“I am overwhelmed with wonder
and admiration, seeing the great majesty of God,
Whostoops down to me, wretchedness itself.
A cry of gratitude rushes forth from my soul to Him
for all the graces He bestows on me,
and especially for the grace of a vocation
to His holy and exclusive service”
(Diary, 1814)
Every vocation is a gift from God to humankind, but the vocation to serve God in the priesthood and the consecrated life is a special gift. God directs this invitation not to all but only to certain chosen people. His choice is totally free and always remains a mystery. Factors such as background, education, social position, capabilities or even personal excellence are not important here. Briefly, “He summoned those whom he wanted” – as Holy Scripture tells us (cf. Mk 3: 13).
The vocation to the religious life is an invitation to a deeper communion of life with Jesus and to participation in His mission. This vocation calls for spousal love with Christ through the way of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience and is also a call to share His concern for the salvation and sanctification of the world. In each institute of consecrated life, the charism determines how we are to follow Jesus and which tasks we shall be asked to perform, in order to participate in His mission. In the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy the sisters participate in accordance with the charism in the life of Merciful Jesus and in His saving mission by showing to the world the merciful love of God to man.
