I happened to stop by BJs earlier today to pick up a few items. While navigating the aisles, I caught the fleeting image of a young nun in full habit wearing a white veil. What a beautiful sight!! A few minutes later, I caught up with the trio of sisters and enjoined them in some conversation. They said they were a traditional community, not contemplative but a teaching order. Their youthful faces gleamed with joy and the love of Christ. One of the sisters offered me a holy card which I gratefully accepted. It featured a beautiful image of the Blessed Mother with The Hail Mary on the reverse, along with the name of their community - Daughters of Mary, Mother of our Savior - and website link. In thanking the sisters, I offered them a holy card of a favorite saint, Josephine Bakhita. Their smiles were now strained which struck me strange. Perhaps they had never heard of St. Bakhita. I offered a short biography of the saint's life and, to ensure any possible concerns might be addressed, I added that Pope Benedict began his encyclical "Spe Salvi" by citing the life of St. Bakhita. The sisters maintained their frozen smiles. Once home, I checked their web site only to discover that their community was formed in 1984 by a Bishop Kelly. In checking further, I discovered that the community is a member of the Society of St. Pius V, which is not recognized by the Vatican. Apparently, both groups find themselves on opposite ends of the Catholic spectrum. How truly sad.
