Discover & Make Known the Love of God
May Mater keep us throughout our busy and overcrowded days in the radiance of the things that are not seen. Marie Therese de Lescure October 20th marks the Feast Day of Mater Admirabilis Many internet sites cover the story of Mater Admirabilis including this charming YouTube clip, which is delightful. Many thanks to the Sacred Heart Grade 11 girls in Halifax who prepared this video for the Feast of Mater Admirabilis October 20, 2014
St Madeleine Sophie Barat was initially attracted to the Carmelites, a contemplative religious institute devoted to prayer whose members live in enclosure. Sophie became convinced that, rather than withdrawing from the world into prayer, God wanted her to combine prayer with action in the world. – are your prayer and action part of a single movement like breathing in and breathing out? – do your give more weight to prayer or to action? – in what areas could your contemplation of the world and your action in it be more congruent?
Esmey Herscovitch RSCJ reflects on the transfiguration, and sees in it three invitations for us. How might we accept them? Reflection Surprisingly today the gospel reading (Luke 9:28-36) tells the story of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, a contrast to the story of last week, that of the temptations of Jesus in the desert. The transfiguration was a moment of consolation and affirmation for Jesus in contrast to the desert experience with its moments of desolation and temptation. Jesus is said to have appeared in glory – he was radiant; perhaps thinking of newlyweds or a mother with a new baby may give us an inkling of radiance;
Pope Francis has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. It began on 8 December 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. It ends on 20 November 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King. We are invited to “gaze even more attentively on mercy” and to dedicate this year to “living out in our daily lives the mercy which the Father constantly extends to all of us” (Misericordiae Vultus, n 2 & 25). This leaflet is offered to encourage participation in the Jubilee of Mercy through the practice of contemplation. The contemplative approach of the Society of the Sacred
The Fifth International Conference of Heads of Sacred Heart Schools was held in Mexico City 21-25 October 2015. The theme was Faced with the Complexity of the World, An Interior Journey. English translations of the keynote addresses are now available on the International website of the Society of the Sacred Heart here. They explore the contemplative path in today’s complex reality, looking particularly at the world of young people, and the charism of the Society of the Sacred Heart.
One of the qualities of leadership that the Province Framework for Formation for Mission seeks to foster is contemplative leadership. Province Director of Mission, Sandie Cornish reflects on Mater Admirabilis as a model of contemplative leadership, drawing on the different depictions of Mater painted by Pauline Perdrau over the years. Mater Admirabilis Model of Contemplative Leadership A collection of these paintings, collected by Margaret Phelan, the Director of General Archives of the Society of the Sacred Heart, can be viewed here.
In this podcast Why Christians Should Shut Up Dr Matthew Tan reflects on the virtue of silence, which leads us into contemplation. “In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth; we understand with greater clarity what it is we want to say and what we expect from others; and we choose how to express ourselves.” – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI More from Dr Tan at his blog The Divine Wedgie
General Chapter 2008 described the international priorities which it discerned as five doors to the spirituality of the Society of the Sacred Heart. This prezi highlights some of the things that the chapter said about dialogue, contemplation, community, justice, peace and the integrity of creation, and our priority for young people. It includes a prayer for each priority adapted from the words of the Chapter 2008 document.
The words of wisdom on this prayer card come from Sabine de Valon, who was Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart 1958-1967. The image is of the 2012 Procession of the Lanterns at Sacre Coeur School of the Sacred Heart in Melbourne.