Elizabeth Seton - Soul Sisters (and brothers)
Elizabeth Seton – Soul Sisters (and brothers)
“Soul Sister” by S. Janet Gildea SC is found in the May issue of E-voc) from the sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
As you make your way along a journey of discernment, the companionship and deep listening of a “soul sister” is a special blessing. Whether it’s a family member, a college roommate, a co-worker or a childhood friend, someone who knows you very well can help you to know yourself and understand the movements of God in your life.
For St. Elizabeth Seton, her sister-in-law Rebecca Seton was that kind of kindred spirit. In the happy years of Elizabeth’s life as a young wife and mother, Rebecca shared her spiritual journey, accompanying her to religious services and visiting the sick poor of New York City. The two young women had long conversations about faith, trying to recognize together the presence of God in the experiences of everyday life. Elizabeth recorded the story of her struggle to convert to Catholicism in a journal for Rebecca that she wrote from Italy during her husband’s illness and after his death. She trusted that her “soul’s sister” could bear the conflicting movements of her heart and help her come to clarity about God’s call.
Who has “sistered” you in such a way? Is there someone you could trust with your big questions? It’s not easy to be cast in such a supporting role. We all have our own ideas, opinions and prejudices. But a true soul sister avoids the temptation of giving advice unless requested. The key to such compassionate listening is to be willing to wait while the other discovers the way of the heart’s desire; no detours or shortcuts, even if the way involves pain and confusion.
An old saying goes, “To have a friend, be a friend.”
The same could be applied to sistering a soul. Being a soul sister is not a one-way street. Part of the magic of such a relationship is its mutuality. So hone your own listening skills for your next heart-to-heart. Treasure such moments, as Elizabeth Seton did. She wrote this account of her last hours with her dear Rebecca: “We then talked a little of our tender and faithful love for each other and earnestly prayed that this dear affection begun in Christ Jesus on earth might be perfected through him in heaven … I raised her head and drew her towards me — Nature gave its last sigh — she was gone in five minutes without a groan — He who searches the heart and knows the spring of each secret affection — He only knows what I lost at that moment — but her unspeakable gain silences Nature’s voice and the Soul presses forward toward the mark and prize of her high calling in Christ Jesus.”
May you have – and be – such a friend!
Download the 2 page pdf (May2013E-voc) to see brief features
- “Where are the Sisters Today”
- Worth Watching – “Call the Midwife”
- “My Mentor”
Tags: E-Voc newsletter, Gildea, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati