Charism, Mission and Spirituality

In 2007 the Congregation for the Clergy issued an appeal to bring about in the Church a movement of prayer, with the intention of awakening a sufficient number of holy vocations to the priestly state, and at the same time uniting priestly vocations to the support of spiritual maternity, particularly on the part of consecrated feminine souls.[1]

With its own unique charism as an inspired response to the appeal of the Congregation of the Clergy, the Movement known as the Daughters of the Virgin Mother provides care for bishops, priests, and seminarians, under the patronage of our Lady, the Mother of the Eternal High Priest and of Pope St. John Paul II. This conventual and apostolic life is lived out in community, consecrated through the profession of the evangelical counsels, and primarily in the seminary setting, attending to the needs – according to our state – given to us by proper ecclesiastical authority, i.e. the Bishop of Charlotte and those legitimately appointed or confirmed by him. Through the support of spiritual maternity, the Sisters attend to the practical and spiritual needs of men preparing for the Priesthood, as well as those of the men already sharing in the Priesthood of Christ through Holy Orders. The life of active service to the Sacred Priesthood of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother is animated and impelled by a deep contemplative spirit that is sustained and nurtured through sacrifice and prayer in the school of our Lady offered for the sanctification of bishops, priests, and seminarians, and for the rise of holy vocations to the priestly state.

The pillars that are intimately connected to and form the foundation of the whole of the activity of the Daughters are:

• the Holy Eucharist;
• devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary;
• the writings and teachings of Pope St. John Paul the II, especially on the Theology of the Body;
• the call of Our Lady of Fatima to a life of prayer, penance, and reparation;
• a deeply contemplative prayer life in the school of our Lady.

In imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sisters, through their virginal life, spiritual motherhood, and prayerful penance, do their utmost to be visible reminders and witnesses to the priest of his ontological image of Christ the Eternal High Priest and His relationship with His virgin bride and mother, the Holy Catholic Church. The Sisters also strive to encourage and remind the seminarian of the lofty  vocation to which he is called and to support him in the challenges that he faces.

While living as visible witnesses, the Sisters do so in recognition that a woman most profoundly gives of herself through the veiled mystery of silence, hiddenness, and gentle availability. She watches for the needs around her, but does not forcefully impose herself on them. Always ready to respond in joyful evangelical availability and humble readiness to assist in the needs of the priests and seminarians, she also is docile to the powerful surrender that gave our Lady the grace and courage to say, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Similarly, it is the genius of the woman to inspire men to sacrificial action. By their witness, the Daughters, too, will call forth from these men a generous response to their apostolic life in service of the Church.

The Sisters strive to serve priests and seminarians in joy, hope, and gentleness, so as to lighten the weight of their daily burdens and responsibilities.

[1] See Letter of Cládio Cardinal Hummes, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, to all Diocesan Bishops of the world, p. x.