Cinq sessions de webinaires jubilaires du Bicentenaire are being held in 2025, during each of which a guest speaker will share her perspective on the contemplative dimension of our Good Shepherd life and mission. Following the Zoominar on May 23, in which Sr. Cristina Robaina, CST, offered her insights on “The Evolution of the Contemplative Life,” three contemplative sisters share their personal reflections on the theme, which you can read below.
By Sr. Mary Jenita Johnson, Sri Lanka (Province of Sri Lanka / Paskistan)
The evolution of the Contemplative Religious Life is a precious gift from the Lord to His Universal Church. Sr. Christina’s reflection beautifully highlighted the vital importance of contemplative presence within the Church, resonating deeply within our hearts and minds.
Each consecrated person has a unique role in this divine plan. We are grateful to God for the gift of our Holy Mother Foundress, St. Mary Euphrasia. Through her profound spirituality, we are inspired to follow her example, which serves as a guiding role model for us all. It was the Lord who inspired her heart to open a path toward contemplative life within an apostolic congregation, walking hand in hand with our partners-in-mission.
From these reflections, I was inspired by three key aspects:
– Lord Jesus saw everything with a contemplative eye;
– Christian contemplation; and
– In silence and solitude, the Spirit awakens us.
Lord Jesus saw everything with a contemplative eye. We are called to encounter God in all things, just as Jesus showed us the way. As He said, “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). This profound truth reminds us that, often, we fail to fully recognize God’s abundance, especially through the eyes of faith.
Christian contemplation is the space where our consciousness transforms our entire life. The Spirit continually leads and speaks to our hearts, urging us to effect inner change. It is in this sacred space that we encounter the Divinity of the Lord, opening ourselves fully to His presence.
In silence and solitude, the Spirit awakens us. From personal experience, I have found that when we quiet our minds and hearts, the Spirit stirs within us and around us. In silence, we become more attuned to the sounds of the world—nature, human activity, and divine creation. We notice our heartbeat, the passing of time, and the many sounds of life, the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, the distant hum of vehicles, or joyful celebrations. These are the moments that invite us to lift our hearts to God, reminding us of His Spirit’s presence in the human life and in the Creation.
When we silence our petty worries, resentments, judgments, and pride deep within, we open ourselves to the gifts and fruits of the Spirit: peace, patience, kindness, and love begin.
Throughout history, the Lord’s mission in the Church continues to flourish through the presence of contemplatives across generations. Our sacred witness sustains and enriches the life and mission of the Church, guiding us and entire People closer to God’s divine love.
Watch the recording of Sr. Christinaa Robaina’s Zoominar on some principles of The Evolution of the Contemplative Life ici.
