Calendar

November 1900

01 Nov - 01 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, II, II, 502, 1841.

Our will, being what is the most intimate in us, its submission and total abandonment to Our Lord is something very difficult. In order to produce this effect in all…

November 1, 1900

01 Nov - 01 Nov

Consecration of Bishop Barron to Mary, 03.09.1843. Quoted in Spiritan Life no...

I dare to approach your immaculate and merciful Heart, full of confidence that you will listen to me and grant the favours that I ask. With this trust, I consecrate…

September 3, 1843

02 Nov - 02 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 411, 1838.

Abandon, abandon, always abandon, and nothing but abandon!

November 2, 1900

02 Nov - 02 Nov

Our Congregation is international and our apostolic activity usually puts us in contact with a culture different to our own. Necessarily then, our formation prepares us both for living in…

November 2, 1900

03 Nov - 03 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 352, 1851.

We must be calm like men who repose in God alone, who do only God’s work without any satisfaction for themselves, in such a way that if we succeed, we…

November 3, 1900

03 Nov - 03 Nov

Libermann: Réglements, 1849, nos.548-549

We will honour Saints Peter, Paul and John as our patrons and protectors. We will have a special devotion to John who received so much grace from the Holy Spirit…

January 1, 1849

04 Nov - 04 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 50, 1833.

A man who seeks to renounce himself in everything and to give himself completely to God, is a master of heaven, earth and of hell fire. God grants him everything…

November 4, 1900

04 Nov - 04 Nov

Libermann: Instructions for Missionnaries, Introduction. E.S. p.480-495

If God has not been pleased to give me the inestimable grace of saving others through suffering with his beloved Son, if he has not willed to make me a…

November 4, 1900

05 Nov - 05 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Writings, 475.

The man who generously embraces the perfect abnegation of himself, has a soul full of peace, ardour and energy. He is a thousand times happier than he who allows himself…

November 5, 1900

05 Nov - 05 Nov

Libermann, Instructions for Missionnaries, to be found in Directoire Spirituel p.7

I am thoroughly convinced that God has destined all of us for purposes of special mercy and sanctity. This makes me most anxious to give you these few instructions and…

November 5, 1900

06 Nov - 06 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 214, 1836.

You are filled with the Spirit of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is this Holy Spirit who alone wants to be the principle and the end of all your…

November 6, 1900

06 Nov - 06 Nov

Libermann: the story of his conversion. ND1, p.65-70

The profound solitude of that room where the only light was a small opening in the roof, the thought of being far from my family, my friends and my country,…

November 6, 1900

07 Nov - 07 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 46, 1848.

My migraines have reduced considerably since the beginning of winter, I think the summer heat will bring them back. According to God’s will! If he wants them to return to…

November 7, 1900

07 Nov - 07 Nov

St. Jean-Marie Vianney, Curé d'Ars, a contemporary of Libermann. Paroles, 1860

When a person is led by a God of strength and light, he cannot be mistaken. The Holy Spirit is strength and light: it is he who enables us to…

January 1, 1860

08 Nov - 08 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 446, 1844.

Happiness does not consist in having all the satisfactions and in succeeding in all that we desire. On the contrary, we arrive at a much happier result by the frustrations…

November 8, 1900

08 Nov - 08 Nov

St. Jean-Marie Vianney, curé d'Ars, a contemporary of Libermann. Paroles, 1860

Without the Holy Spirit, we are like a stone you find on the road. Take a wet sponge in one hand and a little stone in the other; squeeze both…

January 1, 1860

09 Nov - 09 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 517, 1849.

The missionaries will be the advocates, supports, the defenders of the feeble and the little ones, from all those who oppress them.

November 9, 1900

09 Nov - 09 Nov

The Rule of 1734, nos. 83,84,85,91

The Procurator (bursar of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit) will consider these words as addressed to him personally: 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and its justice and the…

January 1, 1734

10 Nov - 10 Nov

Cf. Notes et Documents, VI, 311, 313, 1844.

