By: Erinn Peterson
November is a special month for the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth as we celebrate our Mother Foundress, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Frances Siedliska). We celebrate her birthday on November 12th and her feast day on November 21st (she was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on April 23, 1989).
Throughout her life, Blessed Frances shared wisdom that continues to inspire not only our sisters but anyone seeking to grow closer to Christ. Her writing reminds us that holiness isn't reserved for extraordinary moments. We can find God in the ordinary parts of our everyday lives, too. As we celebrate Blessed Frances this month, let's reflect on some of her words and consider how we can put them into practice.
When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest, He taught us to love God above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It's a simple message, but living it out isn't always easy!
Between work, family responsibilities, and the everyday stresses of life, it's easy to lose sight of what matters most. That's why it's so important to keep our love for God at the center of everything we do. Whether we're helping a friend, being patient with a difficult person, or simply going about our daily routines, we can ask ourselves: Am I letting my love for God guide my actions?
The more we recognize God's goodness in our own lives, the easier it becomes to see His presence in others. Blessed Frances reminds us that loving God is something we can carry into every conversation, decision, and interaction throughout the day.
Have you ever looked up at the moon on a clear night and noticed how brightly it shines? The moon doesn't produce its own light; it reflects the light of the sun. In a similar way, Mary reflects the light of her Son, Jesus, and always points us back to Him.
Mary's life offers us an example of what it means to trust God, even when we don't fully understand His plan. Not everything was revealed to Mary at once. In moments of confusion, like when the Archangel Gabriel announced the conception of Jesus or when Jesus was presented at the temple and Simeon foretold his fate, she continued to put her faith in the Lord. Through her example and her intercession in heaven, she helps us grow closer to Christ. Our love for Mary doesn't take anything away from our love for Jesus. Instead, it helps us understand Him more deeply and follow Him more faithfully.
Blessed Frances had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her words remind us that we can look to Mary as a guide on our own journey of faith. Just as she brought Jesus into the world, she continues to point us toward Him.
We all want to be happy, but finding lasting joy can sometimes feel difficult. Life gets busy, unexpected challenges arise, and even the things we look forward to don't always go as planned.
As Catholics, we know that Jesus is the source of a joy that goes deeper than our circumstances. Think of a sunflower turning toward the sunlight it needs to grow. In much the same way, we can turn toward Christ for the nourishment our souls need and know that God is already at work in us, even if we cannot feel it.
Sometimes, simply taking a moment to pray, sitting quietly in His presence, or reminding ourselves of His love can bring peace to our hearts. Blessed Frances reminds us that turning toward Jesus is not just a way to find joy, it's already part of experiencing it.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us begin thinking about the people, experiences, and blessings we're grateful for. Maybe we're thankful for a loving family, a good friend, or even a small moment that brightened an otherwise difficult day.
It's easy to focus on what we wish were different in our lives, but Blessed Frances encourages us to pause and remember the many ways God has already blessed us. Even when life isn't perfect, we can look for the ways He has given us strength, guided us through challenges, and helped us grow in faith. As our eyes become more attune to His grace, over time we are able to more fully recognize and embrace His various blessings in our lives.
As we gather around the Thanksgiving table this year, let's remember to thank Christ, whose love sustains us and whose sacrifice makes our salvation possible. Gratitude doesn't mean pretending that life is always easy. It means recognizing God's goodness even during our struggles and trusting that His love is always present.
There are so many places where we can encounter God: in a chapel, in the beauty of nature, or in a heartfelt conversation with someone we love. But Blessed Frances reminds us that we don't have to go far to find Him.
We've all experienced moments when our feelings don't seem to match what we believe. Yet even on our darkest days, God remains with us. He dwells within us, and we dwell in Him, even when we're struggling to recognize His presence.
Think of a fire burning in a hearth. We don't have to touch the flames to feel their warmth. In the same way, we don't always need a physical reminder to experience the healing and comfort of God's presence. And when we long for that tangible connection, we can turn to the Eucharist, where Christ makes Himself present to us in a unique and profound way.
Blessed Frances reminds us that God's presence doesn't depend on how strongly we feel it. Even when our hearts are restless or our faith feels weak, we can trust that He is near.
Although these five quotes offer only a glimpse of the wisdom Blessed Frances shared throughout her life, each one gives us something to carry into our own journey of faith. She offers us the understanding that holiness is within our reach, within our reality, and in the right here, right now. Blessed Frances didn’t search for God in far off places, but in the most simple and humble moments of everyday life. Whether we're learning to put God first, growing in our devotion to Mary, searching for joy, practicing gratitude, or trusting in God's presence during difficult moments, her words remind us that holiness begins now. As we remember her this November, how can she inspire you to become closer to God?
Sources:
“Let God and love of Him be the motive of your actions” (Love Conquers All, 28).
“Do not forget, my dear child, the graces Jesus has bestowed upon you, how much light He has given you” (Love Conquers All, 40).
“The act of turning towards the source of joy, is already joy itself” (Journey of the Soul, 360).
“Lord, I know you are near me, even when my soul does not know it” (Journey of the Soul, 388).
“Remember never to separate your love of Jesus from your love of Mary” (Journey with Her, 62).
