Now that we have all arrived, rested a bit, and gotten acclimated to our surroundings here at the Ad Gentes Center in Nemi, Italy, we are ready for retreat. Fr. Dario Pedroso, SJ, gave us two short but very powerful sessions, filled with questions to help us return to our sources.

In the first session, Fr. posed the question from Scripture, “Who do you say I am?” He posed this question not so much for us to examine who Jesus is to us personally, but to question who it is that our manner of being, our behavior reveals to others. Who are we saying Jesus is to the people we minister to and to the world, by the way we interact and relate with them? Do we really reveal the Jesus that Marie Rivier fell in love with? To truly do this, we must heed Marie

Rivier’s instruction to “Learn Jesus Christ well! Share with Jesus this tender and ardent love…

Teach children to know and love him.” How can we help each sister in the Congregation to be more in love with Jesus and to imitate him?  Finally, Father reminded us that the Canonization was a reminder to us that the life of Marie Rivier was a christified life. How can we live more deeply rooted in this passion that Saint Marie Rivier had? It is important that we give Him as did our Holy Mother, the poor and humble Marie Rivier.

In the second session, Fr. Dario reflected that the Bible is a book of cardiology. The heart is mentioned 834 times. The first time it is mentioned in the New Testament, Jesus indicates his heart is a school where we can learn from him, who is meek and humble of heart. Marie Rivier touched this heart if the redeemer, and fell in love with it. As on the cross when blood and water flow from Jesus’ pierced heart, it is the source where we must all go. If we lack something, we must seek it in Jesus’ heart. Thomas was given a mystical invitation, one that we have each received. This invitation is to touch the heart of Jesus, to enter into a profound union with him, as Marie Rivier did. It is only in Jesus that find shelter, refuge, light for the journey and the discernment and the strength to bring about changes, adaptations and to open new pathways. Finely, it is in the heart of Christ, given in the Eucharist that ignited the heart of Rivier, like a blazing fire. It can do the same for us. We are encouraged to reread Marie Rivier’s conference on the Sacred Heart and catch the fire that she has!

Sr. Diane Dube, pm
Nemi, 16.8.23