World Day for Consecrated Life today

Catholic News Service has a story about "three happy, healthy young women -- all in their 20s -- (who) are now in formation at the Monastery of St. Clare in St. Louis.

"Each heard God's call and chose to be a Poor Clare. Sister Mary Therese of the Sacred Heart Lavery, 26, entered the Poor Clares in 2001. The former Texas A&M University engineering student learned about the monastic community on a "nun run," in which young women discerning a vocation visit several religious orders in a set period of time.

"Sister Mary Christiana of Our Eucharistic King Schwent, 20, entered the monastery in September 2004. She learned of the Poor Clares through her youth group; her mother and a young priest also encouraged her vocation.

"Sister Mary Joseph of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Rieger, 27, arrived in October 2004. The University of Missouri-Columbia political science graduate, who once worked as an intern on George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, hadn't even known there were Poor Clares in the St. Louis Archdiocese until a close friend led her to them."

(for more information on the Monastery of St. Clare in St. Louis, click here.)