Posts

1057-1104 of 1836
Anne-Marie Javouhey to Sister Claire of Madagascar
"I really admire the way Providence works. Imagine him choosing us country bumpkins for such a wonderful mission! It's his work so he will give us the grace to succeed.… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
Never be dismayed by the difficulties you experience. They must never discourage you. You do not come in your own name, it is not you who will do the work,… fr pt
"The Superior General confirms his fellow members in their Spiri-tan calling, in keeping with the spirit of the founders and the living tradition of the Institute. He makes the unity…
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
You have, now and in the future, much to suffer. Remember that it is for God you suffer, who will reward you a hundredfold, in this world, for all the… fr pt
"At the time when Thér"se of the Child Jesus decided to take over the running of the house for orphans at Auteuil, the situation was pretty desperate. All the hard…
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
You have much to suffer, now and in the future. Remember that it is for God you suffer, who will recompense you a hundred fold in this world for all… fr pt
"Our founders were quoted many times and the Chapter gave its approval to a programme for making us more aware of our tradi-tion. This was in answer to an increased…
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
Be courageous, my dear brothers, devote yourselves to the glory of God and the salvation of so many souls. fr pt
"After an attentive study of the documentÀ the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes recognises that this Rule of Life commits Spiritans to respond to the needs of evangelisation in…
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 303, 1843.
If we had powerful means at hand, we would not accomplish much good. Now that we are nothing, that we have nothing and are worth nothing, we can form great… fr pt
"Members of the Congregation will devote themselves in a special way to the practise of holy poverty, perfect detachment from the goods of the earth and a total indifference to…
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 303, 1843.
We are all a poor lot brought together by the Master’s will, who alone is our hope. fr pt
"We may never overlook the truth which Libermann so strongly inculcated upon his sons and which the Council has recalled, that 'the missionary must be a man of prayer', centring…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 455, 1847.
God has chosen you to be the first stones of the building. If the first stones of a building are not well placed, all the others will be crooked. You… fr pt
Guide for Spiritan Formation, 1966: no. 7
We find the source of our formation in the call received from the Lord to follow him, to imitate him and to let ourselves be trans-formed by him (SRL 101).… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 709, 1851.
Community life has been adopted in the Congregation as something essential, with the express intention of forewarning the missionaries against exterior dangers and to maintain them in the religious fervour… fr pt
Libermann to Gamon. N.D.X : p. 323
Financial problems were in no way behind my decision to enter into negotiations (regarding fusion with the Spiritans): we are cer-tainly not rich, but things are not too bad since… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 709, 1851.
In order for our missionaries to have external grace to strengthen them against external world, we have community life which shelters them from the external rocks of the world, as… fr pt
John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, 117-118
Together with the Synod Fathers, I urge a serious commitment to foster conditions of greater social justice and good government on the African continent, in order to prepare the ground… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 269, 1843.
Do not be surprised if people judge you, condemn you and annoy you unceasingly. By venting their bad temper on you they will be more peaceful with others. Look at… fr pt
P. Joaquim Alves Correia, Vida Mais Alta
Rather than sacrifice justice and goodness, I have accepted to be persecuted. It is those who persecute who are miserable; to suffer for justice, to be punished for the sake… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 461, 1838.
The spirit of our Divine Master is in you, let him be the master in everything but especially in the word of God that you proclaim. fr pt
General Chapter, 1980. No. 108
Growing numbers of young people are choosing our Institute. Aware of this new phenomenon, the Congregation extended the scope of its welcome to offer young people of different continents every… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 709, 1851.
During the novitiate, it is something like rowing a boat, then on becoming an apostle, one sets out to the sea and the sails have to be unfurled, because it… fr pt
"Our evangelising work for justice is inspired by the charity of Christ which is poured into our hearts by his Spirit who is given to us. It is that same…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 463, 1847.
Do not listen easily to the words of people who walk along the coast, when they tell you about the people they have. Hear what they say to you, but… fr pt
"Our Lord came to save everybody; he sacrificed himself for all from the worst to the best, so his whole attitude as a priest is one of reconciliation and salvation…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
A strong and truly apostolic soul is always calm, gentle, and unshakable in the midst of pains and contradictions. It is never sad, gloomy, agitated, abrupt, sullen, silent, nor a… fr pt
"Nothing is too good for the orphans! These children, who have been deprived of all the joys of family life, must find a new family at Auteuil, a certain comfort…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
Be faithful and you will advance greatly in holiness. fr pt
"Before his conversion, M. des Places found it impossible to live on the allowance he was given; after his conversion, he found it was enough not just for his own…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
The climates in which you live act strongly on the sensitivity and imagination. You will be more inclined to be agitated, to become embittered, to be more irritated than before.… fr pt
"Eighteen years ago I first came in contact with you. I had been in Africa for eighteen years before that, and now, at the close of my life I am…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
If you know how to be patient now, you are sure of success, of a solid and stable success. Be rest assured that everything that is carried out by onslaught… fr pt
"For the good of your proposed work for the black people, I think it is almost indispensable that it be undertaken by a religious congre-gation. If it were something isolated…
Cf. Commentary from the Provisional Rule, 125, 1845.
The union which should reign among us must be a union of mind and heart. Not to wish to subject others to our own ideas, especially not to become annoyed… fr pt
"Our mission is always that of the Congregation, recognised as such through a process of discernment and accepted in obedience in ac-cord with the Rule of Life... Whatever may be…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
When you happen not to be of the same opinion as your confreres, lose your judgement in the general opinion. Avoid inflexibility in your judgement, in your words, in your… fr pt
"The older Provinces are realising that Spiritan mission is also in their own back yard, so, for example, they are taking on commit-ments in the service of immigrants, refugees and…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
Live together in union and in the most perfect peace of charity, support one another mutually, put up with your faults, ease your mutual troubles, comfort your confreres, do not… fr pt
"Some Provinces are becoming increasingly weak and lack the per-sonnel to continue their commitments. They need the help of the Congregation. They could get this from the other older Provinces…
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
Avoid rigidity in your judgement, in your words, in your desires, in your conduct. Nothing good can ever come out from rigidity. fr pt
"The supreme test is the giving of one's life, to the point of accept-ing death in order to bear witness to one's faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout Christian history, martyrs,…
Cf. Notes and Documents, II, 290, 1840.
Apostolic life is nothing other than the life of holiness which the Son of God led on earth to save and sanctify souls, and by which he sanctify himself to… fr pt
"Abandonment is the perfection of patience. When one has reached this state, the person rests in God, gives himself up completely and no longer wants to act of himself. He…
Cf. Notes and Documents, VIII, 113, 1844.
Leave each one then in his condition and way of living. God made them as they are. They are disposed to do everything for the best. You must encourage them… fr pt
(Jean Paul II, at the Mosque of Omeyyades at Damascus, 06.05.2001)
"It is important that Muslims and Christians continue to explore philosophical and theological questions together, in order to come to a more objective and comprehensive knowledge of each other's religious… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 293, 1843.
How can one be a servant and for the authority of Jesus Christ to be respected? By living as He did. Let your conduct be holy, modest, serious, peaceful, even,… fr pt
1057-1104 of 1836