You can see how enormous the difficulties are in these countries. I am convinced that the divine Providence charges us with these so difficult and perilous missions. Remember that we…

November 10, 1900

10 Nov - 10 Nov

Libermann to M. Gamon, 20.03.1848 - ND X pp 145-151

You ask me if the clergy should take part in the elections. I believe they should, they owe it to God, to the Church and to France, and tomorrow morning,…

11 Nov - 11 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, II, 241, 1845.

The missions to which the Congregation must respond to will be among the poorest, despised peoples, whose need are very great, who are neglected in the church of God and…

November 11, 1900

11 Nov - 11 Nov

Gabriel Mbilingi: Maynooth 1:9

In an atmosphere of war, faith, hope and fraternity constitute the secret that explains the great capacity for suffering and the overcoming of difficulties which one finds in people who…

12 Nov - 12 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 516, 1849.

The missionaries, dedicated, through their divine Master, to the poorest and the most unfortunate souls, their care and tenderness will be particularly to those whose misery and neglect is greatest.

November 12, 1900

12 Nov - 12 Nov

Libermann, to the Communities of Dakar & Gabon, 19.11.1847. NDIX, 324-332

Being on the spot you see the dangers and difficulties; with your good will and your sincere desire to be God's servants and true apostles, you cannot fail to advance.…

November 19, 1847

13 Nov - 13 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 170, 1851.

To preach the Good News to the poor, that is our general goal. Nevertheless, the missions are the principal objective towards which we aim, and in the missions we have…

November 13, 1900

13 Nov - 13 Nov

Joseph Shanahan: Spiritual Diary, Onitsha, 5th October 1903, quoted in letter I,...

Thanks be to you, my God, for having preserved me up to this in your holy Apostolic Congregation. Thanks for having been so good as to send me to Africa.…

October 5, 1903

14 Nov - 14 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 170, 1851.

Providence has done our work for us through the Blacks, whether in Africa, or in the colonies. These are unquestionably the most miserable and abandoned of the populations up till…

November 14, 1900

14 Nov - 14 Nov

The Rule of Brothers, 1851, no 15. NDXI, p.487-515

The brothers will not be satisfied with simply helping the souls of these poor people towards eternal life; they will also make every effort to make their lives on this…

January 1, 1851

15 Nov - 15 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 516, 1849.

The missionaries will treat the poorest souls with a special kindness. They will provide all the help and reliefs at their disposal, without scrutinizing so much whether or not they…

November 15, 1900

15 Nov - 15 Nov

Libermann on his conversion. NDI, p.65-66

It was then that, remembering the God of my fathers, I knelt down and implored him to enlighten me on the true religion. I prayed that if the beliefs of…

November 15, 1900

16 Nov - 16 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, III, 482, 1845.

We are always happy when we are with Jesus, even when we are with him on Calvary, but we must be there with good heart.

November 16, 1900

16 Nov - 16 Nov

Guidelines for Animation, nos. 25, 29

Due to the mass media and modern means of travel, people of different countries have been brought together more and more. In these circumstances, the Holy Spirit seems to be…

November 16, 1900

17 Nov - 17 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 516, 1849.

In general, the tender love of missionaries for the men, will prompt them not to miss any opportunity to do good to them, not only the good that goes directly…

November 17, 1900

17 Nov - 17 Nov

Libermann: Notice on the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate...

At the beginning of January, 1847, Rome gave the Congregation Mgr. Truffet as its first Vicar Apostolic; before the end of the year, the society had lost this holy bishop.…

January 1, 1850

18 Nov - 18 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 517, 1849.

Missionaries will avoid some unworthy defects of an apostolic man such as: arrogant manners, contemptuous, mockery, indifferences, and all the manners of this kind that the men of this world…

November 18, 1900

18 Nov - 18 Nov

Libermann to Luquet, 04.08.1840. NDII, p.124

In spiritual direction, it is a basic principle to avoid leading people to one's own ideas and ways of acting. Any attachment to this sort of thing can have disastrous…

19 Nov - 19 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 137, 1844.

Avoid bitterness against sinners. Dilate your souls when you see sinners. Getting irritated of their most abominable sins would be to act in a way opposed to the behaviour of…

November 19, 1900

19 Nov - 19 Nov

Daniel Brottier, talking to the staff on his arrival at Auteuil, 19.11.1923

As with the four preceeding directors of Auteuil, you will find in me a great readiness and desire to be useful to you, to help you through life at a…

November 19, 1923

20 Nov - 20 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents X, 517, 1849.

The conduct of missionaries must always be directed by gentleness and a holy prudence, avoiding to act with so much vivacity against the oppressors, for fear of irritating them more.

