This summer saw Sister Chiara Luce Spankie O.P. make her final vows as a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, in Ann Arbor. Today, Sister Chiara explains her vocation story, her story of sisterhood:
“As a child, I had a great love for God and my Catholic. I remember having a strong devotion to Saints Therese and Faustina, and loved reading about the martyrs who gave their lives to God. I especially loved religious sisters and consecrated women. My mother would take me to visit different religious communities as a little girl and this is when I first thought of being a sister myself someday. I was drawn to these women’s love for our Lord and the joy they possessed in belonging to Him.”
“In middle school and high school, the idea of giving my live to Jesus faded to the back burner, and I was caught up in the things of the world. It was the words of the priest in the confessional, after I had told him all my sins, that reawakened my faith. He told me, “And in all of this, God is calling you to be a saint, and I know you can do it.” This became the great desire of my heart; to be a saint, to come to know and love Him more, and to bring his love to the world. In the confessional, in the midst of my sinfulness, I encountered a God who loved me, and wanted me in my brokenness. In coming to know and love Jesus more, I soon realized I couldn’t give my heart and love to anyone else. I loved Him, and wanted to give everything to Him, who had given everything to me. Blessed be God, for His great love and mercy!”
Please do keep Sister Chiara Luce in your prayers.
Saint Dominic, pray for her.
Mary Magdalene, pray for her.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, pray for her.
* Do you feel that God may be calling you to Consecrated Life? Contact Dawn Hausmann, Director of Consecrated Vocations for the Diocese of Lansing, at dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org or 517-342-2506.