WELLSPRINGS
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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 2019
Newsletter: October - November 2019
The Mystery of Suffering
From the crib at Bethlehem to the cross at Mt. Calvary is CHRIST, God-mademan. Christ has to take on our humanity because as God he cannot suffer. However, as God alone can he offer fitting atonement for our sins against God. So, Christ has to be both God-man. This is the purpose of the Incarnation. As God-made-flesh he can offer himself as sacrifice for our reconciliation with God. He is both priest and victim.
Why did he choose to suffer to such a great extent, going through his passion and death on the cross? Is it the Father’s will? It could have been done less than the Passion itself for any act of Christ would be of infinite value. Why then all the suffering he bore unto his death on the cross?
The Father wills to inspire on us that Christ, his Son, took on himself our sins – the sins of fallen humanity, which includes our personal sins, and to make us see in his suffering and death the horror and the ugliness of sin, the malice of sin, the enormity of evil.
The picture of evil and holiness is Christ on the cross. This is itself is the answer to the mystery of suffering, of human suffering. It does not end here. Human life is subject to suffering. But we have Christ! After the cross, we have the empty tomb. We have the Resurrection. He has overcome. Hence, for a believer, everything is replete with meaning unto eternal glory – eternal life with God which we now have in the Eucharist! Sufferings are transformed into eternal glory because we have Christ! Look to the end to understand the meaning of suffering; what the Lord has prepared for all who suffer with him, no eye nor ear have heard of the glory we are to share forever with Christ.
From St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein): “There is a vocation for suffering with Christ and by that it means more involvement in his salvation… Christ continues to live and suffer in his members. The suffering gone through in union with the Lord is his suffering and is a fruitful part of the great plan of salvation.” – the end which will surely come.
Heinrich Roth writes, “The fact that Jesus willed to save through his cross should change the mind of every man who thinks it possible to live upon this earth without suffering.”
Why did he choose to suffer to such a great extent, going through his passion and death on the cross? Is it the Father’s will? It could have been done less than the Passion itself for any act of Christ would be of infinite value. Why then all the suffering he bore unto his death on the cross?
The Father wills to inspire on us that Christ, his Son, took on himself our sins – the sins of fallen humanity, which includes our personal sins, and to make us see in his suffering and death the horror and the ugliness of sin, the malice of sin, the enormity of evil.
The picture of evil and holiness is Christ on the cross. This is itself is the answer to the mystery of suffering, of human suffering. It does not end here. Human life is subject to suffering. But we have Christ! After the cross, we have the empty tomb. We have the Resurrection. He has overcome. Hence, for a believer, everything is replete with meaning unto eternal glory – eternal life with God which we now have in the Eucharist! Sufferings are transformed into eternal glory because we have Christ! Look to the end to understand the meaning of suffering; what the Lord has prepared for all who suffer with him, no eye nor ear have heard of the glory we are to share forever with Christ.
From St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein): “There is a vocation for suffering with Christ and by that it means more involvement in his salvation… Christ continues to live and suffer in his members. The suffering gone through in union with the Lord is his suffering and is a fruitful part of the great plan of salvation.” – the end which will surely come.
Heinrich Roth writes, “The fact that Jesus willed to save through his cross should change the mind of every man who thinks it possible to live upon this earth without suffering.”
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St. JosephScripture calls Joseph as a just man. In Hebrew a just man means a good and faithful servant of God, obedient to God. Indeed, Joseph followed God’s holy will. He did and fulfilled what God wanted him to do. He is the chosen foster father of Jesus, the guardian of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He was faithful to his role as head of the Holy Family. Good and charitable, he did his work dutifully as a carpenter.
This is what it means to be just: to love and serve God and neighbor. Let us prove our love by keeping his commandments, following his will and being charitable and forgiving towards others. Let us take St. Joseph as our model in our state of life. Like St. Joseph we are also called to respond to God’s plan for us. Our fellow men and women are God’s signs to us of the response of love he asks of us. Our response must also be a sign to God that he can rely on our sharing his goodness to others. Let us reflect on how we can be signs of God’s love to others. (cf Fr. Lawrence de Peralta, SSP) |
A Blessed Easter
Easter is the feast of all feasts, the highest feast of our faith! Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! Christ is alive! It was Mary Magdalene who was the first to announce his Resurrection. From Jn 20: 18, “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’”. And she told them all that Jesus said to her.
Sr. M. Assumpta and Sisters wish you dear readers the fullness of the blessings of his Paschal Mystery to proclaim his Resurrection in your life, in all you do, to all you meet, at work, at home, in school and everywhere. Radiate the JOY of Easter. May the Risen Lord make each one of us the person of his PEACE, JOY, and LOVE! Blessed Easter to all! God’s salvation be upon everyone!
Sr. M. Assumpta and Sisters wish you dear readers the fullness of the blessings of his Paschal Mystery to proclaim his Resurrection in your life, in all you do, to all you meet, at work, at home, in school and everywhere. Radiate the JOY of Easter. May the Risen Lord make each one of us the person of his PEACE, JOY, and LOVE! Blessed Easter to all! God’s salvation be upon everyone!
