Spiritual Preparation

The Face of Holiness of our Foundress

NOVEMBER 2020

Presentation of Mary

A name – A heritage – A prophecy

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Eph 1: 2-3

IN THANKSGIVING!

Let us meditate the Word of God…

Gn 15: 6 Abram believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Ex 15: 1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

Col 1: 12 Joyfullygive thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

2 Th 2: 13 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord…

... and Our Rule of Life

C49 we are called to live in thanksgiving…

D39d Enlightened by the Word of God, in prayer and thanksgiving …

D41b We celebrate Sunday in joy and thanksgiving …

D42a We bless the Lord, and we give him thanks for the food that renews our strength, for the joy of being together and for the opportunity to share our daily life.

Commentary

Live in thanksgiving…

At that time Jesus said,

“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Mt 11: 25-27

… a prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord,

the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever.

Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power,

the glory, the victory, and the majesty;

for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours;

yours is the kingdom, O Lord,

and you are exalted as head above all.

Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.

In your hand are power and might;

and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.

And now, our God, we give thanks to you

and praise your glorious name.

All things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided

for building you a house for your holy name

comes from your hand and is all your own.

I know, my God, that you search the heart,

and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart

I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen

your people, who are present here,

offering freely and joyously to you.

O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors,

keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.

1 Ch 29: 10-18

… a commitment

… at all times, let us give thanks to God !

Marie Rivier: Woman of Prayer and of Interiority

Deepen your interior life, become a daughter of prayer.
Letter 771

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
Mark 6, 31

Let us pray with...

WORD OF GOD

Ez 36, 26 I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit withing you.

Mt 6, 6 When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Mt 6, 21 Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

MARIE RIVIER

Let us be women of prayer and God will bless everything. Letter 559

Deepen your interior life, become a daughter of prayer. Letter 771

Turn frequently to prayer and draw from it all the graces you need. Letter 1243

COMMENTARY

Personal prayer is the silent prayer that God himself gives us, the prayer in which he guides and supports us. This prayer is simple: it is enough to let Jesus come to us and renew today in us his own prayer to the Father, the expression of his filial offering. The condition of prayer, its substance, is therefore purely and simply the personal configuration to Jesus in his prayer which is the expression of his filial life, of his obedience to the Father. To follow the way of prayer, says Teresa of Jesus, is to make ourselves servants of love by following Jesus who is Love. Love is Jesus himself, our living way to the Father. He loves us (Rev 1:5): love is enough to define him.

(Jean-Claude Sagne, Accompagnement spirituel et vie d’oraison)

PRAYER

O MY GOD, TRINITY WHOM I ADORE,

help me to become utterly forgetful of myself

so that I may establish myself in you,

as changeless and calm as though my soul were already in eternity. Let nothing disturb my peace

nor draw me forth f from you, O my unchanging God,

but at every moment may I penetrate more deeply

into the depths of your mystery.

Give peace to my soul; make it your heaven,

your cherished dwelling-place and the place of your repose.

Let me never leave you there alone,

but keep me there, wholly attentive, wholly alert in my faith,

wholly adoring and fully given up to your creative action.

(Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity)

COMMITMENT

Our heart is restless until it rests in you!

During adoration, I contemplate Jesus adorer of the Father in Spirit and in truth. In this month of the Rosary, I pray in the presence of MARY

Marie Rivier: Woman of Zeal

“Zeal for your house will consume me.”
John 2:17

“I wish you the most fervent, holy and meritorious year; neglect nothing on your part to make it so and redouble your zeal to procure the glory of God.” (Letter 31)

“How I wish, my dear daughter, that you would become strong and robust in virtue; that there would never again be in you any inconsistency or cowardice, and that you would have a fervor sustained in all things and burning with zeal to work for the glory of God, wherever He wills, and to overcome all your repugnance, and become a perfect imitator of the Holy Child Jesus who loves you and has given you so many graces.” (Letter 69)

“Meditate well on Jesus Christ and the Saints; walk in their footsteps, and fear only sin; all else is nothing and is of no great use to us in gaining heaven. Work ardently for your holiness, to fight your faults, to acquire the virtues of Jesus Christ; to detach yourselves from everything; to become gentle and humble of heart, burning with zeal and charity; take care not to injure this virtue in any way.” (Letter 501)

“Be burning with zeal for the love of Jesus Christ.” (Letter 1221 (3))

Let us meditate with the Word of God

Jn 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Rm 10:2 I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.

