Joy with the Sorrowful

The name of their religious order - the Franciscan Sisters, T.O.R., of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother - sounds more than a little gloomy, but their website shows even more joy and other fruits of the Holy Spirit.

"Our primary call is to a life of prayer and penance, and to the witness of our consecrated lives.

"We seek to serve the Lord and others by making intercession, reparation, and atonement, begging the Lord to open the floodgates of His mercy.

"Motivated by this desire, we observe regular periods of silence, fasting, and more intense times of prayer and solitude in hermitages."

"From our life of prayer flows our ministry. In joy and gratitude for the Lord's daily provision for us, we in turn respond to the needs of our local church and community.... We are committed to the spiritual works of mercy through efforts of evangelization, renewing the fullness of catholic life and fostering growth in prayer. We are open to ministries which involve evangelization of those who have not heard the Good News, for those who have forgotten Christ or those who have been hindered from receiving God's love fully into their lives."

"We accept women from the ages of 18 to 35 years old who are in good physical and psychological health, and who have a generous heart to serve Christ and others. If you are discerning a religious vocation and are interested in our community, please feel free to contact us and we can discuss the possibility of a visit."

from the website of the Franciscan Sisters, T.O.R., of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother