Calendar

September 1900

01 Sep - 01 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 38, 1844.

The difficulties far surpassed our weakness, and considering things by virtue of the light of reason alone, we looked on our enterprise as impossible, but at the same time, we…

September 1, 1900

01 Sep - 01 Sep

Libermann, writing to the community at Dakar about the new house at...

There is a large building about 60 metres long, a beautiful church consecrated to St. Peter about 40 metres long, stables and several other buildings in the courtyard, a brewery,…

December 28, 1846

02 Sep - 02 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 282, 1839.

If the Master wants you to love any object on earth, your friends for example, your children, your wives, whatsoever it is as coming from him, as belonging to him,…

September 2, 1900

02 Sep - 02 Sep

Rule for the Brothers, 01.03.1851. NDXI, p. 487-515

Lord Jesus, it is for your glory, for love of you and in honour of your Blessed Mother that I make these vows today for the whole of my life.…

03 Sep - 03 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 301, 1837.

Enter fully into the plans of holiness that our Master has for you. Your life will no longer be your own, it will be that of the Spirit of Jesus…

September 3, 1900

03 Sep - 03 Sep

Jacques Laval to the Superior General, 03.11.1860

My health is still bad- a lack of energy, an ever-increasing state of nervousness. My big worry is that shortly I will no longer be able to celebrate Mass because…

November 3, 1860

04 Sep - 04 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 282, 1839.

When we speak of the love of Jesus in souls, we can never explain ourselves or make ourselves understood, for who has ever been able to understand, the length, breadth,…

September 4, 1900

04 Sep - 04 Sep

Jacques Laval to the Superior General, 03.11.1860

I stick to the parlour where I do the job of door-keeper. This gives me the chance to give some help to those who come and go, which is also…

November 3, 1860

05 Sep - 05 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, III, 473, 1845.

Do not be afraid of this loving Father. Love him, be full of confidence in him. He loves seeing you in peace and trust, this is pleasing to him, and…

September 5, 1900

05 Sep - 05 Sep

From the notes and correspondence of Père Leman, the founder of Blackrock...

I don't know what these modest beginning will bring, but each day I am becoming more and more attached to this work in IrelandÀSo as to avoid wasting time and…

September 5, 1900

06 Sep - 06 Sep

Cf. Commentary of Saint John, Introduction and 391.

The way which I go about reading this holy and adorable Word is to seek to penetrate the most intimate and simple depths of our divine Saviour. I endeavour to…

September 6, 1900

06 Sep - 06 Sep

Libermann: Commentary on St. John, 3:3

"Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God". O Jesus, what a tremendous love you have for poor people like us!. I am ignorant and…

September 6, 1900

07 Sep - 07 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 108, 1835.

How could the heavenly Father, who has planned and settled the least painstaking movement for all eternity, not have determined the words of life and love that his beloved Son…

September 7, 1900

07 Sep - 07 Sep

In every facet of our lives, but particularly in our prayer, Mary is our model of willing obedience and faithfulness. We offer her veneration and prayer so that we may,…

September 7, 1900

08 Sep - 08 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 537, 1849.

The missionary rapports between them will be those of the children of the same family, which is that of Jesus and Mary. They must treat themselves as brothers animated by…

September 8, 1900

08 Sep - 08 Sep

Jacques Laval: quoted in his process of beatification

In all things, put your trust only in the Lord. And if some day it happens, as with everybody, that you do something stupid, and even fall several times, don't…

September 8, 1900

09 Sep - 09 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, VII, 418, 1845.

Your meditation must not be dry and just the work of your mind alone but it is essential that your heart dilates and pours out before the good Master, like…

September 9, 1900

09 Sep - 09 Sep

Jacques Laval to his sister, Mme Cadot, 05.09.1864. He died 4 days...

May Jesus and his Mother console you, my dear sister; they are our only consolation on earth and in heaven. I am anxious to finish with the miseries of this…

September 5, 1864

10 Sep - 10 Sep

Spiritual writings, 193.

A soul of prayer lives without anxieties and worries. We adore God, we seek to love and to serve him.

September 10, 1900

10 Sep - 10 Sep

Tony Geoghegan, 31.07.1978, Spiritan Papers nº18. p.14

The outstanding trait of Bishop Shanahan in regard to friendship and love is his constant refusal to separate theological and human love. He never feared 'particular friendships'. He saw everything…

11 Sep - 11 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, VII, 418, 1845.

From time to time, you will lift your heart to our Lord to revive you in the good dispositions that will be placed during the morning prayers. By doing so,…

September 11, 1900

11 Sep - 11 Sep

John Skinnader: Maynooth, 1.5

Today, Justice and Peace ministry is taking on various forms. Education: both formal and informal, defending the rights of people, helping people to organise themselves for the defence of their…

12 Sep - 12 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 355, 1839.

The true means for you to prepare a great gift of prayer is the most perfect renunciation. This is what you only need to apply and must aim at in…

September 12, 1900

12 Sep - 12 Sep

Michael Amaladoss S.J., Planète-Mission, Lourdes 1994

The fundamental missionary attitude is one of dialogue, respecting the freedom of other believers and the mystery of God who is already at work within them. We must be open…

January 1, 1994

13 Sep - 13 Sep

Spiritual Writing, 193.

Prayer puts the soul in a continual habit of love of God, the soul does everything out of love. We are always in a great joy because the soul is…

September 13, 1900

13 Sep - 13 Sep

Opening of the junior seminary at Saverne.

September 13, 1900

13 Sep - 13 Sep

Cardinal Margéot: Homily for the beatification

The influence of Jacques Laval also spread to the other Christians, whether practising or not, who made up the society of the time. Gradually, the circle of conversions grew bigger.…

September 13, 1900

14 Sep - 14 Sep

Spiritual Writings, 529.

For prayer to truly obtain the results that God requires, and for it not to become an illusion, we must seriously give ourselves in to self-abnegation. It is the basis…

September 14, 1900

14 Sep - 14 Sep

Libermann: advice to the 'Bandes de Piété, ND I, p. 668

Try then, dear brothers, to be always available before God. Live peacefully and with great confidence in the goodness of God; he will surpass all that we could imagine if…

September 14, 1900

15 Sep - 15 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, VII, 418, 1845.

As for distractions in your prayers, do not worry. As soon as you perceive them, dismiss them, continue peacefully in your prayer or vocal prayer. It is impossible for us…

September 15, 1900

15 Sep - 15 Sep

Brottier: quoted in the process of beatification

To serve means to forget about yourself and, for the love of God, to sacrifice yourself for the happiness of others. It means to have no rights - only duties.…

September 15, 1900

16 Sep - 16 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, II, 354, 1839.

Always be careful to prepare your prayer the night before. At the moments that you have no attraction, and when you find yourself without affections or feelings, in a kind…

September 16, 1900

16 Sep - 16 Sep

Maynooth 5: 12&13

We will develop collaboration between Spiritan institutes and institutes in which we participate, especially in the areas of training, jus-tice and peace and missionary awareness. The role of the General…

17 Sep - 17 Sep

Spiritual writings, 193.

The most difficult things cost nothing to a soul who is really in the prayer of affection. We undertake everything and we are capable of everything. The more intense the…

September 17, 1900

17 Sep - 17 Sep

General Chapter, 1980. no. 116

In the context of the wider changes of our times, the Foundations themselves share in the birth of a new missionary era in the Church. From different continents there is…

18 Sep - 18 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 300, 1839.

I have left Rennes. I have not a single person or creature on earth in whom I can put my trust. I have nothing, and I do not know what…

September 18, 1900

18 Sep - 18 Sep

Libermann to his brother, Samson: 18.09.1841. NDII, p.497-498

I must tell you about the great mercy and goodness that Our Lord has shown towards me, his undeserving servant who is not even worthy to speak his name: this…

September 18, 1941

19 Sep - 19 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, VII, 418, 1845.

From time to time, during the day, you remind yourself of the good resolutions in order to put them into practice, or to consider if you have observed them very…

September 19, 1900

19 Sep - 19 Sep

Libermann: Conferences to the St. John Group of Priests, 1849. NDXI, p....

We have to keep our minds and hearts united to God when we are trying to help penitents. It sometimes happens, especially with young priests, that they are so preoccupied…

January 1, 1849

20 Sep - 20 Sep

Spiritual Writings, 529.