Rm 12:11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

... and our Rule of Life

C 109 C 131 C 158b

D 21 D 47 D 53

A sister of the Presentation of Mary, convinced of the holiness and the sublimity of her vocation, and truly filled with the spirit of her state, will experience a secret joy, and feel her strength revive and her zeal blaze forth, when the time comes to begin the holy exercise of catechism. (REC, p. 74)

Commentaries:

We do well to keep in mind the early Christians and our many brothers and sisters throughout history who were filled with joy, unflagging courage and zeal in proclaiming the Gospel. Some people nowadays console themselves by saying that things are not as easy as they used to be, yet we know that the Roman empire was not conducive to the Gospel message, the struggle for justice, or the defense of human dignity. Every period of history is marked by the presence of human weakness, self-absorption, complacency and selfishness, to say nothing of the concupiscence which preys upon us all. These things are ever present under one guise or another; they are due to our human limits rather than particular situations. Let us not say, then, that things are harder today; they are simply different. But let us learn also from the saints who have gone before us, who confronted the difficulties of their own day. So I propose that we pause to rediscover some of the reasons which can help us to imitate them today. (Apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, Pope Francis, 24 November 2013, n. 263)

Commitment

What makes my heart burn with zeal? Am I willing to do at least one thing to stir my zeal and act on it – each week? each day?

What can I do to keep the fire of zeal burning in my heart and do I have the audacity to do more of it?

Marie Rivier: A Humble Woman

A good act of humility will draw down more blessings….
- Marie Rivier -

We meditate the Word of God

Proverbs 22: 4 The result of humility and fear of the LORD is riches, honor and life.

Luke 9: 48 For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.

Philippians 2: 7-8 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave… he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

…and our Rule of Life

C189 Day after day, he writes it in our heart, conforms us to Jesus

Christ.

D17b …sources that mark our spirituality invite us to “holy indifference,” an attitude of openness that renders us capable of preferring the choice of God to our own.

D27a It (Sacrament of Reconciliation) maintains us in this humility of heart from which alone praise can burst forth.

Thoughts to live by…

Pope Francis

There is only one way against the spirit of the world: humility.

– Tweet 25 February 2020 –

None of us must feel ‘superior’ to anyone. None of us should look down at others from above. The only time we can look at a person in this way is when we are helping them to stand up.

– Address 28 June 2018 –

Fathers of the Desert

Humility itself is a grace, given from above. There are two types of humility, as taught by the holy fathers: to consider oneself as the lowest of all beings and to attribute to God all one’s good deeds. The first is the beginning, the second the end”.

– Saint Gregory of Sinai –

Marie Rivier

Be humbler in the future, but don’t worry about the past, because all this doesn’t make us virtuous; let’s just humble ourselves and do better. – Letter 29 –

…a prayer

Lord Jesus, when you walked the earth, your humility obscured your Kingship. Your meekness confused the arrogant, hindering them from grasping your purpose, your nobility in attending to the destitute. Teach me to be inspired by your greatness, to submit my human nature to humility. Grant me the natural inclination to never see myself greater than anyone. Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance that could elevate me greater than you. Let my heart always imitate your humility.

Amen.

… a commitment

Follow Jesus Christ in his humility. - MR –

Read the complete text … HUMILITY 225e AUGUST

JULY

Marie Rivier : Lover of the Poor

"How beautiful it would be
if the poor occupied the same place in our hearts
that they have in God's heart,"

- Pope Francis, Homily 17 Nov 2019 -

Marie Rivier: Her Love for the Poor

“Your love for the poor pleases me very much, my dear daughter; I hope it will bring you the blessings of the Father of the poor.” (Letter 867)

“I learn with great joy that you are happy and that you love your holy vocation and the education of poor children. These are indeed the ones most cherished by the Heart of God. Therefore, instruct them with zeal, inspire them with great love for our holy religion, make them pious and make them feel that true happiness consists only in a truly Christian and virtuous life.” (Letter 1066)

Let us Meditate the Word of God

2 Cor 8:9 Lk 4:18 Phil 2:5-11

… and our Rule of Life

C 103 C 108 C 176

D 3d D 5c

Commentary…

True love is always contemplative, and permits us to serve the other not out of necessity or vanity, but rather because he or she is beautiful above and beyond mere appearances: “The love by which we find the other pleasing leads us to offer him something freely”. The poor person, when loved, “is esteemed as of great value”, and this is what makes the authentic option for the poor differ from any other ideology, from any attempt to exploit the poor for one’s own personal or political interest. Only on the basis of this real and sincere closeness can we properly accompany the poor on their path of liberation. Only this will ensure that “in every Christian community the poor feel at home. Would not this approach be the greatest and most effective presentation of the good news of the kingdom?” Without the preferential option for the poor, “the proclamation of the Gospel, which is itself the prime form of charity, risks being misunderstood or submerged by the ocean of words which daily engulfs us in today’s society of mass communications”. (Apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, Pope Francis, 24 November 2013, n. 199)

… a prayer

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, so that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace. Amen.

