Religious want to give themselves wholly to God. The vows give them freedom to do this. They are additional means to the essential ones we already have, for becoming Christ-like. The purpose of the vows is therefore positive: likeness to Christ and union with him...

Christ was utterly poor. There was no greed or covetousness in him, no trace of attachment to earthly goods. Therefore to become like him, the adopted children (of God) must be poor in spirit, and nothing helps so much to achieve this as the vow of poverty...

Christ was utterly pure, utterly consecrated to his Heavenly Father, wholly self-given, fully God-centred A religious takes the vow of chastity, renouncing even the lawful pleasures of the flesh, because (she) wants to be like Christ in his total self-giving to his Heavenly Father ...

Christ was utterly obedient. His whole life was lived in perfect conformity to the utter and loving submission of his will to the father's will until death. The religious takes the vow of obedience because (she) wants to be like Christ in his obedience. Through it she imitates the Son as closely as a human person can. She submits her whole life in all its aspects to the Father's will through obedience to lawful superiorsÉThis is why the vow of obedience is the greatest of the three, and the most efficacious in producing a greater likeness to Jesus crucified in the adopted child.

Therefore the desire to be like Christ must remain the driving-force behind all observance of the vows.

From "Abba, Father" by Bonaventure Perquin O.P
St Paul Publications 1965

AT
THE CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY
OXFORD RD
MANCHESTER

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
STUDY AND DISCUSSION
WEEKEND


MAY 2 - 4 2008

Friday evening - Sunday midday

at
St Dominic's Convent
Station Rd
Stone
Staffs ST15 8EN
Tel. 01785 812091

Suggested donation(as affordable) : residential £40 Non- residential £5.00 per day
Travel: to Stafford by coach or train
then bus (opposite station) to Stone

Contact Sr Valery O.P.       S Catherine of Siena Convent
155 Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge CB3 0DH       Tel. 01223 353730
Email: valerywalker@googlemail.com

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Travel Instructions

Train or coach to Stafford

Hanley bus from outside station, on opposite side of road.
Get off in Crown St, Stone

It is a short walk to the convent in Station Rd.
When you get off the bus, keep on that side of the road,
And keep walking until you see Margaret St on the opposite side of the road.
Walk up Margaret St. past the Catholic Church.
At the top, turn left into Station Rd.
The convent front door is on the left,
opposite Dominic St.

By car
Junction 14 on M6
Follow A34 for Newcastle-u-Lyme/Stoke-on-Trent
About 7 miles on, at roundabout for Eccleshall & Stone town centre,
go into town.
Follow one-way-system to the divide,
take left-hand branch for a very short while.
Turn right up Margaret St.
Left into Station Rd.
Park in Station Rd; later you can park in the convent garden.

For assistance at any time ring S Valery on 07986 851376