03.08.09


Participación de Fabienne Bastide : Viernes 17 de abril 2009
Unos LMC me han pedido que escriba lo que había dicho aquella tarde en Roma, después de haber rezado el Rosario de la Misericordia Divina con los LMC presentes a la Asamblea General.
Os doy lo que he preparado durante la noche anterior delante del Santísimo expuesto.
Mi meditación salio de la Capilla de la Sagrada Familia de los hermanos contemplativos M.C. via San Agapito : 5 candelas, 5 luces sobre el altar : porque 5 ? la mitad de diez.
De repente vi las manos de Madre Teresa y sus cinco dedos siempre agarrados a su Rosario, sus manos que tocaron con tanta ternura el cuerpo sufriendo de Cristo en los más pobres entre los pobres y las manos de tantas personas alrededor del mundo y mi meditación me llevo a esto, que quizás no es completamente lo que he dicho porque no hablaré de todo (y no me acuerdo de todo) pero justo lo que quiero compartir con vosotros porque son cosas que, yo pienso, tenemos en común y que son universales.
VIENS ESPRIT DE SAINTETÉ, VIENS ESPRIT DE LUMIÈRE,
VIENS ESPRIT DE FEU, VIENS NOUS EMBRASER.
VEN ESPIRITU DE SANTIDAD, VEN ESPIRITU DE LUZ,
VEN ESPIRITU DE FUEGO, VEN ABRASARNOS.
He descubierto aquí en Roma que tenía que hablar hoy. Había dado a Gianna (secretaria general de los LMC) mi informe sobre los LMC de idioma francesa. Ella había hecho un resumen que os ha leído ayer y yo pensaba que podría quedarme silenciosa. No he hablado nunca a tantas personas en mi propio idioma, pues, en inglés o en español no sé si seré capaz de hacerlo. Quizás no comprenderéis mi ingles porque mi pronunciación puede ser mala. Joan Kick lo sabe : en Lima ha entendido que yo hablaba del pulgar (thumb) de Madre Teresa cuando yo hablaba de la tumba (tumb) de Madre Teresa y aún ahora no estoy segura que me comprendéis.
VIENS ESPRIT DE SAINTETÉ, VIENS ESPRIT DE LUMIÈRE,
VIENS ESPRIT DE FEU, VIENS NOUS EMBRASER.
PRIMERA MANO
Primer dedo : La Medalla Milagrosa (Francia).
Oración : Memorare... (Acuérdate)
El primero grupo LMC en Francia empezó en París en 1987 y fue en la Capilla de la Medalla Milagrosa rue du Bac en París que hemos, mi marido Jean-Claude y yo, oído hablar, por primera vez, de los Estatutos de los LMC por la hermana superiora M.C., después del peregrinaje con la Comunidad Tamoul.
Madre Teresa daba medallas milagrosas a cada persona que encontraba. Quizás os ha dado una y aquí pienso que casi todo el mundo lleva una medalla milagrosa y tiene historias para contar a propósito de ella. Como supongo que lo sabéis es en París en aquella capilla que Santa Catalina Labouré vio a la Santa Virgen :
" Ahí tienes a la Santísima Virgen ! "... (le dijo el niño que le conducía), que le pidió de hacer acunar una medalla según el modelo que le enseño...
" Las personas que la lleven recibirán grandes gracias... "
Esta medalla puede ser milagrosa, no es un " grigri", un amuleto. Miradla. Que veis al reverso ? :
dos corazones : el Corazón de Jesús coronado de una corona de espinas y el corazón de Maria atravesado por un espada y la Cruz y la letra M de María.
Santa Catalina Labouré dijo : " Me pareció oír una voz que me decía : " La M y los dos corazones dicen bastante ! "
Para Madre Teresa era también un mensaje silencioso que podemos profundizar personalmente. Solía decir : " Be One Heart full of Love in the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the immaculate heart of Mary "
Sed Un Solo Corazón lleno de Amor en el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús a través del corazón inmaculado de María "
Secundo dedo : Nuestra Señora de Fatima (Portugal).
Oración : Memorare...
LOS DOS CORAZONES : El Corazón de Jesús y el corazón de Maria.
CONSECRACION AL CORAZON INMACULADO DE MARIA.
CONVERSION DE RUSIA y la PAZ (En Lisieux (Francia), el día de Ascensión 1988 Madre Teresa pidió a la Priora del Carmelo que reze con sus hermanas, por 15 nuevas fundaciones M.C. en Rusia : un Rosario (en aquella época).
CONVERSION, REPARACION por los pecadores : oración, penitencia y sacrificios.
ROSARIO : Oración : O Jesús mío, perdonanos nuestros pecados...
Como el Papa Juán- Pablo II, Madre Teresa tenía una relación especial con Nuestra Señora de Fatima.
El 11 de mayo 1988 en el convento de las hermanas M.C., Madre Teresa pidió a los miembros de nuestro grupo LMC de París de ir a ver (cada uno de nosotros) a nuestros curas párrocos y de pedirles de tener una hora de Adoración del Santísimo expuesto para que se vuelva en adoración cotidiana. Fue a ver a mi cura párroco y luego, después de una noche de Adoración en Fatima del 12 al 13 de julio 1988, con Jean-Claude, hemos encontrado, Jean-Claude y yo, nuestro obispo que nos ha propuesto de tener el Santísimo en nuestra casa : una " Misión especial ", como los primeros cristianos : " la Iglesia domestica ". En aquella época la Santa Eucaristía era conservada en las casas después de la Misa. ", nos dijo ! Después de haber rezado mucho, hemos aceptado y fue el principio de una grande Aventura : Casa Abierta...(todas clases de personas viniendo para hablar, rezar, compartir y unos para quedarse), la Adoración cotidiana, una noche mensual de Adoración , empezando por la Misa con nuestro cura párroco o un sacerdote de nuestra parroquia, cada primer viernes del mes sin interrupción, durante casi 20 años (con personas viniendo de los diferentes pueblos vecinos y con unos LMC : era para nosotros nuestro retiro mensual. Ahora hay horas de Adoración cada semana en 3 diferentes iglesias en 3 diferentes pueblos cerca de casa, lo que no existía hace 20 anos.
EUCARISTIA - ADORACION - Himno a la SANTA TRINIDAD.
Podemos profundizar personalmente.
Tercer dedo : Lourdes (Francia).
Oración : Memorare...
" Yo soy la Inmaculada Concepción ".
" Pidamos a Nuestra Señora de darnos su corazón tan hermoso, tan puro, tan inmaculado, su corazón tan lleno de amor y de humildad que podamos amarLe y servirLe debajo del vestido de miseria de los más Pobres entre los Pobres " dijo Madre Teresa.
Servicio alegre a los enfermos, a los más Pobres entre los Pobres : " You-dit-it-to me " ( "A mi lo hicisteis)
Madre Teresa no fue nunca a Lourdes pero estaba muy cerca de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes y echaba agua de Lourdes sobre los enfermos en todas partes del mundo.
ADORACION PERPETUA : JESUS en la EUCARISTIA
y JESUS en los MAS POBRES ENTRE LOS POBRES.
La SONRISA y las LAGRIMAS de MARIA.
La ALEGRIA y la CRUZ.
" La Paz empieza con una sonrisa ", dijo Madre Teresa.
" Guardad la Alegría de amar a Jesús en vuestro corazón y partid esta alegría con vuestra familia y todos los que encontraréis ", escribió Madre a los LMC.
Madre hablando a los enfermos con sus cinco dedos, diciéndoles de decir :
" Mary-Mother-of-Je-sus (Maria-Madre-de-Je-sus),
Make-me-feel-all-right " (Haz-que-me-sienta-bien).
Podemos profundizar personalmente.
Cuarto dedo : Paray-le-Monial (Francia).
Oración : Memorare...
Jesús hizo conocer a Santa Margarita Maria " Su gran deseo de ser perfectamente amado de los hombres...de manifestarles su Corazón...abriéndoles todos los tesoros de amor, de misericordia, de gracia, de sanctificación y de salvación que el contiene para que todos los que querrían rendirLe y procurarLe todo el honor y el amor que seria posible sean enriquecidos con profusión de los tesoros divinos de los cuales es la fuente fecunda y inalterable. "
Madre Teresa en Paray-le Monial, en agosto 1986, dijo a las familias, y pues a nosotros, LMC, como nos lo ha dicho también a nosotros así que a los LMC en París :
" El amor empieza en casa"
" Rezad juntos y os quedaréis juntos "
" La familia que reza junta queda junta "
" Consagrad vuestras familias al Sagrado Corazón "
Podemos profundizar.
Quinto dedo : Lisieux (Francia).
Oración : Memorare...
Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús y de la Santa Faz : la Florecilla.
La Santa Patrona de Madre Teresa.
En el avión para los Estados Unidos, el 2 de agosto 1987, Madre escribe :
" Como los Laicos Misioneros de la Caridad...son una parte de nuestra Congregación que pertenece de una manera especial a Nuestra Señora, encenderemos, en el futuro, 8 luces delante del Santísimo durante la Adoración...
una luz para representar los Laicos Misioneros de la Caridad que son la Santa Faz de Jesús...
Sera un don maravilloso hecho a Jesús de tenernos todos juntos en adoración delante de el..."
El pequeño camino : sencillo pero difícil de seguir ! El camino de la Pequeñez, del Nada, de la Pobreza, del Abandono : " La Confianza y el Amor " : Loving Trust and Total Surrender (La Confianza llena de amor y el Abandono total).
" Hacer las pequeñas cosas ordinarias con un amor extraordinario ".
" Sosegar la sed infinita de Jesús en la Cruz por el amor de las almas...para la salvación y la santificación de los miembros de sus propias familias y de los más pobres entre los pobres del mundo entero "(Estatutos de los LMC).
El deseo de Santa Teresa de quedar pequeña, de amar a la Santísima Trinidad y de hacerla amar, de salvar a las almas, de ser santa : " En el corazón de la Iglesia, mi Madre, seré el Amor ".
Nuestra Señora de la Sonrisa, que sonrío a Santa Teresa.
" Sonreír es el principio del Amor. Tengamos la voluntad de sonreír a cada uno. " decía Madre Teresa.
El Silencio es la Oración. La Oración es el Silencio.
" The fruit of silence is prayer...(El fruto del silencio es la oración..., con 3 palabras en mayúscula : Servicio, Paz y Amor) : 5 palabras : 5 dedos.
" Mientras que no habréis oído a Jesús en el silencio de vuestro corazón, no podréis oírLe decir "Tengo sed " en los corazones de los pobres ", decía Madre Teresa.
" Prayer-Poverty-Zeal-for-souls " (Madre Teresa) Oración-Pobreza-Celo-por-las almas.
Podemos profundizar.
Segunda Mano :

El catecismo de Madre Teresa.
La teología sencilla, evangélica y eucarística de los cinco dedos, de Madre Teresa.
En todos los rincones del mundo Madre Teresa ha hablado a los enfermos, a los lisiados, a los minusválidos...a cada uno de nosotros, con sus 5 dedos :
Primer dedo : "JE-SUS-IN-MY-HEART " : Je-sus-en-mi-corazón. (Primero, encuentro a Jesús en mi corazón. Descubro que Jesús me ama, que tiene sed de mi : JE-SUS-YOU-LOVE-ME,
Je-sus-me a-mas.
Segundo dedo : " JE-SUS-I-LOVE-YOU " o " I-LOVE-YOU-JE-SUS " :
Je-sus-te-a-mo o Te-a-mo-Je-sus ( Yo respondo a Su Amor y Le amo en la Eucaristía y en los más pobres entre los pobres.).
En Rumania unos niños minusválidos físicos y mentales que no hablaban su propio idioma repetían todo el día aquellas palabras : Jesus I love you o I love you Jesus, que Madre Teresa les había aprendido con sus 5 dedos y que las hermanas seguían a decirles.
Tercer dedo : " LET-US-BE-ONE-HEART " : Seamos-un-so-lo-Corazón
"lleno de Amor en el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús a través del corazón inmaculado de María " (M. Teresa) en nuestra familia, en nuestro grupo LMC, con toda la familia M.C, como Madre Teresa nos ha pedido de serlo. Seamos Una Familia unida con un Corazón Abierto.
" Que todos sean uno " (S. Juan 17, 21).
Cuarto dedo : " ALL-FOR-JESUS-THROUGH-MARY "
Todo-a-Jesús-a través de-María.
El 5 de septiembre 1997, Madre Teresa escribe en la Casa-Madre en Calcuta, antes de morir : su ultimo mensaje para todos :
" Carisimos hijos,
Esta carta os trae el amor, la oración y la bendición de Madre para que cada uno de vosotros sea solamente todo a Jesús a través de María. Yo sé que Madre dice a menudo - " Sed solamente todo a Jesús a través de María " - pero es porque es todo lo que Madre quiere para vosotros. Si en vuestro corazón sois solamente todo a Jesús a través de María, y si hacéis todo solamente para Jesús a través de María, seréis un verdadero M.C.
... Tenemos que dar muchas gracias a Dios, especialmente por habernos dado el espiritu de Nuestra Señora para ser el espíritu de nuestra Congregación. La Confianza llena de Amor y el total Abandono han hecho decir " Si " a Nuestra Señora al mensaje del ángel, y la Alegría le ha hecho correr de prisa para servir a su prima Elisabet. Es tanto nuestra vida - decir " Si " a Jesús y ir de prisa servir a Jesús en los más pobres entre los pobres. Quedemosnos muy cerca de Nuestra Señora y hara crecer este mismo espiritu en cada uno de nosotros.
El 10 de septiembre viene muy rápidamente. Es una otra buena oportunidad para nosotros para estar cerca de Nuestra Señora, para escuchar la Sed de Jesús y contestar con todo nuestro corazón. Es solamente con Nuestra Señora que podemos oír a Jesús gritar : " Tengo Sed "...
No llegaremos nunca al final del don que fue dado a Madre para la Congregación en aquel día, y pues no debemos nunca parar de dar las gracias por ello. Que nuestra gratitud sea nuestra fuerte resolución de saciar la Sed de Jesús con vidas de real caridad - amor de Jesús en la oración, amor de Jesús en nuestras hermanas, amor de Jesús en los más pobres entre los pobres - nada más...
Este año...el Santo Padre declara la Florecilla doctor de la Iglesia. Podéis imaginar - por hacer pequeñas cosas con un gran amor la Iglesia la hace Doctor, como San Agustino y la Grande Santa Teresa ! ...
Que nos quedemos pues muy pequeños y que sigamos el camino de confianza y de amor y de alegría de la Florecita, y cumpliremos la promesa de Madre de dar santos a nuestra Madre la Iglesia. "
Quinto dedo : " LET-US-BE-HOLY " : Se-a-mos-san-tos.
Madre Teresa ha dicho a los LMC en París, en Roma... y les ha escrito el 9 de diciembre 1993 :
" Tomad la fuerte resolución : " Quiero, con la bendición de Dios ser santo (a) "
Esto os ayudara a saciar la Sed de amor de las almas de Jesús - trabajando a la salvación y a la santificación de los más Pobres entre los Pobres - especialmente de vuestra familia. "
" No deseo ", dijo Madre en Roma, en la capilla de las hermanas M.C. en San Gregorio : " Voglio, voglio" : Quiero , quiero...
SIEMPRE LA DOS MANOS JUNTAS
No separemos nunca " I THIRST " de " YOU DID IT TO ME "
" TENGO SED " de " A MI LO HACISTEIS "
Una mano y la otra mano, como Madre lo ha pedido.
Madre estaba en Adoración perpetua, íntimamente unida a Jesús a través de María,
yendo de Jesús en la Eucaristía a Jesús en el más Pobre de los Pobres.
Maria y Marta son " Un Solo Corazόn " en Jesús.
La contemplación y el Acción son Uno.
EL ROSARIO
Pensando a los dedos de Madre Teresa y al rosario que tenía en su mano y que rezaba siempre :
Necesitamos nuestros cinco dedos y nuestras dos manos para rezar el Rosario,
somos como pequeños granos del Rosario en las manos de María, pequeñas rosas, y si un pequeño enlace de un grano se rompe, si una rosa falta, el Rosario no es completo.
Somos y tenemos que ser, todos nosotros LMC, (enlaces locales, nacionales y cada LMC) sencillos pequeños enlaces unidos a Jesús a través de María.
El único Enlace es Jesús, que es Amor, que es el Camino, nuestro camino de Vida.
" YO SOY EL CAMINO, LA VERDAD Y LA VIDA "
Siempre " Por Cristo, con él y en él, a ti, Dios Padre omnipotente, en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, todo honor y gloria, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén. "
" LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVED YOU "
" QUE OS AMEIS UNOS A OTROS COMO YO OS HE AMADO "
son la palabras del Evangelio de Jesús-Cristo según San Juan, el Evangelio del Amor que Madre Teresa ha escrito para ser grabado en su tumba y el ultimo mensaje que nos envia.
Amar, darnos a El, presente en cada uno y en sus pobres hasta que esto haganos daño, dar nuestra vida a los más pobres entre los pobres, en particular a los miembros de nuestra familia.
La Cruz - no hay mayor amor (Estatutos : Capítulo 4 : hay 5 capítulos en los Estatutos)
La Alegría del Don de nuestra vida hasta el final.
Jesús ha dado su vida hasta morir en la Cruz, la Cruz Victoriosa, para darnos la Vida Eterna.

Santa Trinidad, te amo.
" Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, me fío en ti.
Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, te amo.
Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, guarda nuestras familias en tu Corazón ",
como Madre Teresa ha pedido que rezemos en Paray-le-Monial en 1986.
Inmaculado corazón de Maria, Causa de nuestra Alegría, reza por nosotros.
Santa Familia de Nazaret, reza por nosotros.
" Si pudierais hacer de vuestras casas un otro Nazaret, pienso que la Paz y la Alegría reinarían en el mundo " (M. Teresa)
Beata Teresa de Calcutta, reza por nosotros y quedate con nosotros.
Regina caeli, laetare, alléluia,
Quia quem meruisti portare, alléluia,
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alléluia;
Ora pro nobis Deum, alléluia.
Fabienne Bastide lmc
25.06.09


Some LMC asked me to write what I said on that afternoon after having prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet according to language.
I give you what I prepared the night before in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
My meditation started from the Chapel of the Holy Family at the M.C. Contemplative Brothers' in via San Agapito : 5 Candles in the altar : why 5 ? half of ten.
Suddenly I saw Mother Teresa's hands and her five fingers always clung to her Rosary, her hands who touched so tenderly the suffering body of Christ and the hands of so many people around the world and my meditation led me to this which, may be, isn't quite what I said, because I will not speak of all, ( and I don't remember all) but just of what I wanted to share with you because they are things, I think, we have in common and that are universal.
VIENS ESPRIT DE SAINTETÉ, VIENS ESPRIT DE LUMIÈRE,
VIENS ESPRIT DE FEU, VIENS NOUS EMBRASER.
Come Spirit of Sanctity, come Spirit of Light,
come Spirit of Fire, come and set us on Fire.
I discovered here in Rome that I had to speak today. I had given Gianna my report on French speaking LMC. She did a summary she read you yesterday and I thought that I could then stay silent. I never spoke to so many people in my own language so in English or in Spanish I don't know if I will be able. May be you will not understand my English because my pronunciation can be bad. I learned written English. Joan Kick knows it : in Lima she understood that I was speaking of Mother Teresa's thumb and I was speaking of Mother's tomb and even know I am not sure you understand me.
VIENS ESPRIT DE SAINTETÉ, VIENS ESPRIT DE LUMIÈRE,
VIENS ESPRIT DE FEU, VIENS NOUS EMBRASER.
FIRST HAND :
First finger : The Miraculous Medal. (France)
Prayer : Memorare...
The 1st LMC group in France started in Paris in 1987 and it was at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal rue du Bac in Paris, we heard, Jean-Claude and I, for the first time, of the LMC Statutes from the M.C. Superior Sister, after the pilgrimage with the Tamoul Community.
Mother Teresa was giving miraculous medals to every person she was meeting. May be she gave you one and here I think that nearly everybody is wearing a miraculous medal and has stories to tell about it. As you must know it is in Paris that St. Catherine Labouré saw Blessed Mary :
" Here is the Blessed Virgin! ", who asked her to have a medal struck after the model she showed her... " Those who wear it will receive great graces..."
This medal may be miraculous, it isn't a "gri-gri". (talisman). Look at it. What do you see on the reverse : two hearts : the Heart of Jesus crowned with a crown of thorns and the heart of Mary pierced by a sword and the Cross and the M of Mary.
St Catherine Labouré said : " I seemed to hear a voice which said to me :
" The M. and the two hearts say enough ".
For Mother Teresa it was also a silent message we can personnaly deepen.
She used to say :
" Be One Heart full of Love in the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the immaculate heart of Mary" .
Second finger : Our Lady of Fatima. (Portugal)
Prayer : Memorare...
THE TWO HEARTS : Heart of Jesus and heart of Mary.
CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.
CONVERSION OF RUSSIA and PEACE ( In Lisieux on Ascension 1988 Mother Teresa asked the Prioress of the Carmel to pray with her Sisters for 15 new M.C. foundations in Russia : a Rosary. )
REPARATION for the sinners : prayer, penance and sacrifices.
ROSARY : Prayer : O my Jesus, forgive us our sins ....
As Pope John Paul II Mother had a special relation with our Lady of Fatima.
On the 11th of May 1988, at the M.C. sisters in Paris, Mother Teresa asked the members of our LMC group to go and ask our parish priests to have one hour of Adoration in our parish to become daily Adoration. I went to speak with my parish priest and it is after a night of Adoration in Fatima ( 12-13 July 1988) that we met our bishop who proposed us to have the Blessed Sacrament in our house : a special Mission, as the first Christians : the domestic church. At that time the Holy Eucharist was kept in the houses after the Mass, he told us ! After praying a lot, we accepted and it was the beginning of a great adventure : Open House... ( all kind of people coming to speak, to pray and to stay) daily Adoration, a monthly night of Adoration, starting by Mass with a parish priest, every first Friday of the month without any interruption for 20 years. ( with people coming from the different villages around and LMC : it was for us our monthly retreat ; at the end also African laidies who had lived at the M.C. Sisters in Paris came to pray and share ) Now there are hours of Adoration in 3 different churches near our house what was not existing 20 years ago.
EUCHARISTY - ADORATION - Hymn to the HOLY TRINITY
We can deepen.
Third finger : Lourdes. (France).
Prayer : Memorare...
" I am the Immaculate Conception ".
" Let us ask our Lady to give us her heart so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, her heart so full of love and humility that we may love Him as she loved Him and serve Him in the distressing disguise of the Poor." said Mother Teresa.
Joyful service to the sick people, the Poorest of the Poor : " You - did - it - to - me."
Mother Teresa never went to Lourdes but she was very close to our Lady of Lourdes and pouring water of Lourdes on the sick people all over the world.
PERPETUAL ADORATION : JESUS in the EUCHARIST
and JESUS in the POOREST of the POOR.
The SMILE and the TEARS of Mary.
The JOY and the CROSS
" Peace begins with a smile " Mother said.
" Keep the Joy of loving Jesus in your heart and share this joy with your family and all you meet", Mother wrote to the LMC.
Mother speaking to the sick with her five fingers, telling them to say
" Ma-ry, Mother of Jesus,
Make- me- feel- all- right "
We can deepen.
Fourth finger : Paray le Monial. (France)
.
Prayer :Memorare
Jesus showed to St. Marguerite Marie " His great desire of being loved by men and of withdrawing them from the path of ruin that made Him form the design of manifesting His Heart to men, with all the treasures of love, of mercy, of grace, of sanctification and salvation which it contains, in order that those who desire to render Him and procure Him all the honour and love possible, might themselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which His Heart is the source. "
Mother Teresa in Paray le Monial, in August 1986, said to the families and therefore to us, LMC, as she told us also and the LMC in Paris :
" Love begins at home "
" Pray together and you will stay together "
" Family who pray together stay together "
" Consecrate your families to the Sacred Heart "
We can deepen.
Fifth finger : Lisieux. (France).
Prayer : Memorare...
St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face : Little Flower.
Mother Teresa's patroness saint.
On the plane to U.S.A. on the 2nd August 1987, Mother wrote :
" As the Lay Missionnaries of Charity... are a part of our Society which belongs in a special way to Our Lady, we will, in future, burn 8 lights before the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration ...
one light to represent the Lay Missionnaries of Charity who are the Holy Face of Jesus...
It will be a wonderful gift to Jesus to have us all together in adoration before him."
The little way. Simple but difficult to follow! The way of Littleness, Nothingness, Poverty, Abandonment : " CONFIDENCE AND LOVE " : Loving trust.
" Doing ordinary little things, with extraordinary love."
" To quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross for the love of souls...for the salvation and the sanctification of the members of their own families and of the poorest of the poor of the whole world " ( LMC Statutes)
St.Therese's desire to remain little, to love the most blessed Trinity and to make her loved, to save souls, to be a saint :" In the heart of the Church, my mother, I shall be LOVE. "
Our Lady of the Smile, who smiled at St. Therese.
" Smiling is the beginning of Love. Let's be willing to smile at one another. "Mother was saying.
Silence is Prayer. Prayer is Silence.
"The fruit of silence is prayer..."
" Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying" I thirst " in the hearts of the poor." said Mother Teresa.
We can deepen.
SECOND HAND :

The simple, evangelic and eucharistic theology of Mother Teresa of the five fingers :
In every part of the world, Mother Teresa spoke to the sick, the crippled, the handicapped... to each of us, with her 5 fingers :
First finger : " Je-sus-in-my-heart " ( I meet Jesus. I discover that Jesus loves me: Je-sus-you-love-me, Je-sus-thirsts for me )
(I hear Jesus say : " I thirst " )
Second finger : " Je-sus-I-love-you " ( Je-sus -te-quie-ro, Ge-su-ti-a-mo, Jé-sus-je-t'ai-me )
( I answer His Love and love Him in the Eucharist and in the Poorest of the Poor)
In Romania, phisically and mentally handicapped children who did'nt speak their own language were repeating all the day long these words that Mother had taught them with her fingers and that the M.C. Sisters continued to teach them.
Third finger : " Let us be One Heart "
"full of Love in the Sacred Heart of Mary through the immaculate heart of Mary " in our family, in our LMC group, with all the LMC, with all the M.C. family, as Mother Teresa asked us to be. Let us be One Family with an Open Heart.
Fourth finger : " All-for-Jesus-through-Mary "
On the 5th of September 1997, Mother wrote at Mother House, before dying : her last message to us :
" My dearest Children,
This brings you Mother's love, prayer and blessing that each one of you may be only all for Jesus through Mary. I know that Mother says often - " Be only all for Jesus through Mary " - but that is because that is all Mother wants for you. If in your heart you are only all for Jesus through Mary, and if you do everything only all for Jesus through Mary, you will be a true MC.
... We have much to thank God for, especially that He has given us Our Lady's spirit to be the spirit of our Society. Loving Trust and Total Surrender made Our Lady say "Yes" to the message of the angel, and Cheerfulness made her run in haste to serve her cousin Elizabeth. That is so much our life - saying "Yes" to Jesus and running in haste to serve Him in the Poorest of the Poor. Let us keep very close to Our Lady and she will make that same spirit grow in each one of us.
September 10th is coming very close. That is another beautiful chance for us to stand near Our Lady, to listen to the Thirst of Jesus and to answer with our whole heart. It is only with Our Lady that we can hear Jesus cry " I thirst ", ... We will never come to the end of the gift that came to Mother for the Society on that day, and so we must never stop thanking for it. Let our gratitude be our strong resolution to quench the Thirst of Jesus by lives of real charity - love for Jesus in prayer, love for Jesus in our Sisters, love for Jesus in the Poorest of the Poor - nothing else... This year, ...Holy Father is declaring Little Flower to be a Doctor of the Church, like St. Augustine and the big St. Teresa! ...
So let us keep very small and follow Little Flower's way of trust and love and joy, and we will fulfill Mother's promise to give saints to Mother Church."
Fifth finger : " Let-us-be-ho-ly "
Mother Teresa said to the LMC in Paris and in Rome... and wrote it to them on the 9th of december 1993 :
" Make a strong resolution :
" I will, I want with God's blessing be holy "no desidero, Father ( Sebastian ) : I will : Voglio ".
ALLWAYS THE TWO HANDS TOGETHER
Let us never separate " I THIRST" and " YOU-DID-IT-TO-ME "
One hand and The other hand, as Mother asked us.
Mother was in Perpetual Adoration, united to Jesus,
going from Jesus in the Eucharist to Jesus in the Poorest of the Poor.
Mary and Marthe are " One Heart " in Jesus.
The Contemplation and the Action are One.
ROSARY
Thinking of Mother's fingers and of the Rosary she always had in her hand and was praying :
We need our five fingers and our two hands to pray the Rosary,
we are like the little beads of the Rosary in the hands of Mary, little roses, and if a little link of a bead is broken, a rose is lacking, the Rosary isn't complete.
We are and must be, all of us, little links united to Jesus.
The Only Link is Jesus who is Love, who is " the Way ", our way of Life.
" I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. "
Always : " Through Him, with Him, in Him.
" LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVED YOU "
are the words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St. John, the Gospel of Love that Mother Teresa chose to be carved on her tomb and the last message she adresses to us.
To love, to give ourselves to Him in each other and in his poor until it hurts, to lay down our life for the Poorest of the Poor, especially our families.
The Cross - no greater love. ( Statutes )
The JOY of GIVING our life until the end.
Jesus gave His life until dying on the Cross, the victorious Cross, to give us the Eternal Life.

Holy Trinity, I love you.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I love you.
Sacred Heart of Jesus keep our families in your Heart, as Mother asked to pray in Paray le Monial.
Immaculate heart of Mary, Cause of our Joy, pray for us.
Holy Family of Nazareth pray for us.
" If we could make our homes another Nazareth, I think that peace and Joy will reign in the world "
Blessed Teresa pray for us and stay with us.
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia,
Quia quem meruisti portare, alléluia,
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alléluia;
Ora pro nobis Deum, alléluia.
Fabienne lmc
10.06.09

Vendredi 17 avril 2009

Des LMC m'ont demandé d'écrire ce que j'avais dit cet après-midi-là à Rome, après avoir prié le chapelet de la Miséricorde Divine avec les LMC présents à l'Assemblée Générale.
Je vous donne ce que j'ai préparé la nuit d'avant devant le Saint Sacrement.
Ma méditation partit de la Chapelle de la Sainte Famille des frères M.C. Contemplatifs via San Agapito : 5 bougies, 5 lumières sur l'autel : pourquoi 5 ? la moitié de dix.
Tout à coup je vis les mains de Mère Teresa et ses cinq doigts toujours accrochés à son chapelet, ses mains qui touchèrent si tendrement le corps souffrant du Christ dans les plus pauvres des pauvres, et les mains de tellement de personnes autour du monde et ma méditation me conduisit à ceci, qui n'est peut-être pas tout à fait ce que j'ai dit, car je ne parlerai pas de tout (et je ne me souviens pas de tout ) mais juste de ce que je veux partager avec vous car ce sont des choses, je pense, que nous avons en commun et qui sont universelles.
VIENS ESPRIT DE SAINTETÉ, VIENS ESPRIT DE LUMIÈRE,
VIENS ESPRIT DE FEU, VIENS NOUS EMBRASER.
J'ai découvert ici à Rome que je devais parler aujourd'hui. J'avais donné à Gianna ( secrétaire générale des LMC) mon rapport sur les LMC de langue française. Elle avait fait un résumé qu'elle vous a lu hier et je pensais que je pourrais rester silencieuse. Je n'ai jamais parlé à tant de personnes dans ma propre langue, donc en anglais ou en espagnol je ne sais pas si j'en serai capable. Peut-être vous ne comprendrez pas mon anglais car ma prononciation peut être mauvaise. Joan Kick en sait quelque chose : à Lima elle a compris que je parlais du pouce de Mère Teresa alors que je parlais de la tombe de Mère Teresa et même maintenant je ne suis pas sûre que vous me compreniez.
VIENS ESPRIT DE SAINTETÉ, VIENS ESPRIT DE LUMIÈRE,
VIENS ESPRIT DE FEU, VIENS NOUS EMBRASER.
PREMIÈRE MAIN :
Premier doigt : La Médaille Miraculeuse. (France)
Prière : Souvenez-vous...
Le 1er groupe LMC en France commença à Paris en 1987 et ce fut à la Chapelle de la Médaille Miraculeuse rue du Bac à Paris que nous avons, Jean-Claude et moi, entendu parler, pour la première fois, des Statuts des LMC par la sœur Supérieure M.C., après le pèlerinage avec la Communauté Tamoule.
Mère Teresa donnait des médailles miraculeuses à chaque personne qu'elle rencontrait. Elle vous en a peut-être donnée une et ici je pense que presque tout le monde porte une médaille miraculeuse et a des histoires à raconter à son sujet. Comme vous devez le savoir c'est à Paris dans cette chapelle que Ste Catherine Labouré a vu la Sainte Vierge :
" Voici la Sainte Vierge... ", qui lui demanda de faire frapper une médaille sur le modèle qu'elle lui montrait... " Les personnes qui la porteront recevront de grandes grâces..."
Cette médaille peut être miraculeuse, ce n'est pas un gri-gri. Regardez-là. Que voyez-vous au dos : deux cœurs : le Cœur de Jésus couronné d'une couronne d'épines et le cœur de Marie percé par une épée et la Croix et le M de Marie.
Ste Catherine Labouré a dit : " Il m'a semblé entendre une voix qui me disait :
" L'M et les deux Coeurs en disent assez ! "
Pour Mère Teresa c'était aussi un message silencieux que nous pouvons approfondir personnellement. Elle avait l'habitude de dire :
" Soyez Un Seul Cœur plein d'Amour dans le Cœur Sacré de Jésus à travers le cœur immaculé de Marie ".
Deuxième doigt : Notre Dame de Fatima (Portugal).
Prière : Souvenez-vous...
LES DEUX CŒURS : Le Cœur de Jésus et le coeur de Marie.
CONSÉCRATION AU CŒUR IMMACULÉ DE MARIE.
CONVERSION DE LA RUSSIE et la PAIX (A Lisieux le jour de l'Ascension 1988 Mère Teresa demanda à la Prieure du Carmel de prier avec ses sœurs pour 15 nouvelles fondations M.C. en Russie : un Rosaire.
CONVERSION, REPARATION pour les pécheurs : prière, pénitence et sacrifices.
ROSAIRE : Prière : O mon Jésus, pardonnez-nous nos péchés...
Comme le Pape Jean-Paul II, Mère Teresa avait une relation spéciale avec Notre Dame de Fatima.
Le 11 mai 1988 chez les sœurs M.C. à Paris, Mère Teresa demanda aux membres de notre groupe LMC de Paris d'aller voir nos curés de paroisse et de leur demander d'avoir une heure d'Adoration du Saint Sacrement exposé pour qu'elle devienne ensuite quotidienne. Je suis allée parler au curé de ma paroisse et ensuite, après une nuit d'Adoration à Fatima, du 12 au 13 juillet 1988, nous avons rencontré, Jean-Claude et moi, notre évêque qui nous a proposé d'avoir le Saint Sacrement à la maison: une "Mission spéciale", comme les premiers chrétiens : " l'Église domestique ". "A cette époque la Sainte Eucharistie était conservée dans les maisons après la Messe ", nous dit-il ! Après avoir beaucoup prié nous avons accepté et ce fut le début d'une grande Aventure : Maison Ouverte... (toutes sortes de personnes venant pour parler, pour prier et pour rester) l'Adoration quotidienne, une nuit d'Adoration mensuelle, commençant par la Messe avec notre curé ou un prêtre de notre paroisse, tous les premiers vendredis du mois, sans interruption, pendant 20 ans. (avec des personnes venant des différents villages voisins et des LMC : c'était pour nous notre retraite mensuelle. Maintenant il y a des heures d'Adoration dans 3 différentes églises près de chez nous, ce qui n'existait pas il y a 20 ans.
EUCHARISTIE - ADORATION - Hymne à la SAINTE TRINITÉ
Nous pouvons approfondir.
Troisième doigt : Lourdes (France).
Prière : Souvenez-vous...
" Je suis l'Immaculée Conception ".
" Demandons à Notre Dame de nous donner son coeur si beau, si pur, si immaculé, son cœur si plein d'amour et d'humilité que nous puissions L'aimer et Le servir sous l'habit de détresse des Pauvres ". a dit Mère Teresa.
Service joyeux aux malades, aux Plus Pauvres parmi les Pauvres : " You-did-it-to-me " (" C'est à moi que vous l'avez fait ")
Mère Teresa n'alla jamais à Lourdes mais elle était très proche de Notre Dame de Lourdes et versait de l'eau de Lourdes sur les malades partout dans le monde.
ADORATION PERPETUELLE : JESUS dans l'EUCHARISTIE
et JESUS dans les PLUS PAUVRES parmi les PAUVRES.
Le SOURIRE et les LARMES de Marie.
La JOIE et la CROIX.
" La Paix commence avec un sourire " a dit Mère Teresa.
" Gardez la Joie d'aimer Jésus dans votre cœur et partagez cette joie avec votre famille et tous ceux que vous rencontrez ". Mère a écrit aux LMC.
Mère parlant aux malades avec ses cinq doigts, leur disant de dire :
" Mary-Mother-of-Je-sus (Marie-Mère-de Jé-sus)
"Make-me-feel-all-right " (Fais-que je- me- sente -bien)
Nous pouvons approfondir.
Quatrième doigt : Paray-le-Monial (France).
Prière : Souvenez-vous...
Jésus fit connaître à Ste Marguerite Marie " Son grand désir d'être parfaitement aimé des hommes...de leur manifester son Cœur... leur ouvrant tous les trésors d'amour, de miséricorde, de grâce, de sanctification et de salut qu'il contient afin que tous ceux qui voudraient Lui rendre et Lui procurer tout l'honneur et l'amour qui leur serait possible fussent enrichis avec profusion des divins trésors dont il est la source féconde et inaltérable. "
Mère Teresa à Paray-le-Monial, en août 1986, dit aux familles, et donc à nous, LMC, comme elle nous l'a dit aussi ainsi qu'aux LMC à Paris :
" L'amour commence à la maison "
" Priez ensemble et vous resterez ensemble "
" La famille qui prie ensemble reste ensemble "
" Consacrez vos familles au Sacré Cœur "
Nous pouvons approfondir.
Cinquième doigt : Lisieux (France).
Prière : Souvenez-vous...
Ste Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus et de la Sainte Face : Petite Fleur.
La Sainte Patronne de Mère Teresa.
Dans l'avion pour les U.S.A. le 2 août 1987, Mère écrit :
" Comme les Laïcs Missionnaires de la Charité ... sont une partie de notre Congrégation qui appartient de façon spéciale à Notre Dame, nous allumerons, dans le futur, 8 lumières devant le Saint Sacrement pendant l'Adoration....
une lumière pour représenter les Laïcs Missionnaires de la Charité qui sont la Sainte Face de Jésus...
Ce sera un don merveilleux fait à Jésus de nous avoir tous ensemble en adoration devant lui... "
Le petit chemin : simple mais difficile à suivre ! Le chemin de la Petitesse, du Rien, de la Pauvreté, de l'Abandon : " La Confiance et l'Amour " : " Loving Trust and Total Surrender ". (La Confiance pleine d'amour et l'Abandon total).
" Faire des petites choses ordinaires avec un amour extraordinaire ".
" Etancher la soif infinie d'amour des âmes de Jésus sur la Croix...pour le salut et la sanctification des membres de leurs propres familles et des plus pauvres parmi les pauvres du monde entier " (Statuts des LMC).
Le désir de Ste Thérèse de rester petite, d'aimer la très Sainte Trinité et de la faire aimer, de sauver les âmes, d'être sainte : " Dans le cœur de l'Église, ma Mère, je serai l'AMOUR ".
Notre Dame du Sourire, qui sourit à Ste Thérèse.
" Sourire est le début de l'Amour. Ayons la volonté de sourire à chacun. " disait Mère Teresa.
Le Silence est Prière. La Prière est Silence.
" Le fruit du silence est la prière... "
" Tant que vous n'aurez pas entendu Jésus dans le silence de votre cœur, vous ne pourrez pas L'entendre dire " J'ai soif " dans les cœurs des pauvres ", disait Mère Teresa.
" Priére-Pauvreté-Zèle-pour-les âmes " : Prayer-Poverty-Zeal-for-souls " (Mère Teresa).
Nous pouvons approfondir.
DEUXIÈME MAIN :

Le catéchisme de Mère Teresa.
La théologie simple, évangélique et eucharistique des cinq doigts, de Mère Teresa.
Dans tous les coins du monde Mère Teresa a parlé aux malades, aux estropiés, aux handicapés... à chacun d'entre nous, avec ses 5 doigts :
Premier doigt : " JE-SUS-IN-MY-HEART " : Jé-sus-dans-mon-cœur. ( D'abord je rencontre Jésus dans mon cœur. Je découvre que Jésus m'aime, qu'Il a soif de moi. : Jé-sus- tu-m'ai--mes,
Tu-as-soif-de-moi)
Deuxième doigt : " JE-SUS-I-LOVE-YOU " OU " I-LOVE-YOU-JE-SUS " :
Jé-sus-je-t'ai-me ou Je-t'ai-me-Jé-sus ( Je réponds à Son Amour et je L'aime dans l'Eucharistie et dans les plus pauvres parmi les pauvres).
En Roumanie certains enfants handicapés physiques et mentaux qui ne parlaient pas leur propre langue répétaient toute la journée ces mots : Jesus I love you ou I love you Jesus, que Mère Teresa leur avait enseignés avec ses 5 doigts et que les sœurs continuaient à leur dire.
Troisième doigt : " LET-US-BE-ONE-HEART " : Soy-ons-un-seul-Cœur
" plein d'Amour dans le Cœur Sacré de Jésus à travers le cœur immaculé de Marie " (M.Teresa)
dans notre famille, dans notre groupe LMC, avec tous les LMC, avec toute la famille M.C., comme Mère Teresa nous l'a demandé. Soyons Une Famille unie avec un Cœur Ouvert.
" Que tous soient un " (St. John 17, 21).
Quatrième doigt : " ALL-FOR-JESUS-THROUGH-MARY " : Tout-à-Jésus-par-Marie.
Le 5 septembre 1997, Mère Teresa écrit, à la Maison-Mère à Calcutta, avant de mourir : son dernier message à tous :
" Mes très chers enfants,
Cette lettre vous apporte l'amour, la prière et la bénédiction de Mère pour que chacun de vous soit seulement tout à Jésus à travers Marie. Je sais que Mère dit souvent "Soyez tout à Jésus à travers Marie " mais c'est parce que c'est tout ce que Mère veut pour vous. Si dans votre cœur vous êtes seulement tout à Jésus à travers Marie, et si vous faites seulement tout à Jésus à travers Marie, vous serez un véritable M.C.
... Nous avons à remercier Dieu pour beaucoup de choses, spécialement pour nous avoir donné l'esprit de Notre Dame comme esprit de notre Congrégation. La Confiance pleine d'Amour et l'Abandon Total ont fait dire " Oui " à Notre Dame au message de l'ange, et la Joie l'a fait courir en hâte servir sa cousine Elisabeth. C'est tellement notre vie - dire " Oui " à Jésus et courir en hâte Le servir dans les Plus Pauvres parmi les Pauvres. Restons très près de Notre Dame et elle fera en sorte que ce même esprit grandisse en chacun de nous.
Le 10 septembre approche. C'est une autre belle occasion pour nous de nous tenir près de Notre Dame, pour écouter la Soif de Jésus et répondre de tout notre cœur . C'est seulement avec Notre Dame que nous pouvons entendre Jésus crier " J'ai soif ",... Nous n'arriverons jamais à la fin du don qui fut fait à Mère pour la Congrégation ce jour-là, et donc nous ne devons jamais nous arrêter de remercier pour cela. Que notre gratitude soit notre ferme résolution d'étancher la Soif de Jésus par des vies de vraie charité - l'amour de Jésus dans la prière, l'amour de Jésus dans nos sœurs, l'amour de Jésus dans les Plus Pauvres parmi les Pauvres - rien d'autre... Cette année, ... le Saint Père déclare la Petite Fleur docteur de l'Église, comme St. Augustin et la grande Ste Thérèse !...
Restons donc très petits et suivons le chemin de confiance et d'amour et de joie de la Petite Fleur, et nous remplirons la promesse de Mère de donner des saints à notre Mère L'Église. "
Cinquième doigt : " LET-US-BE-HOLY " : Que-nous-so-yons-saints.
Mère Teresa a dit aux LMC à Paris, à Rome... et leur a écrit le 9 décembre 1993 :
" Prenez la ferme résolution " Je veux, je veux, avec la bénédiction de Dieu être saint"
Cela vous aidera à étancher la Soif d'amour des âmes de Jésus - en travaillant au salut et à la sanctification des Plus Pauvres parmi les Pauvres - spécialement de votre famille."
" Pas, je désire, " dit Mère Teresa aux LMC, à Rome, dans la chapelle des soeurs M.C : "Je veux, je veux..."
TOUJOURS LES DEUX MAINS ENSEMBLE
Ne séparons jamais " I THIRST " de " YOU DID IT TO ME "
" J'AI SOIF " de " C'EST À MOI QUE VOUS L'AVEZ FAIT "
Une main et l'autre main, comme Mère l'a demandé.
Mère était en perpétuelle Adoration, unie intimement à Jésus à travers Marie,
allant de Jésus dans l'Eucharistie à Jésus dans le Plus Pauvre parmi les Pauvres.
Marie et Marthe sont " Un Seul Cœur " en Jésus.
La Contemplation et l'Action ne font qu'un.
LE ROSAIRE
Pensant aux doigts de Mère Teresa et au chapelet qu'elle avait dans sa main et qu'elle priait toujours :
Nous avons besoin de nos cinq doigts et de nos deux mains pour prier le chapelet,
nous sommes comme des petits grains de chapelet dans les mains de Marie, des petites roses, et si un petit lien d'un grain est cassé, si une rose manque, le rosaire n'est pas complet.
Nous sommes et devons être, nous tous LMC, (liens locaux, nationaux et chaque LMC) de simples petits liens unis à Jésus à travers Marie.
Le seul Lien est Jésus, qui est Amour, qui est le Chemin, notre chemin de Vie.
" JE SUIS LE CHEMIN, LA VÉRITÉ ET LA VIE ".
Toujours " Par lui, avec lui et en lui, à toi Dieu le Père tout-puissant, dans l'unité du Saint-Esprit, tout honneur et toute gloire, pour les siècles des siècles. Amen "
" LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVED YOU "
" AIMEZ-VOUS LES UNS LES AUTRES COMME JE VOUS AI AIMÉS "
sont les paroles de l'Évangile de Jésus-Christ selon St. Jean, l'Évangile de l'Amour que Mère Teresa a choisi pour graver sur sa tombe et le dernier message qu'elle nous adresse.
Aimer, nous donner à Lui dans chacun et dans ses pauvres jusqu'à ce que cela fasse mal, donner notre vie aux plus pauvres parmi les pauvres, en particulier notre famille .
La Croix - pas de plus grand amour (Statuts)
La Joie du Don de notre vie jusqu'au bout.
Jésus a donné sa vie jusqu'à mourir sur la Croix, la Croix Victorieuse, pour nous donner la Vie Éternelle.

" Sainte Trinité, je vous aime.
Cœur Sacré de Jésus, j'ai confiance en vous.
Cœur Sacré de Jésus, je vous aime.
Cœur Sacré de Jésus, gardez nos familles dans votre Cœur ",
comme Mère Teresa a demandé de prier à Paray-le-Monial en 1986.
Cœur immaculé de Marie, Cause de notre Joie, priez pour nous.
Sainte Famille de Nazareth, priez pour nous.
" Si vous pouviez faire de vos maisons un autre Nazareth, je pense que la paix et la Joie règneraient dans le monde " (M. Teresa)
Bienheureuse Teresa de Calcutta, priez pour nous et restez avec nous.
Regina caeli, laetare, alléluia,
Quia quem meruisti portare, alléluia,
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alléluia;
Ora pro nobis Deum, alléluia.
Fabienne lmc
12.05.09

Laici Missionari della Carità
ASSEMBLEA GENERALE
Roma, Via Tiburtina 994, Via S. Agapito 8
14-21 aprile 2009
“Let us love until we die of love.”
The General Letters – (1984-Present) of the Founder of the Lay Missionaries
of Charity:
Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, M.C.
as the
Primary Source for Formation of the Lay Missionaries of Charity
Our whole lives are a series of choices in which we are always moving farther away from, or closer to, the will of God. Every choice is a spiritual choice. A Saint is a person who has consistently, over time, with God’s grace, chosen to do His will. Mother Teresa has often said to make a firm resolution to “will, to want, to be holy.” “Holiness is a simple duty.” This duty to God must be of our will. To help us, to guide us, God has given us His commandments, and He has given us the example of His own life, and the example of the lives of the Saints, and sanctifying grace. With the Eucharist, with the Sacraments, and with our will to grow in holiness, we journey. We have been given a most special gift of God. We have received a special call, specifically, personally, and for a purpose: we have been called to be Lay Missionaries of Charity. Not only have we been called, we have been called to a particular community of souls whom He has also called. To each of us personally, and to our LMC community worldwide, has been given the beautiful grace of learning from the life and the teaching of Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, M.C., Superior General of the Missionary of Charity Brothers Contemplative, and Founder of the Lay Missionaries of Charity in 1984 in the presence of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. We are “Mother Teresa’s Grandchildren” because he was first, her spiritual son. As Blessed Teresa said of Fr.Sebastian: “We know each other by heart.”
Some time before March of 1947, Blessed Teresa wrote a most significant and historic letter to Archbishop Perrier which refers to our very origins. Our Founder, Fr. Sebastian , writes of this letter that it can be considered the very foundation of the Movement of the Lay Missionaries of Charity (LMC). Quoting Fr Sebastian, he writes: “ In the letter she expresses and explains the fundamental motive for which God wanted her to found the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity: “Your Grace, tell the Holy Father. . . that the Institute will be especially for the unity and happiness of family life- the life of which he has so much at heart” Fr. Sebastian wrote that Blessed Teresa was “very happy to know that the Movement is entrusted to the care and protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, who are their mirror and their model in everything. Their families are meant to resemble the Holy Family, which has been the first “domestic sanctuary of the Church.”
In Life With Mother Teresa (Servant Books) Fr Sebastian observes that in all that Mother said and wrote was the call to holiness. Running through the letters of our Founder this is the call: to union with Christ, to the life of sacrifice, service, virtue, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, goodness, and most especially the Cross. The Statutes of the Lay Missionaries of Charity themselves, written by Fr Sebastian over a period of about six months with intense prayer and reflection, in response to the desire of the first four Lay Missionaries of Charity for a life more closely united to the life of the Missionaries of Charity. Fr. Sebastian found his inspiration in the heart of the Church- her Documents, foremost among them for the laity- Christifideles Laici, expressing and articulating the universal call to holiness. Within the Statutes of the Lay Missionaries of Charity we find these luminous passages:
“To awaken and satisfy the hunger for God is the heart of the
Vocation of the L.M.C.s”
“It is through prayer that the L.M.C.’s maintain their intimate
Union with Christ and the Church and become authentic Missionaries
Of Charity in their own families, toward the members of the Movement,
and the Poorest of the Poor.”
“The Lord Jesus Himself will teach us how we should pray. He is the
One key-stone of our religious life and exercises. He is the creative
Word whom we receive in the silence of our heart and the fruitful soil
of our life. We listen attentively to what He will say, and what He will
ask of us. He has promised to give His Holy Spirit who will bear our
poor little efforts before the throne of grace and into the intimacy of
the living God.” (from the Contemplative Bros. Const. 125)
“It is almighty God in person who calls you.”
Holding in your hands, and reading with your heart – the General Letters of Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, M.C. to the Lay Missionaries of Charity, you learn much about our Founder, but are also lead most profoundly to an insight into the mind of Christ, and into the depths of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy. These two hearts, that of our Saviour, and that of Our Lady, are the root and foundation. As Our Lady said to St. Catherine Labouré at the Rue de Bac in Paris, regarding the image she intended for what was to become known as “The Miraculous Medal” - “The two hearts say it all.” This holy teacher, his Priest, and instrument of the Holy Spirit, Fr. Sebastian, brought us to this place of the giving of the Miraculous Medal when the LMCs experienced their journey to France, and as Our Lady did, taught us to pray: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Given by Our Lady, a prayer of intercession, we have the assurance of her role as Mediatrix and the graces of Our Savior - “one heart”.
We go with love and obedience, to be carriers of God’s love. “Do whatever He tells you” Our Lady said at Cana, at the wedding feast, to the servants. They, responding, filled the jars to the brim, setting the metaphor for love and grace overflowing, obedience to the fullest. “Do – whatever He tells you.”
In 1996 in Lourdes, France, the Lay Missionaries of Charity held their second International Conference. Writing of Lourdes, Msgr. John Moloney PP of Dublin, Ireland notes: “ The definition of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady in 1854 was like a great light in a dark age. It was preceded by her appearance at Rue-de-Back in Paris in 1830: heaven’s preparation and followed by Lourdes in 1858: heaven's approval. Saint Bernadette said to Our Lady: “Lady, would you have the goodness to tell me who you are, if you please.” The Lady smiled on her in silence. Three times she repeated the request. The fourth time the Lady placed her rosary on her right arm, opened her hands looking to the ground, then raising her arms she lifted her eyes towards heaven and said: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” We pause in the silence of these timeless moments, and wonder in our hearts: to what depths of holiness are we called as Lay Missionaries of Charity in our life of contemplative prayer, and our life of service in the heart of the world. Heaven prepares, heaven provides. All the work we will ever do, all the love that flows from our hearts, has its source in Him, and with Our Lady, he has given us every grace. “To Jesus, through Mary.”
You find, throughout all the Letters of Our Founder, Fr. Sebastian, the inspiring zeal for souls, the deepening in understanding through his words and teaching of Mother’s Founding Grace, and the beauty of the Holy Spirit. Truly these are “A Message of Love Through a Collection of Letters.” They are immersed in the Chalice, and in the Book of the Gospels.
The Letters of the Founder can be studied by various means. They can be studied chronologically, they can be studied by theme, and they can be studied in a synthesis of the graces and teachings of the MC Charism and the life, for the laity, as contemplatives in the heart of the world. By theme, the Letters are notated as follows:
MC Train
Missionaries of Charity Charism
The Missionaries of Charity Contemplative Brothers
The Lay Missionaries of Charity
Our Lady
Pilgrimages to India
Mother Teresa
General Letters
Giving Thanks
Grateful Memories
Lent and Easter
Advent and Christmas
Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, M.C. was born on September 2, 1942 in Kerala, India. He was baptized on September 6, 1942 in Kerala St. Mary’s Church, Kuravilangad, Kottayam, D.L., India. He received his First Holy Communion on May 4, 1950, and received the Holy Spirit in Confirmation on May 9, 1950. The first time that he heard Mother Teresa speak was at St. Albert’s College in Ranchi, India in March of 1966. He met her personally at noon on November 30, 1966, in the Motherhouse parlor in Calcutta. Fr. Sebastian joined the Missionary of Charity Brothers in March of 1967 in Calcutta. His First Vows were made on Pentecost Sunday, June 2, 1968. Fr. Sebastian is the first MC Priest, and was ordained on October 23, 1971. On March 19, 1979 he was Co-Founder with Blessed Teresa M.C. of the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative. In 1984 he founded the Lay Missionaries of Charity. He was in charge of the Novices until 1972, in Calcutta and Los Angeles for two years. He arrived in Los Angeles, California,U.S.A., on June 25, 1976, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Since 1978 he has been in Rome, serving as Superior General of the M.C. Brothers Contemplative at Via S. Agapito. The M.C. Brothers Contemplative were erected into a Diocesan Religious Congregation on December 8, 1993. Father’s work has included Casa Serena at Via S. Agapito (from May 29, 1993); Deepashram (“House of Light”) in Gurgaon, Haryana, Delhi, India (July 3, 1994); and Shkodra, the M.C. house in Northern Albania (September 8, 1991).
There were years of united work, united prayer, and the graces of God in the lives of Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala M.C. and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. Yes, Mother’s words succintly expressed the reality of God’s gift to us all in these two souls, our Founder and Blessed Teresa M.C.: “We know each other by heart.”
In the early years of the Lay Missionaries of Charity, Fr. Sebastian wrote of LMC Fundamental Values and Priority, and from these pages among a quarter century of writing and teaching during our growth, expansion, and development, these points should be noted from the Fundamental Values:
“If I meditate on the LMC, in the light of our faith, I can find one basic value, the source value of all the others, and this value is: Total surrender to God.” “Here I am, for you called me” (1 Sam) as a safe child in the arms of the Father. An act of total faith, the root of the four vows, especially the fourth vow which differentiates the Lay Missionaries of Charity from other consecrated laity,” And further, he notes: “There is something beyond that starting from God and is waiting for an answer.” Later, in the ninth point, Father notes that “The fundamental value of the Lay Missionary of Charity is according to the Service. “Here I am Lord” is strictly connected with the service. It appears in the Fourth Vow: to move forward to Christ, the poorest. Everything is given for everybody. Christ comes to share Himself: “I AM the Bread of Life, take and eat” (Jn 6:34,51) God's communion. The LMC, the messengers of Love in the world, cannot be but Communion. In a circle, I and the neighbor, in receiving and giving at the same time.”
The Letters of the Founder, numbering most recently 146, from 1984 to the present, with their major themes, principal teachings, documentation of the history, and direction of the Way of Life, with their scriptural reference and inspired teaching, are a sure foundation in the Formation of a Lay Missionaries of Charity. Paired with the LMC Statutes, and read and studied, these primary source materials provide us with rich resources for growth and a sure path to holiness in a universal and accessible way for all who have been called to the life of a Lay Missionary of Charity. They can be fruitfully studied in a format of three interrelated parts:
PART I THE DOCUMENTS OF THE CHURCH
THE STATUTES OF THE LAY MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY
PART II THE LETTERS OF THE FOUNDER TO
THE LAY MISSIONARIES
OF CHARITY
FR. SEBASTIAN VAZHAKALA, M.C.
BLESSED TERESA OF CALCUTTA, M.C.
PART III THE TEACHINGS OF THE LMC SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
AND THE RESOURCES OF THE LMC ARCHIVES
INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF THE FOUNDER,
Life with Mother Teresa, my thirty year friendship with
The Mother of the Poor by Fr Sebastian Vazhakala M.C.
By attentive and faithful study of the LMC Statutes and the Letters of the Founder, and enhanced
by teachings to the LMCs affirmed at General Assembly, we can “ give Saints to Mother Church.”
“To Jesus, through Mary”
“Let us love until we die of love.”

Laudetur Sacra FamiliaApril-May 2009
“LMCs, rediscover the gift of following Christ…” (Pope Benedict XVI)
Introduction.
Before I began writing this letter I opened the Bible at random and I found the following verses of Psalm 96:
“Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing to the Lord, all the earth,
Sing to the Lord, bless his name,
Proclaim his salvation day after day.” (1-2)
Since Tuesday within the Octave of Easter, 14th April 2009, the participants of the General Assembly and the Jubilee celebrations of the Movement of the Lay Missionaries of Charity have been singing to the Lord many new and beautiful songs in three different languages: English, Spanish and Italian. The new song reminds us of our new life in Christ. St. Augustine warns us when he says: “see that your life does not contradict your words. Sing with your voices, your hearts, your lips and your lives.” (Sermo 34: 1-3)
In fact the psalm repeats three times the words: “Sing to the Lord…”. In the first time we are exhorted to sing to the Lord a new song, which the LMCs did from 14th to 26th April 2009. The second time the new song is to be sung to the Lord by all the earth; this too was being fulfilled as the LMCs came from the various parts of the world, and the third time is to not only sing to the Lord, but also bless the Lord’s name. The purpose of doing these things was expressed in the following verse, namely to proclaim his salvation not for one day but day after day as each participant returns to one’s own respective place, singing, praising and thanking God: “All praise and thanks to God, the Father now be given, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”.
The purpose of coming to Rome.
The LMCs of the world came to the eternal city of Rome to repair, to restore and renew all things in Christ, who is our epicentre. They were welcomed by Jesus, accompanied by Mary and Joseph. Jesus in person, together with his apostles, was waiting to welcome them one by one, both the participants of the General Assembly (G.A.) and the members of the Jubilee celebrations. Although they were two separate events, there was continuity and completion.
Countries represented.
Although the LMCs are found in over 50 countries of the world, only about thirty countries were represented in Rome. The countries represented were: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Holland, Honduras, Hungary, India, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, U.S.A. and Venezuela.
Some countries, like Albania, India, etc. had a lot of problems getting visas for Italy, and so many could not be present for the Jubilee celebrations. Sad to say, some of the countries in Europe, such as U.K., Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Portugal were not represented at all as well as the Philippines and entire African continent. Of course, the LMCs from Africa have many problems obtaining the required visa for Italy; their absence from the General Assembly and Jubilee celebrations is understandable, as well as can be excused. We may be making serious enquiries about the reasons why the LMCs who live so close to Rome did not represent the Jubilee celebrations or any preparatory meetings, and why they do not really show any openness with the rest of the LMC family.
The proximate preparations were very intense and included a very ambitious program, as mentioned by one of the LMCs.
Pilgrimages: besides the many programs, we also had four pilgrimages during our G.A. and Jubilee celebrations.
Pilgrimage to the Mother House of the Lay Missionaries of Charity, in Via S. Agapito 8.
The first pilgrimage was from Istituto Teresa Gerini to Via S. Agapito 8, the Mother House of the M.C. Brothers Contemplative as well as the Lay Missionaries of Charity. In the afternoon of Thursday 16 April the members of the General Assembly made the pilgrimage to Via S. Agapito 8, where at 4.00 p.m. we had the solemn Jubilee Mass with 25 priests concelebrants – a providential coincidence – many M.C. Sisters, our Casa Serena men, many of the co-workers and friends. The Chapel was packed to its capacity. After some refreshments, all returned to Istituto Teresa Gerini, praising God for his merciful love, who is slow to anger, rich in mercy and quick to forgive (cf. Psalm 103).
Pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary Major
The second pilgrimage was to St. Mary Major in the afternoon of Mercy Sunday, 19th April 2009. This too was a very great spiritual experience. Those who were due for renewal renewed their vows. Once again there was a big crowd of participants, including other members of the M.C. family. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. On this Mercy Sunday we are called to reflect on the words of Jesus “Be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful” (Lk 6: 36). “It is better to make a mistake in kindness than to work miracles in unkindness” (Blessed Teresa M.C.)
New arrivals.
Finishing our G.A. on Tuesday 21st April by midday, the members were now ready to welcome the many participants who came for the Jubilee celebrations. By evening our number went up to almost three hundred. Although there was some inevitable confusion and initial difficulties to overcome, the joy went up to fever pitch. The word “welcome home” could be heard from distances in different languages. Much instruction and detailed explanations were necessary, since very early the next morning all the participants had to be ready for the third pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
Six buses were already ready at the gate by 6.00 a.m. After a quick breakfast all got ready and left for the world renowned Basilica of St. Peter for holy Mass at 8.00 a.m.. It was behind the main altar of the pope in St. Peter’s that all the LMC pilgrims gathered to celebrate the holy Mass with His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the archpriest of the same basilica. Thanks to so many M.C. Sisters, including Sr. Adriana M.C., the newly elected General Councillor of the M.C. Sisters, Sr. Maria Pia M.C., the regional Superior with all the Superiors of her region: Our Lady Queen of the World. After the holy Mass, the Inspector of the basilica, Mr. Antonio Romanelli, took us to the crypt to have a quick visit to the tombs of the late popes, especially the tombs of Pope Paul VI and John Paul II. We had to move very fast, as it was getting late to go for the general audience with the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Square.
The group had some difficulty to get to our assigned place without going through the usual security gate. But, as some of the LMCs started praying the Memorare prayer, the guards said among themselves: “See, they are praying for us”. Our Lady worked the miracle for us, the guards asked me to stand with them to identify the LMC pilgrims one by one as they passed through the gate. There were about 450 in all. By the time it was over, all the seats were practically taken up by our LMCs. The last chair in the last row was still free, which I was happy to have. Some of the MC Sisters in front of me offered their places, but I preferred to be where I was. But then something strange took place. One of the guards came to me and asked me to come out very quickly and he was going to take me with a few others to some other place. It had to be done in seconds, he said. The guards did not allow some of them to go in, who happened to arrive a bit later at the entrance. Just four of us followed very quickly the guard who was practically running in front of us!
We had made our first application on 7th October 2008 in three different languages, German, Italian and English. This was renewed more than once. And then a couple of weeks before the general audience, I again wrote reminding them of our general audience on 22nd April and asking for 15 special tickets. When I went to pick up the tickets the day before, all I received was just a paper on which was written the number of the LMC participants (450), the date, the time and the place assigned for the group. When I mentioned to them about the special tickets, they said there weren’t any available, but the place assigned for the group was one of the best. So I did not expect any more the possibility of any one of us to meeting and exchanging a word with the Pope, to ask for his blessings and prayers for all, to kiss his papal ring, etc. I totally and joyfully resigned myself to the will of God, and was happy to have the last place among the LMCs. But God knows our desires and goes beyond our expectations. He wants us to thank him for everything. Here I remembered the words of our Blessed and beloved Mother Teresa M.C: “Accept whatever he gives, and give whatever he takes, with a big smile”. >“I thank you, Jesus, not for what you give, but for what you take from me…” Within minutes many of these thoughts passed through my mind, including the words of St. John of the Cross: “I no longer desire anything except to love until I die of love.”
But I was humbled to be selected and felt very unworthy to sit up there and look at all the LMCs and many thousands of pilgrims who had come from every corner of the world and had filled the entire St. Peter’s Square. In fact for a long time I put my head down and sat praying for all. My thoughts travelled also across the land and oceans, where so many LMCs could not come to Rome for the Jubilee for one reason or another: some because of their visa problems, some because of the lack of sufficient funds, some others because of family matters, while some others due to work or other engagements, still others who suffer from sickness of one kind or another, some others due to old age, and still some more who did not care or did not give much importance to such an event as the jubilee celebrations. I prayed for all and asked the Lord to bless all, especially Mr. Antonio Serangeli, who was lying in bed with a high fever, and who would otherwise be with us that morning. I then came to thank God for all those who were so fortunate to be there in St. Peter’s for the holy Mass, holy Communion, quick visits to the tombs of the popes, and now sitting right in front of everybody where the Pope, Benedict XVI, the successor of Peter was going to pass by. We cannot thank God enough for all that the Lord did for us, especially in the morning of that Wednesday! “What thanks can I render to the Lord, for all that he has done and does for me…?”
Message from the Holy Father.
During the general audience, twice the LMC Movement was mentioned: once by the Monsignor who presented the groups to the Holy Father and then by the Holy Father himself, when he gave a short and simple but very profound message to all the LMCs of the world. He said: “I greet the representatives of the Movement of the Lay Missionaries of Charity. I exhort each one of you to rediscover the gift of following Christ by always adhering, with his help, to the will of the Father.” (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 22nd April 2009)
Cultural programme.
In the afternoon we had another wonderful manifestation of the richness and the beauty of the various cultures. The cultural evening was a colourful and enjoyable one. The Central and South Americans with their shining costumes, the U.S.A. and Canada with their attractive and entertaining stage work, the various Europeans: Italy, Holland, Poland, Hungary, Czeck Republic…etc. One of the hLMCs from Australia came with her husband and eleven children, both for the Mass and the audience and for the cultural program. It was not only entertaining but a sharing of one’s faith and trust in God. Behind all these varieties of cultures, customs and languages, there is the one God who is the source and fountain of all…, not only the Creator but above all the Father, to him be glory for ever.
Perpetual adoration.
One of the most important events in the entire program from 14th April to 26th April 2009 was the perpetual adoration carried out by two men from India: Mr. Thomas Paul and Mr. Ginu. Both made all the sacrifices of their time, their interests, their sleep and rest held without any break for twenty-four hours of the day and night in adoration. Even when all of us went for pilgrimages to various Churches and places, these two men remained in adoration in one of the big rooms which was converted into a temporary Chapel, where with them many LMCs joined in adoration according to their free times, especially during and soon after meals, and many at night hours. Besides, Mr. Thomas Paul, who has started over 100 perpetual adoration centres in India, in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, etc. gave two conferences, which were accepted and very much appreciated by all, especially the one on the family. Eventually the conferences will be available in CD form.
Pilgrimage to the Mother House of the Lay Missionaries of Charity.
On Saturday 25th April after breakfast all the participants in buses, vans and cars were transported to Casa Serena for the Jubilee Mass with His Eminence Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the Vicar General of his Holiness pope Benedict XVI, for the diocese of Rome. Since the Holy Father, who was invited for the occasion would not come, we were fortunate to have his Vicar, who is our Cardinal, celebrate the holy Mass in a beautiful tent prepared for the occasion. There were about 500 people present for the occasion, including Sr. Adriana M.C. and Sr. Maria Pia M.C. and several other M.C. Sisters, co-workers, volunteers, our Casa Serena men and many others. The Cardinal from start to finish was not only very happy and radiant but was very much moved.
After the initial greetings at the Mass, there was an introductory welcome speech in which the main reasons for the celebration were spelt out. First of all it was a big Thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of.
1)The 40th anniversary of the unforgettable visit of the Servant of God, Pope Paul VI to the “Borghetto Prenestino”, on Christmas Day 1969 to celebrate the Holy Mass at 8.00 a.m., after which the Supreme Pontiff visited several sick and old people who could not be present for the Mass.
2)The 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Brothers of the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative. It was on Monday, 19 March 1979 that our Contemplative branch was founded here in Via S. Agapito 8, 00177 Rome
.
3)The 25th anniversary of the founding of the Movement of the Lay Missionaries of Charity (LMC). It was on Monday in Holy Week, 16th April 1984 that the LMC Movement was founded with four married people, two men and two women, at our place in Rome, in the presence of Blessed Mother Teresa M.C. Today, thanks be to God, with God’s grace and blessings, the Movement has spread into all five continents
.
4)To commemorate the visit of the late Cardinal Ugo Poletti of happy memory, who 25 years ago came to celebrate the holy Eucharist and bless our restructured convent in November 1984. So there were four reasons for us to rejoice and be glad, to thank God and celebrate, which we did on the morning of Saturday 25th April 2009.
The Mass was very solemn. The choir sang with all their strength and energy in the three languages as it was programmed, so also the readings: in English, in Spanish and the Gospel was sung by Br. Piet M.C. in Italian. In place of the responsorial psalm, the song “God hears the cry of the poor, blessed be the Lord” was sung in English by Imelda Buckley and Charlene Carson. His Eminence gave a beautiful homily on the place of the Resurrection of Christ in the life of a Christian, which sheds light on his everyday life of pain, suffering and trials. Every Christian also has the duty to proclaim the good news to all, and especially to the poorest of the poor, like Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and the Missionaries of Charity have always done. The presence of the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative is a great grace and a blessing in this great city of Rome, as they, through their perpetual adoration and service of the poor, bear witness to the simple truth that the Eucharist is a sign of the abiding presence of the risen Lord among us: “Behold I will be with you till the end of the world”, who is the life of the faithful, glory of the humble, happiness of the just. God, the Father, fills our emptiness with the blessing of the Eucharist that is the foretaste of eternal joy.
“The work that we will have to do will be impossible without his continual grace from the tabernacle. He will have to do everything. We have just to follow…” (Blessed Teresa M.C.)
A good number of LMCs made their vows in the presence of the Cardinal: first the ones in Italian, then in English and lastly in Spanish. It was very moving to see them all line up and pronouncing the vow formula. The Cardinal then blessed the crucifixes and presented to each one of the newly professed. What an incredible moment of joy and ecstasy for so many people! Some shed tears of joy: these are moments of heavenly experience that the good Lord allows us to have at times without even longing for it.
Before the final blessing the LMCs from Italian, Spanish and English speaking groups thanked the Cardinal as programmed. Giuseppe Ferri from Bari garlanded him with the LMC Jubilee shawl, which looked like a stole over his chasuble. It seemed that the Cardinal was proud to wear it. At the end of the “thank you” in the three languages, the Cardinal was presented with a big photograph of Blessed Teresa M.C. by Br. Michael M.C. His face became radiant with joy as we took off the wrapping and read out what was written at the back of the picture. The Cardinal, too, expressed his sentiments of gratitude. The celebration was closed with a meal which all enjoyed.
Remembering everyone with gratitude.
Then came the moment of “thank you”. Here it was difficult for me to thank everyone by name, as so many had worked very hard day and night to make the LMC General Assembly and the Jubilee celebrations not only a great success but a real experience of God. While thanking God for each participant of the G.A. and Jubilee I cannot but mention a few names here: Gianna Tommsi, the General Secretary of the LMCs, who worked tirelessly day in and day out to prepare, to arrange, to correct…without showing any irritation; Antonio Serangeli who made so many photocopies of the program and other things, who together with Tonino Mannello transported the LMCs from the airport to Istituto Teresa Gerini…; Antonio Arcos from Malaga, Spain, the first LMC to arrive for the meeting as early as 28th March, to help with the preparations, especially in Spanish, and who did most of the translation work in Spanish for the G.A. and the Jubilee; Laurie Dwyer, Joan Kick and Denise Poulin from the Connecticut group, who worked on the list of participants, the LMC history on display with several photos and other things; Imelda Buckley from Vancouver, Canada, who composed the LMC anthem in English and worked on the music and the songs in English, with the help of two violinists, Isaac and Esther Olson, and several other things; Esperanza and her husband Enrique from San Diego, California, who organized the book stall and religious articles together with Ania Napierala from Poland; Tai Pearn from San Diego, the one responsible for the Spanish group who stayed back in Rome till all the LMCs went back to their own respective places; Fr. Eduardo La Torre and Ana Maria Fagioli from Mar de la Plata, Argentina, who worked together with Antonio Arcos to finalize the Spanish translations; Anita de Orezzoli from Peru, for her selfless service not only now, but even last year in March, when we had our second preparatory meeting in Lima; Susie Aki who, in spite of her hip replacement, accepted to come even with a walking stick and stayed with Paradisa Orlandi, who opened her house to more than one LMC who could not climb the stairs; so many of our Spiritual Directors…there were 16 of them in all, who came all the way from South and Central America, India and Hungary.
Who can forget the sacrificial service done by our Brothers in time and out of time, especially after the meeting was over, transporting the LMCs to the airport at any time of day or of night…which continued till 9th of May (09). I cannot forget Tonino Mannello, the work he did and the sacrifices he made, and our many co-workers, volunteers, benefactors, our guests and visitors of Casa Serena, the Mayor of Rome and his group, who provided the tent, the M.C. Sisters, Sr. Maria Pia M.C., the regional Superior, Sr. Aimée M.C., the Superior of Casilina, and many others who offered their prayers and sacrifices, who continually help the LMCs in the various parts of the world, especially our M.C. Sisters..
I thank you and thank God for each one of the participants. Every time I think of you and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of the Gospel from the very beginning until now. And so I am sure that God, who began his good work in you, will carry it on till the end.
I conclude with the prayer of entrustment of our Movement to the Holy Family and to the Holy Spirit of the living God. With this prayer I entrust every single LMC of the world and all those who help them to the Holy Spirit and to the Holy Family, who I am sure will not only make the members to grow in holiness but also increase in number.
Entrustment.
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
For the honour and glory of God and moved by an ardent desire to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross and in the Eucharist, for love and for souls, we the members of the General Assembly of the Lay Missionaries of Charity entrust ourselves to the care and protection of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
We promise that during the G.A. and Jubilee celebrations we will pay particular attention to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We will make every effort to remember the past with gratitude and purified memories, no matter what the past has been; we will try to live the present with joy and enthusiasm. We will not only listen to God in prayer, but also listen to God in each other, especially during this period with great interest, love and concern for one another.
We beg pardon of God and want to make reparation for all our infidelities in living our vows faithfully and perseveringly and failing to make present the holiness of God by refusing to forgive and to accept forgiveness from others. We make every effort to look forward to the future with serene confidence, unfailing hope and undaunted courage.
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious patriarch St. Joseph present this entrustment to the most holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Love and prayers. God bless you.
Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala M.C.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Rome, Via Tiburtina 994, Via S. Agapito 8
14th to 21st April 2009
Tuesday 14th April 2009
ARRIVALS
Hearty welcome to all the participants of the General Assembly and Spiritual Directors
4.00 p.m. Informal personal instructions and meetings
5.00 p.m. Evening Prayer, Regina Coeli
6.00 p.m. Introductory welcome
Veni Creator, Holy Mass
7.30 p.m. Supper - Announcements
8.30 p.m. Exposition, Rosary, night prayers
Perpetual Adoration, Volunteers
10.00 p.m. Lights out. Good night.
Grand silence.
“How many must we be to have the Blessed Sacrament in our midst? The work that we will have to do will be impossible without his continual grace from the tabernacle – He will have to do everything – We have just to follow. Pray for me, please, that I do the things that are pleasing to him.” (Blessed Teresa M.C., 28.01.1948)
IN-CHARGE OF LANGUAGE GROUPS
Spanish Tai Pearn
English Susie Aki
Italian Giuseppe Cunzolo
French Fabienne Bastide
IN-CHARGE OF LITURGIES
Italian: Br. Stephen M.C.
