Viva Memoria N. 38
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Viva Memoria n. 38 The Redemptoristine's Theological Journal July 2016 Viva Memoria n.38 E D I T O R I A L VIVA MEMORIA – n. 38 July 2016 THE REDEMPTORISTINE’S THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL Dear Redemptoristine Sisters, Dear Redemptorists, Dear Readers, Welcome! Yes, welcome to this publication of ‘your’ Theological Journal. In the name of the members of the Service Board we wish you happy but more importantly, informed and inspired reading from the articles you will find in this Journal. Since the last Journal, the younger, better ‘the more recently professed’ Sisters, met in Scala for a meeting (27.07-03.08.2016) The subject of the meeting was inspired by the words of Pope Francis’ in his letter to the Religious for the Year Dedicated to the Consecrated. We quote the Holy Father’s own words as addressed to the Consecrated: “… looking to the past with gratitude, living the present with Passion and looking into the future with hope” (Pope Francis). The meeting was graced with the presence of Rev. Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R., the Redemptorists’ Superior General, who spoke of some perspectives for the future of our Order. Sister Imma Di Stefano, O.Ss.R., the prioress of the Scala community, gave a gracious welcome address to all the participants, expressing the joy of her community as the hostesses of this meeting. (Sister Imma’s welcome address will be printed here in its entirety. It is the first article.) Sister Imma (of Scala) is well qualified to speak of “THE REDEMPTORISTINE CHARISM.” Her article follows her welcome address. In this article Sister Imma adequately covers the highlights of our charism: Community, the Gospels, the Eucharist and Prayer. Mother Maria Celeste spoke to us, in images. This article entitled: - 2 Viva Memoria n.38 “M. Celeste and Some of Her Images” by Sister Ewa Dobrzelecka, O.Ss.R., gathers together many of these beautiful images for our reflections. Sister Ewa points out that Mother Celeste did not tell us to look at herself but to “Look at the sun and see the ‘Light of the World,’… light, created as a symbol of the divine Sun.” In this article we read that Mother Celeste compares God to: “… an OCEAN and we are just a drop of water in this OCEAN.” You will find in this article an image to inspire you to “look to the “Light of the World, the Ocean,” of an image of your preference. The next article by Rev. Alfonso Amarante, C.Ss.R. is very timely as it is a faithful commentary on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, proclaiming a “Year of the Consecrated.” Father Amarante has aptly shown how Redemptoristines can look at the “past with gratitude,” especially for Blessed M. M. Celeste. No suffering or trials were too much for her in her love for Jesus. The high light of Father’s article is “love.” Jesus to Celeste: “I gave My WILL, by loving you with the same divine love with which I love My heavenly Father, having given My own life for your eternal salvation.” Our History and Pilgrimages: The participants of the Scala meeting were delighted to have the opportunity to visit the monasteries, etc. which will always remain a very important, not to be forgotten - aspect of our beginnings. First and foremost is Scala. Sister Giovanna Lauritano, O.Ss.R. has written well on the origin and history of Scala, our first monastery and how Scala also became the first Redemptorist community of St. Alphonsus and his first followers. Sant’ Agata – Sister Anna Maria Ceneri, O.Ss.R. writes well for us on the Bishopric See of St. Alphonsus. After becoming a Bishop of St. Agatha, it did not take Alphonsus very long to call upon the Redemptoristines of Scala to establish a monastery in St. Agatha to pray for his Diocese. Perhaps it is proper to say, as Sister indicates, the Redemptoristines of Sant’Agata are keeping alive the remembrance of St. Alphonsus in St. Agatha. A must for this meeting of the newly professed at Scala, was a visit to Foggia! Sister Angela Severo, a Redemptoristine of Foggia, welcomed the Sisters to her community, which is blessed with the mortal remains of Mother Maria Celeste. In Sister’s welcome address, she presented a concise and very inspirational summary of the teaching of Mother M. Celeste. Fittingly, Sister Angela concludes her welcome on an Easter note of joy: “… 3 Viva Memoria n.38 We cannot be silent about the greatest joy we have in our hearts – the Beatification of our Mother Maria Celeste – Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!” Dublin – Ireland: We move on now into other parts of non-Italian Europe. Sister Monica Boggan, O.Ss.R. writes about the founding of her community in Ireland in 1859. This community grew rapidly and had sufficient members to send six Sisters to bring the Redemptoristines to England. Sister Monica says it well: “… The monastery remains in the heart of Dublin and plays a pivotal role in the local community.” Cebu – Philipppines: We move forward as Sister Alice Agosto, O.Ss.R. – “ … Looks to the past with gratitude.” Her community has a motto: “Living in love and for love, burning continuously until My fire becomes your fire.” This motto helps the Sisters to live fervently in the present. Appendix Magadalena Chojnowska, a novice of the Bielsko-Biala, (Poland) community has chosen a good topic for a beginner in the Redemptoristine life: “Has a Mystic of more than 250 years ago anything to say to the youth of today?” Novice Magdalena thinks that our Mother Maria Celeste has plenty to say to the young ladies of our day. To mention one quality of our Mystic, which speaks to today’s youth; “… she took the responsibility of her own conscience.” Witnesses: We conclude the articles and sharings of the participants of the Scala meeting with testimonies of two novices as they begin their long journey to profession as a Redemptoristine. Firstly: Novice Lodovica of Scala – Leaving behind interesting and different experiences, Lodovica felt the call to enter the Redemptoristines at Scala. Her call came while she was attending the “World Youth Day in Madrid.” We will use one quote from Novice Lodovica’s story: “Let him alone fly who dares to do so … !” Lodovica dared to fly and this was the spark that lighted her way to Scala. Novice Izabela, of Bielsko Biała, Poland tells her story and how she felt the Lord’s call to the Religious Life. Her monastery of choice is with the Redemptoristines of Bielsko, where she is living now. She assures us: “I am very grateful to God and happy that He chose me for the Redemptoristine Family.” Sr. Joan Calver, O.Ss.R. and the Service Board 4 Viva Memoria n.38 Index Editorial Welcome to Scala Sr. Imma Di Stefano. O.Ss.R., Scala The Redemptoristine charism Sr. Imma Di Stefano, O.Ss.R., Scala M. Celeste and some of her images Sr. Ewa Dobrzelecka, O.Ss.R., Bielsko-Biała Hope in the consecrated life Fr. Alfonso V. Amarante, C.Ss.R. Our history and our pilgrimages … The monastery of SCALA and its history Sr. Giovana Lauritano, O.Ss.R., Scala Alphonsus Maria de Liguori and Maria Celeste Crostarosa - a profound and sincere friendship Sr. Anna Maria Ceneri, O.Ss.R., S. Agata dei Goti Welcome to the Monastery of the Most Holy Saviour, Sr. Angela Severo, OSsR, Foggia The History of the Redemptoristines in Dublin Sr. Monica Boggan, O.Ss.R., Dublin Redemptoristine Nuns, Philippines - history Appendix Has a mystic who lived more than two hundred and fifty years ago anything to say to the youth of today? Magdalena Chojnowska, O.Ss.R. novice, Bielsko-Biała Witnesses My vocation, Lodovica d’Amato, O.Ss.R. novice, Scala Izabela Stokłosa, O.Ss.R. novice, Bielsko Biała 5 Viva Memoria n.38 Sr. Petra Maria Amershuber, O.Ss.R., Dublin John Bradbury, Australia Elisabeth Chestnut, U.S.A. Sr. Magdalena Chojnowska, O.Ss.R. Bielsko Sr. Maria D’Amato, O.Ss.R., Scala, Sr. Ewa Dobrzelecka, O.Ss.R, Bielsko Sr. Hilde de Paepe, O.Ss.R., Dublin Peter Gross, Germany Fr. Emilo Lage, CSsR, Rome Rafael Leon, Puerto Rico Sr. Chantal Lussier, O.Ss.R., Canada Fr. Patrice Nyanda, C.Ss.R., Sr. Magdalena Schumann, O.Ss.R., Dublin Fr. Damian Wall, C.Ss.R., Puerto Rico 6 Viva Memoria n.38 Welcome to Scala Sr. Imma Di Stefano. O.Ss.R., Scala Dearest Sisters and dearest Fathers, WELCOME TO SCALA! In the name of the whole community I am communicating our joy at welcoming you, with the hope that this meeting can be the first of many others…! I believe that your presence here today is an important signal for the whole Order. Your communities have certainly made a great sacrifice in permitting you to participate in this meeting and this is an indication of the will and desire to increasingly be a single great Redemptoristine family, a single great community which undertakes to share, communicate and journey together and therefore to grow… With these few words I would like to introduce you to the theme that we shall be developing in these days, and of which in reality you will be the principal protagonists. As you have already read in the programme that was sent to you by Sr. Ewa, we shall be seeking to deepen our specific Redemptoristine charism according to the guidelines that Pope Francis gave us in his letter to consecrated religious in this particular year dedicated to the religious life. The Pope’s first suggestion is “to look at the past with gratitude”.