January/February 2021 VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVES Unknown Pages of Church History his latest book by the internationally acclaimed Tinvestigative journalism team Grzegorz Gorny and Janusz Rosikon is their most intriguing work yet. For this stunning book they had access to one of the most guarded institutions in the world — the Vatican Secret Archives, revealing its turbulent history and unique documents. Learn the real stories behind the most con- troversial events in the Church’s history including: the Knights Templar trial, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Galileo Galilei trial, Pius XII's response to the Holocaust, and much more. Along with their archival research, they travelled to several countries, visiting places in the documents, and met with numerous historians and experts. is brilliantly written book, illustrated with amazing photographs, is the result of several years' work. It debunks unjust stereotypes, black legends and distortions about Catholicism. VSAH . 8 x 10.5, Sewn Hardcover, 375 pages, $34.95 Other Glorious Illustrated Books in this Series GUADALUPE THREE KINGS, TRUST: FATIMA MYSTERIES MYSTERIES TEN MYSTERIES In St. Faustina’s WITNESSES TO FATMH . Sewn Hardcover GUMH . Sewn Hardcover TKTMH . Sewn Hardcover Footsteps MYSTERY: $31.95 $31.95 $21.95 TSFFH . Sewn Hardcover Relics of Christ $31.95 WITM2H . Sewn Hardcover $34.95 www.ignatius.com P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 (800) - 651-1531 Table of Contents Features Columns 3 Beacons of Hope 8 Back to the Basics: —Witnessing to the Infinite Q & A on the Goodness & Power of God Essential Elements Rev. Gregory Dick, O.PRAEM. of Religious Life The Role of Spiritual 6 Divine Mercy Rediscovered Direction—Part II —God Desires to Heal Our Rev. Thomas Dubay, S.M. Hearts with His Infinite Love Sr. Gaudia Skass, OLM 11 Answering the Master’s Call—Good to Have a 16 “Branded” By Your Mission: Place to Call Home To Live and Proclaim the Sr. Veronica of the Memory of Christ’s Passion Immaculate Heart of Mary, —Message to the Superior O.Carm. General of the Passionists 13 Religious Pioneers in Pope Francis America: Trailblazers of Faith—Rev. Peter-John Departments De Smet, S.J. Rev. William Pearsall, S.J. 2 INSTITUTE Insights 18 Doctor of the Heart, 20 INNERVIEW Healer of the Soul: With Sr. Faustina Maria The Spiritual Counsel Pia Bianchi, S.V., Assistant of Dr. Conrad Baars Vocations Director for the Kinds of Repression Sisters of Life & Composer Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P. of the Litany of Trust 28 Theological Reflections 23 IRL NEWS & NOTES Practical Recommendations 26 Affiliate in Focus for a Fruitful Lent Poor Clare Colettine Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. Monastery —Santa Barbara, California Institute Insights January/February 2021 Vol. XLV No. 1 R EV . T HOMAS N ELSO N , O.P R AEM . ur Mission: Religious Life is published Oby the INSTITUTE ON RELIGIOUS LIFE, Inc. (IRL). The IRL is a national organization e are in the midst of a pandemic and political founded in 1974 to encourage, support happenings that cover us like a black cloud. and assist authentic consecrated life as We are in need of God’s mercy and that gives set forth by Vatican II and its implemen- W us hope, since He always shows mercy towards those tation by the Holy See. Membership in who humbly ask Him. Rev. Gregory Dick, O.PRAEM., lifts the IRL is comprised of bishops, priests, up our hearts in hope with his article “Witnessing to the religious and lay persons. Infinite Goodness & Power of God.” Then, Sr. Gaudia Religious Life is sent to active mem- Skass, OLM, reminds us of God’s goodness to those in need in her bers of the IRL ($30 per year for U.S. article “Divine Mercy Rediscovered.” God’s mercy is not cheap. It membership) or to those who request it. was bought with the Most Precious Blood of Christ. The Passionists, Institutional or library subscriptions are who are celebrating their third centenary, remind us of this truth. also available. Send all correspondence Pope Francis in his address to them says they are to live and pro- to Religious Life, P.O. Box 7500, Liber- claim the “memory of Christ’s Passion.” tyville, IL 60048, or call 847-573-8975. Trust is at the heart of Divine Mercy. Sr. Faustina Maria Pia Bianchi, Executive Editor S.V., of the Sisters of Life, wrote a beautiful Litany of Trust which Rev. Thomas Nelson, O.PRAEM. we include along with our Interview with her. The Passion has al- Managing Editor ways been at the center of Franciscan life. It is manifested in the Mr. Michael D. Wick Resurrected fruits of love, joy and peace so typical of true follow- Assistant Editor/Circulation ers of St. Francis of Assisi. The Poor Clare Colletine Nuns in