consented to watch her Son be condemned and mocked and rejected by many — both during His Holy Ministry and during His Passion and death. She consented to stay at the foot of the Cross during Jesus’ death and to hold Him in her arms after He died.
Frances Marie also submitted to God’s Will that she leave family and homeland to become Jesus’ beloved bride 660 miles from home. She submitted to sacrificing frequent family contact to serve the Church through a life of prayer and to accompany Mary, her mother, at the foot of Jesus’ Cross as a perpetual submission of herself to God’s Will.
4 - She let herself be assumed. Mary allowed the Assumption of her body into Heaven. Once again, she said yes to God. Have you ever considered that humble Mary may not have wanted to be honored this way — having her Virginal Body and Soul taken to Heaven in this way? Can’t you picture her saying, “Oh come on! Bury me with my husband. If it’s good enough for Joseph, it’s good enough for me…” But … our Blessed Trinity desired to honor Mary — so she allowed it.
Similarly, Frances Marie and all the other Sisters here allowed themselves to be assumed into this community. No one feels worthy or good enough. They have to say yes to trust that God can work on their souls to gradually make them worthy. A vocation is an act of faith as much as it is a gift.
So where does this leave us? We can’t let ourselves off to think that this is just about our Blessed Mother and Sr. Frances Marie and the other Sisters. It’s about all of us! We have to ask ourselves the four questions…
A mother-daughter embrace after Sister’s Profession of Vows
1 - What is God asking of us? Will we say yes?
2 - Are we willing and committed to give up all? Are we holding anything back?
3 - Are we willing to submit ourselves to God’s Will? Are we fighting God’s Will with lack of trust and excuses or are we living it out by making the gifts and sacrifices we need to make to accomplish God’s Will?
4 - Are we allowing ourselves to be assumed? Are we letting ourselves be loved, honored, accepted, and included by Jesus’ own community of believers around us? Do we let ourselves be accepted and transformed by assuming the public identity of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ? That will bind you with some — but separate you from others, just as Jesus warned in yesterday’s Gospel about setting fires of zeal on the earth.
Go for it! 1 - Say Yes, 2 - Give up all or it, 3 — Submit to God, and 4 - Let yourself be assumed and consumed by Jesus. Become a libation for His kingdom. Hold nothing back.