Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist (Charism) - Peoria Illinois - Central Illinois Convent : Religious Life Vocation / Devout Christian Sisters - Nuns / Catholic Community / Charity - Service - Prayer Requests - Communal Living Spiritual Life / Roman Catholic Followers of Jesus Christ

Charism

"He must increase and I must decrease..." - John 3:30

charism

According to the example of John the Baptist, we dedicate ourselves to grow in a life of limitless humility and self-renunciation. In this way we want to decrease so Christ can increase.

John was filled with such love for Christ, that he sought only the Lord's increase and gladly accepted his own diminishment. Our own personal conversion will open each one of us to a relationship of a deep friendship with Jesus.

Striving for limitless humility and self-renunciation shapes our lifestyle to be one of total trust in God: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given you besides" (Mt 6,33).

We witness to Christ in a spirit of joy as brides of Christ since we rejoice above all at the voice of the Bridegroom (Jn 3:29). We strive for perfect joy which flows from sharing in the suffering of Christ.

An indispensable part of our charism is to pray daily for priests and seminarians.

Our Medal

Our medal is an expression of our Franciscan spirituality which we live out according to the example of John the Baptist. The letter Tau symbolizes the cross of Christ and the conversion to which we are called every day of our life.

Behind the letter Tau is a smaller cross with the flag that carries the Latin words Ecce Agnus Dei which means Behold the Lamb of God. Like John the Baptist we want to decrease and draw attention to Christ.