Your Maker is Your Husband

Sister Marie Josepha Kluczny, RSM

I grew up in Austin, Minnesota with my loving parents, older sister and younger brother.  My family went to church every Sunday, and though I always knew that my faith was important to me and desired to understand it better, I would not say I was a particularly devout child.   

When I was about 9 years old, I was standing on my bed one night and looking out at the stars.  I must have been praying because I remember promising God that I would be a Sister when I grew up!  When I laid down to sleep that night, I felt an immense sense of peace— a peace I never forgot.  I also didn’t forget the promise, much to my irritation!  As I got older I thought, “No, I don’t want to be a Sister.  I want to get married. I want to have children. Surely, God wouldn’t hold me to a promise I made when I was 9!”  I dated occasionally, but never met someone I felt I could share my whole life with.

Years later, I had graduated from nursing school and was working at a hospital near my parents’ home.  I went to visit them on a day off, and my dad and I went to morning Mass.  We went to a café afterward and to his everlasting credit, my dad asked me over coffee, “Have you ever wondered if the reason you haven’t met your ‘Mr. Right’ is that Jesus is your ‘Mr. Right’?  Have you considered that you might have religious vocation?”  Of course, I started crying!  I had not told anyone about my promise to God (by now, almost 2 decades ago).  But here was my father, who of all people on earth was among those who knew me the best and loved me the most, and he too recognized the call in me.  I knew at that moment that I either needed to give religious life an honest look, or outrightly tell Jesus “no”.     

The Religious Sisters of Mercy have a presence in my home Diocese of Winona-Rochester.  Through my parents’ pastor, I was able to get the contact information of the local superior and called her to ask if I could come visit.  I left for that visit still very much hoping that I did not have a vocation to religious life, but my feelings changed dramatically.  Witnessing the community life of the Sisters, I could finally integrate the natural feminine inclinations I had— to care for a family, to care for a home— with the mysterious call to religious life that had been with me since childhood.  In the chapel one evening I told Jesus, “OK, Lord.  If this is what you want, then I want it too.”  In that moment, a deep peace came over me—a peace I recognized from many years ago, and I knew its source was God.  I entered Postulancy soon after and professed my perpetual vows in the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan on August 16, 2020.  I am so grateful to God for making known to me my vocation, and grateful to my family, friends, and Sisters for supporting my vocation with their guidance, love, and prayers.

My ring motto is “Holy Holy Holy” and comes from the book of Isaiah, “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name… Holy Holy Holy is the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 54:5; 6:3).  When I was young in religious life, we celebrated a funeral at the Motherhouse.  During the “Sanctus” of the Mass, I remember thinking it felt like all of heaven was present and praying with us (they were)!  Over the years of my religious formation, “Holy Holy Holy” became a reminder to me of the goal of the Religious Sisters of Mercy and of my vocation within it as a bride of Christ— the praise of the Triune God.  I am to praise God— not only here on earth but for eternity in heaven.  When I am discouraged or beset with self-doubt and lack of confidence, my ring motto reminds me to focus less on myself and my failings and more on the Lord—on His love, His goodness, and His holiness.