Prayer is one of the main pillars on which the spiritual edifice of the missionary or religious remains. If the foundation is solid, the pillar remains straight. If the foundation…

September 20, 1900

20 Sep - 20 Sep

Evangelii Nuntiandi, nº77

The power of evangelisation will find itself considerably diminished if those who proclaim the Gospel are divided among themselves in all sorts of ways. Is this not perhaps one of…

December 8, 1975

21 Sep - 21 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 571, 1841.

For prayer, you say that you have the greatest difficulty of bringing out a few words of love from your heart. I will tell you this “why do you want…

September 21, 1900

21 Sep - 21 Sep

Libermann: Commentary of St. John, 10.3

Out of love for his flock, this Good Shepherd transmits his life and pastoral concern to those who act in his name and by his power and his Spirit. The…

September 21, 1900

22 Sep - 22 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 388, 1839.

It seems to me that the important thing is to let God act in souls, to follow his action and to apply them in a way that they remain faithful…

September 22, 1900

22 Sep - 22 Sep

Poullart des Places: General and Special Rules for the Community of the...

All the seminarians will adore the Holy Spirit in a special way because they have been consecrated to Him. They will also have a devotion to the Blessed Virgin, under…

September 22, 1900

23 Sep - 23 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, III, 159, 1842.

Allow yourself to be manipulated in God’s hands. Wait in peace, gentleness and patience for his time.

September 23, 1900

23 Sep - 23 Sep

In order to contribute effectively to promoting justice, we make every effort to analyse situations, to lay bare the relationship of individual cases to structural causes" (SRL 14.1). "Because we…

September 23, 1900

24 Sep - 24 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 401, 1838.

When you go for your prayer, your soul is in a certain inner position before God. This position is always the same, this is what is called a state of…

September 24, 1900

24 Sep - 24 Sep

Libermann to M. Gaudaire, 05.07.1840. NDI, p. 571

All decisions must be made according to principles but, at the same time, the principles have to be modified, explained and adapted to the actual situation in so far as…

25 Sep - 25 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, III, 397, 1844.

Get used to gradually being deprived of sensitive graces, walk in a pure way, a way of privation where the soul goes to God and for God alone.

September 25, 1900

25 Sep - 25 Sep

Libermann to Desgenettes, 09.02.1844. NDVII, p. 37-48

It is certain that our little work for the black people owes its existence and the progress it has made in the short time since its foundation to the Immaculate…

February 9, 1844

26 Sep - 26 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, III, 602, 1848.

If you want to progress in the path of holiness. It is God who gives you this desire. It is also He who must accomplish it. Saint Paul says that…

September 26, 1900

26 Sep - 26 Sep

Père Delaplace. ND Supplement, p. 140-141

I can add, regarding the fusion of the Congregation with that of the Holy Spirit, that Père Libermann was well aware that he was going against the opinion of most…

September 26, 1900

27 Sep - 27 Sep

Cf. Notes and Documents, VII, 423, 1845.

Be faithful to the life of recollection and humility. Be moderate and pacific.

September 27, 1900

27 Sep - 27 Sep

Formal and informal education are not something on the margins of our apostolate but an integral part of our mission of evangelisation. This conviction is based on two considerations: on…

28 Sep - 28 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 22, 1838.

Do not be contented with some nice thoughts, of gentle feelings. Our holiness must be that of Jesus. That is why he sanctified himself first. Have this great and admirable…

September 28, 1900

28 Sep - 28 Sep

Libermann: Règle Provisoire 1,2

The Congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Heart of Mary is a group of priests who, sent in the name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, are totally dedicated to…

September 28, 1900

29 Sep - 29 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, III, 98, 1842.

Study the Holy Gospel and Saint Paul very well and you will find nowhere that boasting of beautiful characters are the facts for being great saints, but on every page,…

September 29, 1900

29 Sep - 29 Sep

Libermann: Commentary on St. John. 10:16

The sheep outside the house of Israel- the Gentiles who believed in one God, who observed the natural law, like Jacob, Naaman, Jethro and others- did not belong to the…

September 29, 1900

30 Sep - 30 Sep

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, 22, 1838.

The great rule of all apostolic life is holiness. Our good Master said: “I sanctify myself for them”. He wanted to sanctify the world, and for that he had to…

September 30, 1900

30 Sep - 30 Sep

Libermann to Thévaux, 02.05.1847, ND 11, p.138-140, quoted by Thomas O'Malley C.S.Sp....

As soon as you receive this letter, go to Bishop Brady and make arrangements to leave Australia as soon as possible. Go directly to Bourbon or Mauritius. If the Bishop…