Spanish Padre Eduardo de la Torre
English Fr. George Vadakkel
EMERGENCY SICK CALLS
Dr. Mimma Battaglia
Dr. Elizabeth Blaskovich
Antonio Arcos
G. A. and JUBILEE: SECRETATRIES
English Laurie Dwyer
Italian Adolfo Costa
Spanish Juan Mayol
French Fabienne Bastide
Other languages Elizabeth Blaskovich
THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE:
Fr. Boniface Hicks OSB
Fr. Eduardo de la Torre
Fr. Gorge Vadakkel
Tai Pearn
Adolfo Costa, Gianna Tommasi,
Laurie Dwyer
FINAL DRAFTING AND REDACTOR
Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala M.C
Wednesday 15th April 2009 (Perpetual adoration) – Day of prayer
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, contemplation
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, free time…
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
SESSION I
Introductory talk, orientation
10.15 a.m. Coffee break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. Meditated Rosary according to language
12.00 p.m. Regina Coeli, Holy Mass according to language: Italian, English, Spanish and other language groups, if the groups have their own priests. Otherwise they join one of the three main language groups.
1.00 p.m. Lunch…
2.45 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet according to language
Conference: Mr. Thomas Paul
4.30 p.m. Break
5.00 p.m. Evening prayer according to language
5.30 p.m. Group sharing according to language
7.30 p.m. Supper - Announcements
9.00 p.m. Adoration, individually or night prayers according to language
10.00 p.m. Lights out/ Good night, perpetual adoration.
Grand silence.
Thursday 16th April 2009 – Actual Jubilee Day and the Birthday of Pope Benedict XVI
Hearty Congratulations to Mrs. Paradisa Orlandi LMC and Mr. Antonio Serangeli LMC who complete 25 years of their first profession
GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, free time…
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
SESSION II
Introduction to General Assembly
Time for sharing of experiences:
Mr. Antonio Serangeli LMC (5 min.)
Time for questions and answers for 10 minutes
Mrs. Paradisa Orlandi LMC (5 min.)
Time for questions and answers for 10 minutes
LMC Report: Ms. Gianna Tommasi LMC
10.15 a.m. Coffee break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. SESSION III
Presentation: Prof. Fr. G. Charles Fernando
Conclude with the prayer of the Regina Coeli
1.00 p.m. Lunch
Pilgrimage to LMC Mother House in Via S. Agapito 8, for the Jubilee Mass
The following persons are in-charge of the bus from “Teresa Gerini Institute” to Via S. Agapito, 8:
TONINO MANNELLO LMC
JUAN MAYOL LMC
Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are prayed individually.
4.00 p.m. Solemn Jubilee Mass
Readings in different languages: Italian, English and Spanish.
We also sing the proper of the Mass in Latin, i.e. Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei
Small refreshment after the Mass
7.30 p.m. Supper at “Teresa Gerini” - Announcements
9.00 p.m. Evening prayer,
10.00 p.m. Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration. Grand silence.
Friday 17th April 2009
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, announcements, free time…
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
SESSION IV
Presentation: LMC Formation - Mrs. Laurie Dwyer LMC
10.15 a.m. Coffee break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. SESSION V - Workshops and workshop reports
12.00 p.m. Regina Coeli, Holy Mass offered for the departed LMCs according to language.
1.00 p.m. Lunch…
2.45 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet according to language
SESSION VI
Presentations: LMC Statutes - Mrs. Tilde Longobardo LMC
Mrs. Fabienne Bastide LMC
4.30 p.m. Break (15 minutes)
4.45 p.m. Evening prayer
5.30 p.m. SESSION VII - Workshops (1 hour)
Presentations of the Workshop Reports
7.30 p.m. Supper - Announcements
9.00 p.m. Holy Hour, Rosary, individually or according to language
10.00 p.m. Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration.
Grand silence.
Saturday 18th April 2009
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, free time…
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
SESSION VIII
Presentations: LMC Statutes - Mr. Adolfo Costa LMC and Mr. Giuseppe Cunzolo LMC
10.15 a.m. Coffee break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. SESSION IX
Workshops and Presentations of the Workshop Reports
12.00 p.m. Regina Coeli, Holy Mass according to language.
1.00 p.m. Lunch…
2.45 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet according to language
SESSION X
Presentation: LMC Prayer Life: - Dr. Mimma Battaglia LMC
4.30 p.m. Break (15 minutes)
4.45 p.m. Evening prayer
5.30 p.m. SESSION XI
Workshops (1 hour) and Presentations of the Workshop Reports
7.30 p.m. Supper - Announcements
9.00 p.m. Holy Hour, Meditated Rosary.
1st mystery: in Italian, 2nd mystery: in Spanish, 3rd mystery: in English, 4th mystery: in French
5th mystery in German
NIGHT VIGIL
10.00 p.m. Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration
Grand silence.
Sunday 19th April 2009 – Mercy Sunday
“For the sake of his sorrowful passion have mercy on us and the whole world”.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, announcements
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
SESSION XII
Reports: Mrs. Tai Pearn LMC, Fr. Eduardo la Torre
10.15 a.m. Coffee break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. SESSION XIII
Presentation: Various Spiritual Directors and National Links
12.00 p.m. Regina Coeli, Lunch, announcements
Pilgrimage to St. Mary Major, by metro.
From Rebibbia to Stazione Termini by metro B
Those who have difficulty to go by metro may give their names to the following persons:
Tonino Mannello, for Italians
Antonio Arcos, for Spanish speaking groups
Juan Mayol, for English speaking countries
Jean Claude Bastide, for all other languages.
3.45 p.m. Holy Mass in St. Mary Major Basilica, renewal of vows
Evening Prayer, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc. are prayed individually or in groups
7.30 p.m. Supper at “Teresa Gerini” - Announcements
8.15 p.m. Film about Blessed Teresa M.C.
Individual night prayer
10.30 p.m. Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration.
Grand silence.
Monday 20th April 2009
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, announcements, free time…
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
SESSION XIV
Reports: Mrs. Susie Aki LMC
10.15 a.m. Break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. SESSION XV – Workshops, presentation of the workshop reports
12.00 p.m. Regina Coeli, Holy Mass according to language.
1.00 p.m. Lunch…announcements
2.45 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet according to language
SESSION XVI
Going over and finalizing all the outcome of the General Assembly
4.30 p.m. Break (15 minutes)
4.45 p.m. Evening prayer
5.30 p.m. SESSION XVII
Time for questions, answers, clarifications.
7.30 p.m. Supper - Announcements
9.00 p.m. Thanksgiving hour together, Rosary in different languages: 1st mystery: in Italian, 2nd mystery: in Spanish, 3rd mystery: in English, 4th mystery: in French, 5th mystery in German
10.00 p.m. Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration. Grand silence.
Tuesday 21st April 2009
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, announcements, free time
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
CONCLUDING SESSION I
Speakers…
10.15 a.m. Break (20 minutes)
10.35 a.m. CONCLUDING SESSION II
Regina Coeli
1.00 p.m. Lunch…WELCOME TO ALL
5.30 p.m. Evening prayer
Holy Mass of Thanksgiving and Welcome
7.00 p.m. WELCOME TO ALL
7.30 p.m. Supper - Announcements
9.00 p.m. Hymn, Rosary (prayed individually)
10.00 p.m. Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration.
Grand silence.
Let us hope and pray that our G.A. may be a real Pentecost experience for all of us and for the entire LMC Movement. Let there be peace and joy and let it begin with me. Let us not forget to pray for each other.
JUBILEE TIMETABLE
Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (the Rosary is prayed individually)
The following persons are in-charges of the buses:
Bus N. 1: Tonino Mannello, Bus N. 2: Antonio Arcos, Bus N. 3: Juan Mayol Bus N. 4: Jean Claude Bastide, Bus N. 5: Adolfo Costa LMC, Bus N. 6: Giulio Calò LMC
6.00 Breakfast, announcements
Departure without delay for St. Peter’s
7.45 a.m. Holy Mass presided over by his Eminence Cardinal Angelo Comastri10.30 General Audience with the Holy Father
1.00 p.m. Lunch in Teresa Gerini – Via Tiburtina 994
4.00 p.m. WELCOME TO ROME, LMCs of the world.
Cultural evening
7.30 p.m. Dinner…Announcements
9.00 p.m. Points:
English: Mr. Thomas Paul
Spanish: Fr. Victor Mercado
10.00 Lights out. Good night, perpetual Adoration.
Grand silence
Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th April 2009
RETREAT – Days of Silence
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast in silence…Announcements, free time
8.45 a.m. Veni Creator, Jubilee Prayer
I Conference (in English) by Mr. Thomas Paul
Time for personal reflection
10.20 a.m. Coffee break
10.45 a.m. Meditated Rosary according to languages: Italian, Spanish and English
Free time
12.00 p.m. Regina Coeli, Holy Mass according to language for the departed LMCs
1.00 p.m. Lunch in silence…Announcements
2.45 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet in groups
II Conference (in English) by Mr. Thomas Paul
Time for personal reflection
4.30 p.m. Break
5.00 p.m. Evening prayer according to language
Shared reflections –Round table…
Time for personal prayer
6.30 p.m. Stations of Light (Via Lucis) according to language
7.30 p.m. Supper in silence - Announcements
8.30 p.m. Night vigil (on Friday only)…points…personal prayer
10.00 p.m. Lights out/ Good night, perpetual Adoration.
Grand silence.
JUBILEE TIMETABLE (flexible)
Saturday 25th April 2009, feast of St. Mark and Italian Independence Day
6.30 a.m. Time for personal prayer, meditation, adoration, etc.
7.00 a.m. Morning prayer according to language.
7.30 a.m. Breakfast…Announcements
Pilgrimage to LMC Mother House, at Via S. Agapito 8
The following persons are in-charges of the buses:
Bus N. 1: Tonino Mannello, Bus N. 2: Antonio Arcos, Bus N. 3: Juan Mayol, Bus N. 4: Jean Claude Bastide, Bus N. 5: Adolfo Costa LMC, Bus N. 6: Giulio Calò LMC
10.00 a.m. Solemn Thanksgiving Mass, presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Vicar General for His Holiness, Pope Beneditc XVI.The readings will be in three languages: Italian, English and Spanish.
After the homily:
Those who are due for making vows, now come forward according to language and pronounce their vows (please have the text ready)
Prayer of the faithful
Remembrance of all the departed LMCS
Reception soon after Mass One of the Lay M.C.s expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Cardinal in the name of all, groups singing, garlanding, a card with assurance of prayers…, refreshments, etc.
1.00 p.m. Lunch at “Casa Serena”
4.30 p.m. Thanksgiving Hour of Adoration together.
Hymns of praise and thanksgiving, of adoration and supplication in various languages.
Holy Rosary in Italian, French, German, English and Spanish.
5.30 p.m. Open Session…positive and negative points.
Hour of Great Thanksgiving
Thanks to all the Organizers, to the Spiritual Directors, special remembrance of the sick and old LMCs. Thanking one another and all. We sing the “Te Deum Laudamus”. Regina Coeli.
7.30 p.m. LMC Jubilee Supper, Announcements
9.00 p.m. Free night vigil…
10.00 p.m. Lights out/ Good night.
Sunday 26th April 2009
6.30 a.m. Holy Mass according to language
7.30 a.m. Breakfast, announcements. Departures except for those who have booked for more days of stay at “Teresa Gerini”.
We wish all the travellers by land, sea or air a very safe and pleasant journey back home. Please do not forget to give our heartfelt thanks and prayerful regards to your dear ones at home, the LMC group members, the spiritual Directors, M.C. Sisters, Brothers, Fathers and others. A big hug to all.
God bless you all.
Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala M.C., Brothers and the Roman LMCs
03.05.09

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02.05.09
