They are The Four

The Black Horse

When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine." Rev 6: 5-6

"Drink this cup of water, Arnold," Sister Lily cooed to an elderly man.

"Who are you? Why are you giving me water when I haven't eaten at all," Arnold indignantly expressed.

"You just ate your breakfast, sir. See this empty plate," the sister gently replied while showing the empty plate.

"I don't remember eating, Sister!" Arnold exploded. "Get out of my sight! Nuns and priests make me sick!"

"Your welcome, Arnold. I know you mean well." 

Sister Lily left Arnold to put the tray of food in the push cart stacked with empty food trays from the other patients and elderly inmates of Saint Joseph Sanctuary.

"Arnold's at it again?" Sister Conchita asked Sister Lily.

"Yes. Poor man. He still feels bad about his family's decision to leave him here. The thing is, sooner or later his Alzheimer will get worse and will demand much care from the family. That is something they expressly cannot commit to."

Sister Lily White came from an Irish Catholic family in Galway. Ever since a young girl, Lily is a natural helpful person. She would share her food with her friends, look out for a poor or destitute person, actively participate in Church activities and the like. As nuns and priests are abundant in Ireland, it is but normal to hear a daughter asking to enter the nunnery or a son to enter the seminary or monastery. Her family knew her vocation even before she declared her desire to be a nun.

She entered the Trinity Sisters Congregation which includes pastoral work with the poor and the destitute as one of its ministry. After eight to nine years of formation and gradual exposure to various pastoral work, Lily White made her perpetual vows where a great number gathered to share her big day. A guest cardinal - who happened to be on vacation in a nearby county - officiated the mass and the ceremony because the bishop was suddenly rushed to the hospital two days prior to the big day.

"Congratulations, Sister Lily," Peter Cardinal Dalton gladly expressed his joy to the newly professed sister.

"Your Eminence," Sister Lily greeted, "thank you so much for coming over today in such a short notice."

"What do the sisters have in mind for you?"

"I will continue my work in the Saint Joseph Sanctuary. I love it there too. Though we are in need of help in so many things - health facilities, bandages, volunteers, donations."

"We all need help in so many ways. I assure you, Sister, 'the jar will never run dry,'" the cardinal finished before being ushered to a VIP table.

Indeed from that moment on, Saint Joseph Sanctuary received so many help and donations from a lot of people all over the world, thanks also to the campaign made by the fatherly cardinal wherever he would go. The sanctuary welcomed and accepted a lot of patients and "clients." Those who were abandoned, elderly, sickly, abused, the poor, victims of harassment, refugees, and so much more. Word passed regarding the touching charity and generosity of the sisters as well as the volunteers. 

As Sister Lily is the youngest of the professed sisters, it is but natural that she be the face of the congregation and the sanctuary in itself when visitors would come for a visit, interview or inquiry. Possessing a very charming personality and kindness, she attracted people in a most holy and inspiring way akin to that of Mother Teresa.

"Oh by the way, have you finished the quarterly report that Cardinal Dalton usually asks?" Sister Conchita asked.

"Yes, I emailed it to him already though he still has not yet asked for it. Hope he gets though," Sister Lily informed.

"He helped us a lot. Without him, probably we closed a long time ago.  The accidental meeting with the cardinal has greatly helped us."

"Very true."

"Is it true that a representative from the Vatican Bank will come over and check us out?" Sister Conchita inquired.

"Yes, though I'm not sure if we ever get to meet him. He is a religious brother, by the way. A banker before entering a religious brotherhood, maybe a late vocation," Sister Lily shared.

"Banking and finance seem a nice world. Why did he ever gave it all up?