(Laudato si’, n. 246)

June 2020

Marie Rivier : A Woman of Compassion

It is indeed God who gives you these feelings of compassion, of tenderness for his beloved members, and he will take your good desires into account, since we are powerless to help them.
(Letter 888)

Word of God

Hos 2: 21 I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy.

Ps 69: 21 I looked for compassion, the there was none, for comforters, but found none.

Ps 86: 15 But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, most loving and true.

Rule of Life

C 5 … a community of adoration, locus of his presence and of his mercy for all, sign of God’s Kingdom on earth.

C 101 Far from keeping enchained the Word of mercy which we have received from the Father, we announce it boldly.

D 29 He restores and saves us by his gentle mercy.

Commentary

The words of Jesus: “Be merciful as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36) echo the ancient commandment: “Be holy as I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). To describe holiness, Jesus spoke of mercy. Mercy is the purest reflection of God in a human life. “Through mercy towards your neighbour you resemble God” (Basil the Great). Mercy is the humanity of God. It is also the divine future of man.

Jesus fully reveals to us the God who never stops doing good, who always makes a new beginning possible for those who come to him. As Brother Roger often said: “God can do nothing but love.” (Taizé)

Prayer

“O Jesus, I desire to live in the present moment, to live as if this were the last day of my life, to use every moment carefully for the greater glory of God, to draw from every circumstance a blessing for my soul. To look at everything, considering that nothing happens without the will of God. God of unfathomable mercy, envelop the whole world and pour out your own self upon us through the compassionate Heart of Jesus. » (Sister Faustine)

Commitment

I make an act of mercy or compassion towards …………………………….

either by a gesture, a word or by prayer.

Marie Rivier: Her love for Our Lady

“Behold your Mother! From that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
- Jn 19:27 -

I received everything through the prayer of the rosary! I have always loved talking to the Blessed Virgin,
quite simply, like a child to its mother.
- Marie Rivier -

Word of God

Lk 2 : 19 Mary, however, kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Jn 19: 25-27 Behold your Mother! From that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Ac 1 : 14 All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Rule of Life

C 11 We are daughters of Mary

C 77 Mary cooperates with Christ and the Church in educating us spiritually

C 99 As on the apostles in the Upper Room, Mary draws upon us the Spirit of fortitude

Commentary

Jesus in his love gave his mother to the disciple, to the Church and to humanity.

Marian devotion has its ultimate reason in the unfathomable will of God, in his plan of love. God loved Mary for himself and loved her for us too. He gave her to himself and he also gave her to us. The gift of Mary belongs to the testament of Jesus and is related to the paschal mystery.

Loving and welcoming Mary into your home is not a private initiative, it is not an ecclesial initiative, it is an initiative of Christ. The disciples welcome the precious Mother as the heritage of the Master.

“The Blessed Virgin’s role as Mother leads the People of God to turn with filial confidence to her who is ever ready to listen with a mother’s affection and efficacious assistance.” (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus 57) “By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth.” (Lumen Gentium, 62)

... a prayer

Lord, you who left your Mother in our midst

so that she might accompany us,

grant that she might take care of us,

protect us on our journey,

in our hearts, in our faith.

May she make of us disciples, just as she was, and missionaries as she also was.

– Pope Francis –

… a commitment

Marie Rivier said: I obtained everything through the prayer of the rosary. We are daughters of Mary! In our journey as we prepare for the celebration of the jubilee of our foundation, let us renew our relationship with Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother.

April 2020

Marie Rivier, Woman of JOY!

REJOICE in the Lord always; I shall say it again: REJOICE! Philippians 4 : 4

Live in the JOY of the Lord, in his peace and in his love!
Marie Rivier - Letter 595

Word of God ...

Jn 15 : 11 … so that my JOY might be in you and your JOY might be complete.

Jn 17 : 13 … so that they may share my JOY completely.

Jn 20 : 20 He showed them his hands and his side. The disciples REJOICED when they saw the Lord.

... Words of Marie Rivier

“Live in God, my dear daughter, and love him with all your heart: I wish you his peace and his JOY.” Marie Rivier, September 19, 1815 to Sister Marie Régis, Teacher in Largentière, Ardèche, Letter 48

“Live as daughters of the RESURRECTION: think and work only for heaven; seek Jesus Christ crucified.” Marie Rivier, April 5, 1836 to Sister Marie Adélaïde Director of the Convent of the Presentation at Alais, Gard, Letter 555

From our Rule of Life ...

