WELLSPRINGS
|
|
ADORATION CONVENT OF DIVINE MERCY
HOLY SPIRIT DRIVE, BRGY. MAITIM II EAST 4120 TAGAYTAY CITY, PHILIPPINES |
A PUBLICATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ADORATION SISTERS (SSpSAP)
Newsletter: October - November 2021
Newsletter: October - November 2021
“The Holy Rosary represents a symbol of Mary’s Graces. Christians invoke her as the “Queen of the most Holy Rosary”, which conjures up the most brilliant conquests of faith over evil and over the faithful’s religious ignorance.” Venerable Pope Pius XII |
An October Prayer
Mother, at thy feet is kneeling One who loves thee…it’s thy child Who has sighed so oft’ to see thee, Bless me, Mother, Mother mild. And when storms are raging round me, And when tempests hover near, In thy own sweet arms enfold me, Shield me, Mother, Mother dear. Mother, when my Savior calls me From this world of sin and strife, Clasp me upon thy spotless bosom Let me bid farewell to life. Plead for me when Jesus judges, Answer for me when He asks How I’ve spent so many moments, How performed so many tasks. Tell Him I was weak and feeble. Yes, that I so often strayed From the thorny path of virtue To the one with roses laid. Yet, O Mother, tell my Jesus That I loved Him fond and true And, Mother, dearest Mother, Tell Him I belong to you. Then He’ll place me (yes, I feel it) Close to thee, O Mother dear, Then I’ll praise and bless and thank thee Through eternity’s long years. Amen.
|
The Power of One Hail Mary
St. Mechtilde, who loved Our Lady very much, was one day striving to compose a beautiful prayer in her honor. Our Lady appeared to her, with the golden letters on her breast of: “HAIL MARY FULL OF GRACE.” She said to her: “Desist, dear child, from your labor for no prayer you could possibly compose would give me the joy and delight of the HAIL MARY
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
|
Outer Calm Flows from Inner DepthOuter calm flows from inner depth. This makes me think of Mary who pondered all things in her heart – an inner depth which exudes in peace and serenity; an outer calm even during the passion of Christ, her beloved Son. This is inner strength from the presence of the Holy Spirit in her. From her depths was her Song of Praise, the Magnificat. Let us live Mary’s Magnificat. Like her, to rejoice in God’s wonders in our life – springing from an inner depth pouring itself in praise and exultation in God who makes us great in our littleness. An abiding experience of PEACE – SHALOM ensues.
The Simplicity of the Contemplative Life
… seen in the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at but emptied himself becoming man for our sake he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, death on the cross (see Phil 2:6-8). This kenosis is the simplicity of a God made man, the all-holy one, who gave up his life to bring man back to God! He gave up his ALL to bring Man to the ALL. The way to come to the ALL is to lose ALL. The way is the way of simplicity. (cf John of the Cross)
|
Like Christ, we must lose all to attain to the Eternal All. The contemplative life is the search for God alone, to be with God who is All. This is singleness of purpose. It is purity of vision undimmed by the clutters of worldly life.
Mary’s simplicity is pronounced in her Fiat, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” This surrender is nurtured by her pondering heart perfecting in her singleness of purpose and purity of vision the one vision of losing herself to do God’s holy will.
Like Mary, the contemplative ponders and keeps the word of God in her heart which purifies her purpose and vision – a way to simplicity, to the All Simple One. (cf John of the Cross)
The annunciation of the angel to St. Joseph about God’s plan of salvation evoked his “Fiat”, ”be it done to me according to your word.” Henceforth, he put aside his own plans. His whole life was directed by God alone as foster father of Jesus and guardian of both Jesus and Mary. It is singleness of purpose and purity of vision. The simplicity of St. Joseph honored the Simple One, the Absolute, AllHoly One!
The way to simplicity is the way of obedience, inseparable from humility. It is singleness of purpose and purity of vision, the life embraced by the contemplative. The fruit of simplicity is joy, the joy radiating in the faces of the contemplatives.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph simplicity is the fullness of being. The contemplative spirituality in seeking the face of God by way of simplicity holds to the primacy of being. It is being before doing or having. The contemplative life is simply life, life in its fullest sense. It is not primarily concerned with doing anything or having something. The central point is the development of the core of the human person to its fullest – our relationship with God, the Simple One, and in him with all human beings and creation.
(cf from the Canon of the Disciple)
Mary’s simplicity is pronounced in her Fiat, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” This surrender is nurtured by her pondering heart perfecting in her singleness of purpose and purity of vision the one vision of losing herself to do God’s holy will.
Like Mary, the contemplative ponders and keeps the word of God in her heart which purifies her purpose and vision – a way to simplicity, to the All Simple One. (cf John of the Cross)
The annunciation of the angel to St. Joseph about God’s plan of salvation evoked his “Fiat”, ”be it done to me according to your word.” Henceforth, he put aside his own plans. His whole life was directed by God alone as foster father of Jesus and guardian of both Jesus and Mary. It is singleness of purpose and purity of vision. The simplicity of St. Joseph honored the Simple One, the Absolute, AllHoly One!
The way to simplicity is the way of obedience, inseparable from humility. It is singleness of purpose and purity of vision, the life embraced by the contemplative. The fruit of simplicity is joy, the joy radiating in the faces of the contemplatives.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph simplicity is the fullness of being. The contemplative spirituality in seeking the face of God by way of simplicity holds to the primacy of being. It is being before doing or having. The contemplative life is simply life, life in its fullest sense. It is not primarily concerned with doing anything or having something. The central point is the development of the core of the human person to its fullest – our relationship with God, the Simple One, and in him with all human beings and creation.
(cf from the Canon of the Disciple)
Psalm of Renewal
|
May the power of God this day enable us, The transparency of God disarm us, The beauty of God silence us, The justice of God give us voice, The integrity of God hold us, The desire of God move us, The fear of God expose us to the truth, The breath of God give us abundant life.
Visit us, God of Good News as we come together in praise, To work in prayer and dialogue at opening ourselves more fully to your presence in our lives. Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, women and men of history, known and unknown, we drink deep of the wisdom and fidelity of the past and prepare for the future. Come, renew our hearts. Renew the structures that order our lives. Renew the lifestyle that structure our days. Renew the earth with countless initiatives for justice and peace and freedom and life now and every day. Amen. We began our community retreat with this prayer, Psalm of Renewal, and this same prayer encapsulated the close of the retreat by Msgr. Gerry Santos from June 14 – June 21, 2021. May it be a daily prayer of the heart to ensure the fruits of the retreat to last for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. God bless you, Msgr. Santos. Thank you! |
|
Announcements for the October and November Devotion
Our October Rosary Devotion is at 5:30 p.m. following our Vespers (Evening Prayer). We unite with all peoples praying for the end of the pandemic and for world peace. You may send your other intentions which we would gladly include the whole month of October. The month of November is dedicated to the holy souls in purgatory. You may send us the names of your beloved departed. We will remember them in our daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, day and night adoration, other prayers and sacrifices the whole month of November. God bless you!
I will celebrate your love forever Yahweh; age after age my words shall proclaim Your faithfulness (Ps.89:1)
Towards the end of this year, 2021, on separate dates, our two Jubilarians, Sr. Mary Agnes and Sr. Joanna Marie will renew their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the presence of the community and only close members of their families because of the pandemic’s restrictions. The pandemic, however, could not lessen in any way their joy and gratitude to God for the gift of vocation and above all, for God’s love and faithfulness through all these years. God be praised is the song of their hearts!