November 20, 1900

20 Nov - 20 Nov

Libermann: Instructions to Missionaries, Ch.. IX

Union with God can be found in two ways: in practical union in reference to our everyday acts and habits, and in the contemplative union of mental prayer. Practical union…

November 20, 1900

21 Nov - 21 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 125, 1848.

We will do all that we can to develop this Christian charity between the rich and the poor people, the White and Black people, which makes all men consider themselves…

November 21, 1900

21 Nov - 21 Nov

In our communities, each and all are looked upon as confreres received from the Lord. Each individual, young, old, in sickness and in health, has gifts from which all draw…

November 21, 1900

22 Nov - 22 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, IX, 248, 1847.

In general you must cultivate a liking for everyone regardless of their opinions on religious principles and their opinion about yourselves. They must be given the freedom to think and…

November 22, 1900

22 Nov - 22 Nov

Libermann: Commentary on St. John, 4:11

As Our Lord talked to this sinful woman, he was touching her heart with his grace and gradually bringing her enlightenment. She understood nothing of what he was saying; she…

November 22, 1900

23 Nov - 23 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, IX, 248, 1847.

Never a man in the world is capable of forcing either the consciences, the will, or the intelligences of his fellow human being. God did not want to do it,…

November 23, 1900

23 Nov - 23 Nov

Libermann: Presentation of the "Memorandum on Missions", 15.08.1846. NDVIII, p.219-220

It is relatively easy to undertake a mission and to try to be success-ful with the grace of God. But to draw all one's resources together to increase, spread and…

August 15, 1846

24 Nov - 24 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, II, 287, 1845.

The missionaries will exercise great kindness especially towards the most hardened sinners, towards the feeble souls and the sick, and not towards the vices or the inclinations which hold them…

November 24, 1900

24 Nov - 24 Nov

P. Joaquim Alves Correia C.S.Sp.: "Vida mais Alta"

If we see the rights to life and essential needs of the poor being trampled on, we must speak out and condemn the perpetrators, even if the world of the…

November 24, 1900

25 Nov - 25 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 446, 1844.

We have happiness in us when we possess God.

November 25, 1900

25 Nov - 25 Nov

Daniel Brottier: Roman document, "Copia Publica", p.256

Nothing can be too good for the orphans. These children, deprived of the joys of family life, should find a new family, by way of compensation, in the Oeuvre d'Auteuil.…

November 25, 1900

26 Nov - 26 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 137, 1844.

Be always full of reverence to the priests who do not do their duty. We must win them and not to be embittered against them. If we are irritated against…

November 26, 1900

26 Nov - 26 Nov

Frans Timmermans, Superior General: Letter of April, 1976

We may safely say that by this internationality, we shall make ourselves a much clearer sign of what Mission is all about: bringing together, reconciling in Christ, breaking down walls.…

27 Nov - 27 Nov

Cf. Notes and Documents, X, 540, 1849.

True charity will be effective. We will not be contented to have it in the heart. It must be manifested by the intimate relationships that one will have with all…

November 27, 1900

27 Nov - 27 Nov

John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, no.95

The Synod Fathers affirmed that today, more than ever before, there is a need to form future priests in the true cultural values of their country, in a sense of…

September 14, 1995

28 Nov - 28 Nov

Our principal virtue is the zeal for the salvation of souls. The purpose of our vocation is not the question of practicing poverty, it must be for us, a means…

November 28, 1900

28 Nov - 28 Nov

Pontifical Council for the Instruments of Social Communication: Communio et Progressio, January,...

Every communication must comply with certain essential requirements, and these are sincerity, honesty and truthfulness. Good intentions and a clear conscience do not thereby make a communication sound and reliable.…

January 31, 1971

29 Nov - 29 Nov

Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 137, 1844.

Be kind to sinners, be kind to yourself, humble and peaceful in the presence of God, patient in all the evils that surround you. You will see, God will help…

November 29, 1900

29 Nov - 29 Nov

Libermann: Commentary on St. John, 4:15

Jesus, give me this water to satisfy my soul; without it, I am likely to give in to passions and seek sustenance from earthly goods. My passions are very much…

November 29, 1900

30 Nov - 30 Nov

Cf. Commentary of Saint John, 119, 1940.

It is an admirable thing to see, how the divine Providence takes care of the circumstances for the execution of his plans for the salvation of souls. We therefore do…

November 30, 1900

30 Nov - 30 Nov

Léopold de Régnier in his last letter to Libermann. NDV, p.263

If we could start all over again, I would do it a thousand times more. I would not change my place for all the goods in the world. Please, notify…

November 30, 1900