Wildflower Reunion

Episode 14 - Bridal Surrender (Book Study 2)

"To be a woman is to love and to suffer."  Is this not a demeaning statement to make about the vocation of woman? Karen, Simi, Hannah and Dawn talk about discovering the fullness of life and of womanhood. They talk about the risks of the opposite of bridal surrender: pettiness and self-absorption. The bride of Christ is completely surrendered when she is "totally occupied with what we are supposed to be doing" (p27).
We continue our book study of “My Beloved Is Mine and I Am His: Meditations on Brideship” - by Mother Mary Francis PCC, particularly the sections All the Days of Her Life, Nurturing, and Complete Surrender.
Buy the book here: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Mine-His-Meditations-Brideship/dp/1685951597⁠ or download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hAdD_WW1xNglsgWHR90HDlUme2Rs4H1y/view?usp=share_link 
Key quote: "A woman is most a woman when she is giving: giving her service, giving herself. A nun [or consecrated virgin] is most a nun when the fullness of her surrender to God is evidenced in her consuming desire to give her energies to souls." p33

Episode 13 - Bridal Security (Book Study 1)

The spirituality of brideship is at the heart of consecrated virginity, but isn't it sentimental, sugary, or even spiritual eroticism? Karen, Hannah, Simi and Dawn talk about the true and all-demanding reality of brideship. It is the vocation of allowing Jesus to provide everything. It is the strongest force there is. 
We begin our book study of “My Beloved Is Mine and I Am His: Meditations on Brideship” - by Mother Mary Francis PCC.
Buy the book here: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Mine-His-Meditations-Brideship/dp/1685951597⁠ or download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hAdD_WW1xNglsgWHR90HDlUme2Rs4H1y/view?usp=share_link 
Key quote: “[A bride] has a woman’s security of being greatly loved and cherished by a Lover. And when a woman has this security of being loved, there is really nothing that she cannot do. There is nothing that she cannot bear; there is nothing that she cannot find courage to face.” p66

Episode 12 - Public Witness in the World

What does it mean to live a “public” vocation? How do you discern public consecration, versus taking a private vow? And what does this look like in different aspects of our lives, including our online lives? In this final episode of season 1, Karen, Hannah, Simi and Dawn share their experiences of living their witness as consecrated virgins publicly. 
Season 2 Announcement! Join us in September as we read together “My Beloved Is Mine and I Am His: Meditations on Brideship” - by Mother Mary Francis PCC. Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Mine-His-Meditations-Brideship/dp/1685951597

Episode 11 - Bridal Life in the Spirit

How can we as brides of Christ live radically guided by the Holy Spirit? What are the practical ways that we respond daily to the promptings of the Counsellor and Comforter? How do we experience him as the greatest Formator of our lives? In the days leading up to Pentecost, Karen, Hannah, Simi and Dawn talk about the profound and unique relationship between virginity and life in the Spirit. 

Episode 10 - Journey of Discernment

What is it like to tell your family and friends for the very first time you are discerning consecrated virginity? How do you navigate your family not understanding or rejecting your vocation? What are the best ways to approach your diocese? Karen, Simi, Dawn and Hannah share their own experiences, and offer advice for broaching the subject with family and friends. 

Episode 9 - Spiritual Motherhood

How can consecrated virgins be spiritual mothers? In this month of May dedicated to Mary, we explore the topic of spiritual motherhood. What does it mean to foster a hospitable interiority to receive others? How can our motherhood be both tenderly soft and fiercely protective? And is spiritual motherhood is fulfilling as biological motherhood? 

Episode 8 - Desert Times in our Life

It’s Holy Week and we are diving into experiences of desolation in our lives. Why is it especially important for consecrated virgins to learn how to live and pray through desolation well? When do we need to push in further, and when might we need to make a change? And does darkness ever make us doubt our vocation?

Episode 7 - Life at the Heart of the Church

What does it mean to live a vocation that is at the heart of the Church - as well as at the heart of the world? What does the relationship look like with our dioceses and bishops, and what is the formation process like for consecrated virgins? Karen, Simi, Hannah and Dawn also talk about avoiding temptations to bitterness and developing a perceiving and interceding feminine heart for the local Church.

Episode 6 - Sisterhood in the Life of Consecrated Virgins

What are the differences between consecrated virgins and religious sisters? If sisterhood is not essential to the life of a consecrated virgin, why do we seek it out? Karen, Simi, Hannah and Dawn talk about what sisterhood with other CVs can look like, and the pitfalls of not having such sisterhood in our lives.

Episode 5 - Friendship

If consecrated virgins don’t have community built into their lives in the form of family, or religious community, does that mean being lonely? If we are called to pour out in ministry, who is pouring into us? Karen, Simi, Hannah and Dawn talk about the essential nature of friendship - of having those in my life who love me as “another self” - in order to enjoy the fullness of life as consecrated virgins.