We are called to live this covenant of love that God’s tenderness offers us from moment to moment, in thanksgiving and the ever renewed JOY of Mary’s Magnificat. C49

With our hearts fixed on Jesus Christ to think as he thought, act as he acted, love as he loved, day after day, we seek to live the concrete gestures of a generous fidelity even in the smallest details. By this radical option lived in JOY, we glorify the Father, the Son and the Spirit of holiness. D6c

... From Marie Rivier

“Live in the peace and JOY of the Lord. Love the Virgin Mary dearly.” Marie Rivier, February 11, 1825 to Sister Marie of the Visitation at the Convent of the Presentation at Salon, Letter 280

“Seek only to please Jesus Christ, and take him as a model in all your conduct; you will taste peace and JOY only by imitating Jesus Christ” Marie Rivier, January 23, 1822 to Sister Marie Théotiste, Teacher at Salon, Bouches-du-Rhône, Letter 513

JOY in the life of Marie Rivier – Mourret

Marinette would RADIATE JOY. “It is today, she would say, that the Blessed Virgin will heal me! I’ll come back alone, I won’t need anyone else.” Mourret p. 10

On the great day of the Resurrection, HER JOY WOULD BURST FORTH AND WOULD BE PROLONGED during the time she referred to as “the glorious forty days”. “Oh, how I love this time,” she once said to one of her Sisters. “It always seems to me that Our Lord is there appearing to me.” Mourret p. 439

A Prayer...

Risen Jesus,

you invite me to live in your JOY !

Show me how I can do so.

Lead me in your JOY.

A Commitment...

From now on,

I choose to LIVE each day IN JOY.

The JOY that is yours will be my strength.

By your grace I want to be a person

who bears witness to the JOY of the Gospel.

Marie Rivier, Woman of Faith!

Fight the good fight, that of faith, take hold of eternal life ! 1 Tm 6: 12

Live in faith, my child, it is the life of the righteous, and if you want to become interior, animate all your actions with a holy motive. Marie Rivier, Letter 648

Let us meditate the Word of God…

Mt 17: 20 If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Nb 20: 12 The Lord said to Moses and his brother Aaron: “Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the Israelites, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”

2 Co 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves.

... and our Rule of Life

C 12

C46

C 50

C 96

Commentary

Faith without charity bears no fruit, while charity without faith would be a sentiment constantly at the mercy of doubt. Faith and charity each require the other, in such a way that each allows the other to set out along its respective path … It is faith that enables us to recognize Christ and it is his love that impels us to assist him whenever he becomes our neighbour along the journey of life. Supported by faith, let us look with hope at our commitment in the world, as we await “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:13; cf. Rev 21:1). Apostolic letter PORTA FIDEI, Pope Benedict XVI

A prayer

Jesus Christ is at the heart of Marie Rivier’s life as he is at the centre of God’s plan for us. C 1 Lord Jesus, support our journey towards the 225th anniversary of the foundation of our Congregation. As we live our faith fully, may we always have the strength to make the profound changes to which the Gospel calls us.

A Commitment

Aim for what is best – this will enable us to respond to our vocation according to the heart of God. Dare to ask the question: what motive of faith makes me act?

FEBRUARY 2020

The face of holiness

Be holy, since I the Lord your God, am holy! Lv 19 :2

May this year be a year of holiness for all, may you not lose a single one of your actions. Therefore, always act in the spirit of faith and for the love of Jesus Christ – Letter 404-8.

I desire that you all renew yourselves and walk with great strides in the ways of holiness. Letter 1034-5

Let us meditate the Word of God …

Ps 76 : 14 God, holiness is your pathway !

Is 52 : 10 The Lord has shown us his holy arm ….

Lk 1 : 75 … that we might worship him in holiness and righteousness

...and our Rule of Life

D 16 … to move forward on the path of Gospel holineess

D 37 a) … to move forward on the pathway of holiness.

D 70 b) …a way of holiness and happiness …

Commentary...

Being poor of heart: that is holiness! # 70
Reacting with meekness and humility: that is holiness! #74

Knowing how to mourn with others: that is holiness! #76

Hungering and thirsting for righteousness: that is holiness! #79

Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation on Holiness

A Prayer

We ask you:

Make us firm in our faith,

attentive to your will.

Strengthen our hope

so that we can serve and love you,

in Jesus your Son, today and

forever and ever.

Amen.