My God, My Mercy…
St. Vincent Pallotti
To All the Superiors and Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate
Dear Sisters,
On our calendars, spring has just begun. Outside appears as if nothing has happened…, blue skies embracing the earth, sun's rays peeking into the windows bringing warmth, flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and a warm spring breeze delicately blows around. We all love spring because it comes to us in light colors, with hope, with a smile, with new life and warmth. Such is a nature: faithful to God’s law and grows and develops according to its own natural rhythm.
Keep your eyes fixed
on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified,
let yourself be saved over again.
Pope Francis
Dear Sisters,
We begin another Lent: a unique time of grace that invites us to deeper reflection on Christs´ Paschal Mystery. Our personal and community life - through baptism and consecration - is marked so much by the events of Jesus´ Death and Resurrection, that this mystery is its center. It is the heart and the source that constantly brings us the gift of new life, freed from sin and death.
Thanksgiving will never get off from my lips …
Dear Sisters
On the feast of St. Vincent Pallotti - with his words: Let every day be celebrated as thanksgiving (OOCC, VII) - I would like to invite you to the attitude of Gratitude.
Gratitude is one of the most characteristic features of Pallottine spirituality. Therefore, let us celebrate our Founder's day with gratitude. Drawing from the example of Pallotti's holiness and following his instructions, let us thank God for the gift of life and call of each of us. It is in him and through him that we find our deepest identity. We are part of his life and his story.
"It will be Christmas if, like Joseph, we give space to silence; if, like Mary, we say
“here I am” to God; if, like Jesus, we are close to those who are alone;
and if, like the shepherds, we come out of our enclosures to stay with Jesus.
It will be Christmas if we find light in the poor grotto of Bethlehem". Pope Francis
Dear Sisters
Christmas is a pilgrimage to Bethlehem that calls forth the memory of our heart. While our maps are becoming more and more precise, the interior of human beings is becoming an increasingly unknown land. I wish you dear Sisters that this year's journey to the truth of Christmas would be an experience of God's presence. Let the heart regain its greatness and God act in us and lead us step by step to the depth of his Mystery.
Pope Francis Twitter Feed
The Holy See
Jubilee of the Canonisation
U.A.C.
Meditations
* Our Way of Life *
"Our diverse talents and abilities, our differences in culture, nationality and age are assets for the richness of the community. Although we may be engaged in a variety of ministries, we all share the common call to apostolic discipleship in a community of the Catholic Apostolate of St. Vincent Pallotti."(OWL, 91)
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"Christ, the Apostle of the Eternal Father, and his mission are central to our personal and community life, giving meaning and direction to our thinking, our spirituality, our prayer, action and suffering." (OWL, 19)
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"As a community of disciples we are gathered around Jesus, the Apostle of the Eternal Father. Like the first disciples, we want to be with Jesus, be sent out by him and return to him to evaluate our service in the light of his presence." (OWL, 88)
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"As Pallottines, it is our special charism to foster growth in faith and love among the laity, to awaken them to awareness of their apostolic call, and to cooperate with them in furthering the apostolic mission." (OWL, 21)
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"Our relationships with one another should be marked by a love that bears all, believes all and hopes for all, a love that is neither conceited nor jealous, which hurts no one, nor is embittered or resentful. It is never discouraged but remains patient and kind. It rejoices with others and shares their suffering. It is with this kind of love that we should help and support one another." (OWL, 90)