Dear All,
Today, February 16, the anniversary of the founding of the SSM Congregation, marking the arrival of Mother Frances in Rome in 1883, we begin our journey of reflection on her virtues.
Virtue is a disposition to habitually do good in practical ways, helping us to develop within ourselves the very feelings of Jesus—a loving heart.
Thus, returning to the origins of our history is not like going to a museum to see things that may be beautiful but are no longer alive. Rather, it means drawing on the life-giving strength that sustained Mother Frances on her journey, so that we too may continue to receive light and encouragement for our lives and our mission, as the personal reflections that many of you have shared attest.
I would like to begin our journey with these words of Pope Francis at the opening of the Holy Door on Christmas Eve.
“Sisters and brothers, this is our hope. God is Emmanuel, God-with-us. The infinitely great has made himself tiny; divine light has shone amid the darkness of our world; the glory of heaven has appeared on earth. … All of us have received the gift and task of bringing hope wherever hope has been lost, lives broken, promises unkept, dreams shattered and hearts overwhelmed by adversity. We are called to bring hope to the weary who have no strength to carry on, the lonely oppressed by the bitterness of failure, and all those who are broken-hearted. To bring hope to the interminable, dreary days of prisoners, to the cold and dismal lodgings of the poor, and to all those places desecrated by war and violence. To bring hope there, to sow hope there. … Dear sister, dear brother, on this night the “holy door” of God’s heart lies open before you. Jesus, God-with-us, is born for you, for me, for us, for every man and woman. And remember that with him, joy flourishes; with him, life changes; with him, hope does not disappoint.”
Let us walk together, bearers of hope, there where we live and love, accompanied by the example of Ven. Mother Frances.
Sr. Samuela Maria Rigon
General Superior