About fifteen years ago when I was facing a particularly tough challenge, I asked one of the elders of Madonna House if she had any advice for me. "Renew your promises every day," she told me, "but not ‘forever’—just for one day."

Ever since then, renewing my promises has been part of my morning prayer. And over the years, I have meditated on the various words and phrases in them.

For the glory of God: Back in 1982 when I squeaked my way through these words for the first time, I really didn’t have a clue as to where I was headed or why. I did however have a deep conviction that making these promises was the way I would get to where I was supposed to go. So I took the plunge.

Now, some 24 years later, I realize that this first phrase of the promises formula, "for the glory of God," is the answer to the why. It is also the way.

Back when I first said these words, I had no idea that I would be following the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night (cf. Exodus 13:21) or that, if I allowed it, God would use my sinful self to manifest his glory.

Most days seem anything but glorious, but this Madonna House life is not about me and how I see and experience it. It is about the glory of God.

And because I desire: Depending on the day and the moment, my desires can be for anything. But what do I truly desire? What is it that keeps me getting out of bed each morning? And what is it that keeps the embers burning in my heart, even on the days when they aren’t fanned into a flame?

I’ve come to see my desire for good, to whatever degree it is that, is a pure gift from God. And I need to orient this gift by my daily choices.

With my whole heart: Ah, the heart! That central core in my being that houses my will, intellect and senses. Have I ever done anything with my whole heart?

God searches the heart, and knows every secret motive behind the thoughts (1 Chron. 28:9). Thanks be to God who promised, I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead (Ezech 36:26).

To respond to the call of Jesus Christ: Here is the invitation to relationship. Here is the bride hearing the call of the Bridegroom. This happens not only on Promises Day but at every moment of every day. Are my ears open to hear it? Is my heart open to respond?

This call can be as loud as the voice of my brother or sister in need or as silent as a paper clip lying on the floor waiting to be picked up and put away.

The Bridegroom comes at every moment. Do I go and welcome him?

To preach the Gospel with my life: How could I do this except for the fact that Jesus became one like us and goes before us? If I follow him, I have a chance, and the Beatitudes are my path.

Preaching the Gospel with my life is a monumental task—one that is impossible unless I live the preceding line to respond to the call of Jesus Christ, and the following one—

I hereby promise with the help of Our Lady: Our foundress Catherine Doherty told us that Mary is as close to us as the air we breathe and that Madonna House is her home, her apostolate. Mary journeys with us, and she invites us to sit at her feet and learn from her in Nazareth.

Then as we grow she accompanies us on our way of the cross, leading us to union with her at the foot of the Cross of her Son. And she doesn’t stop there. She accompanies us in those times when we are in the silence and darkness of the tomb, and in those moments when we experience the glory of the Resurrection. We can stand in none of these without her help.

To live in poverty, chastity and obedience: Volumes have been written about these evangelical counsels, so I am not going to touch on them here.

According to the Madonna House spirit and mandate: After trying to live these promises for 24 years, I see how limitless is the depth of our vocation, and my heart is filled with wonder and awe. By the grace of God I will spend the rest of my life plumbing these depths.

Praying my promises daily has helped me to deepen my "yes" to our Madonna House way of life. But as I continue to do so, I also realize that I will never be able to do more than scratch the surface in my understanding of and gratitude for God’s promises to me.