Santa Mrs. Anne Tschanz Barbara, California, manifest this Franciscan spirit with Saint Clare Layout & Design as their mother. We present them in our Affiliate in Focus. Clois- Catholic Creative Services, Inc. tered life in the Church bears the special fruit of missionary zeal IRL Founder and Rev. Peter-John De Smet, S.J., had lots of apostolic zeal. He + Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. was a true American missionary to the Native Americans in the Wild IRL Executive Director Mr. Jeffrey Karls West. Pope Francis would be proud of this fellow Jesuit since he was a great peacemaker among them. Rev. William Pearsall, S.J., IRL Officers Most Rev. Robert F. Vasa introduces him to us in our column Religious Pioneers in America: President Trailblazers of Faith. Father De Smet’s missionary fruits are found Mr. Paul Doetsch, Treasurer all over the West, including North Dakota. There, Sr. Veronica of the Mr. Frederick R. Dempsey, Secretary Immaculate Heart of Mary has a place she calls home in her clois- Most Rev. Bob Lombardo, C.F.R. tered Carmelite monastery. She shares the story of her vocational Rev. Robert McDermott calling in Answering the Master’s Call. Mrs. Bonnie Quirke Religious life is above all an inner journey of the heart. The heart Mrs. Patricia Sanders needs healing and direction. Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P., continues his Mr. Patrick Spencer column on the Doctor of the Heart, Healer of the Soul in giving us Executive Committee an explanation of the teaching of Dr. Conrad Baars. Rev. Thomas Dubay, S.M., writes on the “Role of Spiritual Direction—Part II” in © 2021 INSTITUTE ON RELIGIOUS LIFE, Inc. All Back to Basics: Q & A on the Essential Elements of Religious Life. rights reserved. Religious Life is printed Lastly, Servant of God Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., prepares us for in the U.S.A. Reproduction of material ap- Lent in his Theological Reflections on “Practical Recommendations pearing in Religious Life is prohibited with- for a Fruitful Lent.” out written prior permission. Unsolicited articles, poetry and other original works may be submitted for consideration. About the Cover: The central panel of the Tri-Centennial Jubilee Icon com- Please email submissions to: irlstaff@ missioned by the Passionist Community to celebrate their 300th anniversary religiouslife.com. Submissions may be of founding. For more information, see the article on page 17 or please visit edited for length and style. PassionistNuns.org. 2 January/February 2021 Beacons of Hope –Witnessing to the Infinite Goodness & Power of God– Saint Paul summarizes well the most basic principle of the theology of salvation when he speaks about the condescension of God’s love made manifest in Christ Jesus. We, as children of God, must become beacons of hope and trust in the invincible power and goodness of our Triune God to allow the saving light of Christ to penetrate and scatter the darkness of sin and death. By Rev. Gregory Dick, O.PRAEM. rothers and sisters, I am speaking in human To be sure, Saint Paul had tested the capacities of human language in his attempts to express what he terms because of the weakness of your nature.” had beheld in the Seventh Heaven, for example in “ his ecstatic run-on sentences in Ephesians describing BHere the Apostle to the Gentiles summarizes per- “the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the Saints and haps the most basic principle of the theology of salva- the immeasurable greatness of His power in us who be- tion: the condescension of love, the highest stooping lieve…” down to the lowest, like a loving parent to a toddler, But because he knew well the depths of the wound- in order to make known the truth of love in a manner edness in the human heart, he was moved out of shear that can be grasped. compassion to pare down his expressions and his man- January/February 2021 3 ners, indeed his very manner of living, in order to be- and hearts and lives of others so that the Fire may be come all things to all men in his burning desire to bring passed on—Tradition. at the very least as many as possible to salvation. Saint It is a glorious thing, comparable indeed to what Paul made every attempt to reach the minds and hearts takes place in the Seventh Heaven, unfolding in and of his listeners, no matter how far he must stoop. It is from the heaven of souls. But it comes at a cost: the the genius of mercy, of love at its best. And he had precious cost of self. I must decrease, so You may in- experienced it firsthand. crease. Everyone, from the highest (God Almighty) to Saint Paul was not the author of this way. He the lowest (the sinner) must follow the God-given ped- learned it from God his Father, Who from the dawn agogy.