History of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sisters of the IHM gathered in Hollywood, California in the 1960's
Sisters of the IHM gathered in Hollywood, California in the 1960's
WITH REVERENCE FOR ALL CREATION
We, the members of the Immaculate Heart Community, rooted in Jesus Christ and united with the people of God, commit ourselves to build relations in society which foster access of all persons to truth, dignity, and full human development, and to strategically change practices and situations which impede such access. With reverence for all creation, in our choice of work and living style, and in our use of time, talent, and money, we hold ourselves accountable to God and to one another for effecting this goal and supporting one another in this effort. With reverence for all creation…. is a new phrase in our Immaculate Heart Goal Statement.
Reflection on our Goal Statement
Francis of Assisi wrote the hymn, Canticle of Brother Sun, during the last year of his life. Legend has it that the beloved Saint Francis saw himself as united with all of God’s creation and as one with even the smallest creatures. During the last year of his life, Francis, nearly blind from an eye disease, in constant severe pain, and lying in a hut overrun with mice, wrote the joyous Canticle of Brother Sun, in which he calls all creation his mother, his brothers, and his sisters. He sees even death as part of the beautiful natural world that God created. Here are some of the words from St. Francis’s beautiful hymn, Canticle of Brother Sun.
All creatures, worship God most high! Sound every voice in earth and sky: Alleluia!
Sing, brother sun, in splendor bright; sing, sister moon and stars of night. Alleluia.
Sing, brother wind; with clouds and rain. You grow the gifts of fruit and grain. Alleluia!
Dear sister water, useful, clear. Make music for your God to hear. Alleluia!
Come, sister death, your song release when you enfold our breath in peace: Alleluia!
Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom, fair is the night that leads us home.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
As you read this message please join us in prayer that each of us do all that we can every day to show reverence for all creation.
Creator God, we join once again with your whole creation to sing your praises. Your earth is a gift, your creation is filled with your goodness and light. Give us joy in your earth, connect us with all that you have made and help us to show reverence in all that we do for your whole creation. Amen.
This is from their website:
1970
Following the vision and direction of the Second Vatican Council the IHM Sisters sought to renew and adapt to the needs of contemporary times. In that the Church authority of Los Angeles was not open to this renewal, the disagreement reached an impasse. In order to continue their renewal and mission the IHMs decided to form a new community, without the restrictions required by the Archbishop of Los Angeles and the Vatican, yet dedicated to their mission promulgated in their Decrees of 1968.
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The Holy Motherhood of Mary
In the course of time God was to show mercy to His people and so according to the Divine plan to reconcile humanity back to God, was in the Second Person of His Son, born of a woman, in order to fulfill His plan of redemption. In accordance with the Divine plan, and in obedience to His commandment to "honor your father and mother", Christ in the home at Nazareth willingly submitted Himself to the care and guidance of His Holy Mother who was given the necessary grace to fulfill that role. In her role, she does not diminish,but rather complements the role of St. Joseph, her holy spouse, who is the unsurpassed model of fatherhood and rightly the patron of the the Universal church. We should likewise for our spiritual assistance, submit ourselves to her in her Holy motherhood so that, just as Christ was physically born to her and submitted Himself to her, we can by also doing so, benefit from her assistance to us in ever continuing to avail ourselves of the grace of God in His Sacraments, being in that way spiritually born anew, benefiting from her intercessory power with God and motherly solicitude for us, and guided by her to be the person God desires us to be. Those who have chosen the consecrated religious life as sisters and nuns more full embrace their vocation by conforming to the model of the Holy motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the Incarnation and embodiment of the New. It is fitting that the first major feast day following the Nativity of Our Lord is the Solemnity of the Mother of God. It is also fitting that it is the first day of the new year. Just as the old year has been fulfilled and we then celebrate the New Year on the first day, so we celebrate the Blessed Virgin, who is the first and greatest beneficiary of the New Covenant, the Old having been brought to fulfillment. She is our Mother whose concern and solicitude is for our spiritual welfare.Her Magnificat is ours also if we do what God requires of us by obeying His Holy laws and become the instruments of His Divine Charity
LOL - wow, just wow. Now what young, fervent Catholic woman wouldn’t want to join that youthful bunch
The odd thing is that when I go to Mass I never see the sisters in the formal habits, but there is always some in the colorful casual streetwear. I will argue that the formal order enjoys the structure, community, and probably the separation from society. It shows in the photograph. The second group I guess favors independence and interacting with society. It was probably a challenge to get them assembled for their photograph. I know little of each groups spirituality, but like the Pope says: "who am I to judge"
There is good news though...apparently there was a small group of the IHM, which broke off in the 70s, pledged their fidelity, and reestablished in Wichita Diocese. They are a good and faithful order with young vocations and continue to teach in the Wichita Schools Read their story here.
It is a study in discretion and understatement: "As a result of the tumultuous decade of the 1960s, divergent views of religious life and Church authority were emerging from among the Sisters. Mother Joanne, Sister Eileen and Sister Giovanni were directed by the Holy See to find another diocese that would welcome them and their works."
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