Celebrating the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday
……by thanking God for the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
“…the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Rm. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16)
“The presence of the Spirit within the heart of each believer makes them directly present to each other and to every human being – present in their very depths, at the very source of their existence, long before any thought, either loving or divisive, could possibly come into their hearts. In the Spirit each one lives in the very depths of every other person – in the same way as the Father and the Son live from each other and in each other.” (Abhishiktananda, Prayer, A Mystery of Faith, pp. 12-24)
“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Rm 8:26) The Spirit is always alive in our heart. “Prayer is the life of the Spirit of Jesus within our human heart.” (John Main)
“…the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Rm. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16)
“The presence of the Spirit within the heart of each believer makes them directly present to each other and to every human being – present in their very depths, at the very source of their existence, long before any thought, either loving or divisive, could possibly come into their hearts. In the Spirit each one lives in the very depths of every other person – in the same way as the Father and the Son live from each other and in each other.” (Abhishiktananda, Prayer, A Mystery of Faith, pp. 12-24)
“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Rm 8:26) The Spirit is always alive in our heart. “Prayer is the life of the Spirit of Jesus within our human heart.” (John Main)
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Prayer Petition!You may send us your personal and family intentions which will be included in our Novenas. May you experience the mercy and compassion of God in your need. God bless!
Grand Novena for Pentecost: May 22 – 30 Divine Mercy Novena: April 10 - 18 Corpus Christi Novena: June 5 – June 13 Sacred Heart Novena: June 10 – 18 |
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The Saturday after the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is on a Friday, is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The love of St. Arnold Janssen, Our Founder and Father, for the Immaculate Heart of Mary was very deep. He called her “the spotless mirror of the Heart of Jesus.” He said, “The good God has given his Mother the beautiful is the title of honor recently approved by the Church: ‘Our Lady of the Most Sacred Heart’! It bears reference to Mary’s unique intimacy with the Heart of Jesus.” St. Arnold combined the two invocations into one: “My Jesus mercy! Sweet Heart of Mary be my salvation!” We thank St. Arnold for giving us this precious legacy of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
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Jubilee Year 2021
We are on our eighth leg of our nine-year journey to celebrating the five hundredth anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021, Jubilee Year. The theme for this year is: Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue, and Indigenous People.
“This year, the CBCP asks Catholics to direct their focus to Ecumenism (relations with other Christian believers and churches), to Interreligious Dialogue (relations with the followers of other living faiths), and to Indigenous Peoples (the numerous cultural communities in our nation.) We are to grow in understanding, appreciation, dialogue, and mutual communion with members of these groups; they are truly our neighbors… our brothers and sisters.”
The Church envisions a new openness toward the world, other Christian churches and other world religions and our indigenous peoples. She is engaged with the world and diverse people and seeks to share her teachings and wisdom, the Word of God and her faith in Jesus Christ and find our common grounds with them toward achieving Christian unity. “That all may be one in us.” (Jn 17:21)
Ecumenism comes from two Greek terms: oikodome, that is, the household of God and oikomeme, that is, the whole inhabited world. Thus Ecumenism is directed toward the achievement of communion and unity among all Christian churches, and ultimately among all religious communities. With renewed hearts, sincere conversion and change of inner spirit, we can have an authentic ecumenism. Our own good lives and witness will effect progress toward Christian unity. May this year bring us close to this goal through the power of the Holy Spirit. cf Fr. James Kroeger, MM
“This year, the CBCP asks Catholics to direct their focus to Ecumenism (relations with other Christian believers and churches), to Interreligious Dialogue (relations with the followers of other living faiths), and to Indigenous Peoples (the numerous cultural communities in our nation.) We are to grow in understanding, appreciation, dialogue, and mutual communion with members of these groups; they are truly our neighbors… our brothers and sisters.”
The Church envisions a new openness toward the world, other Christian churches and other world religions and our indigenous peoples. She is engaged with the world and diverse people and seeks to share her teachings and wisdom, the Word of God and her faith in Jesus Christ and find our common grounds with them toward achieving Christian unity. “That all may be one in us.” (Jn 17:21)
Ecumenism comes from two Greek terms: oikodome, that is, the household of God and oikomeme, that is, the whole inhabited world. Thus Ecumenism is directed toward the achievement of communion and unity among all Christian churches, and ultimately among all religious communities. With renewed hearts, sincere conversion and change of inner spirit, we can have an authentic ecumenism. Our own good lives and witness will effect progress toward Christian unity. May this year bring us close to this goal through the power of the Holy Spirit. cf Fr. James Kroeger, MM
Taal Eruption 2020
After Taal‘s eruption on January 12, we left Tagaytay on January 16 late in the evening. We stayed at our convent in Manila for a month. Now and then, some of our Sisters would go back to Tagaytay to inspect and clean the house. Work men removed and cleaned the roof and surrounding from the ash fall. On February 15 we were back. The Sisters are back! The wind blew this news far and wide and soon enough our churchgoers and visitors flock and filled our chapel and grounds once again.
We are grateful to M. M. Magdalena, our Mother General, and her councillor Sr. M. Renee who were on visitation in St. Joseph’s Convent at the time of the eruption for their encouragement and support. Our gratitude goes also to Sr. Ma. Gloria and her Sisters. They welcome us with outstanding generosity and hospitality. And to all who supported us at this difficult time, may God reward you abundantly in ways he alone can.
While at St. Joseph’s Convent, on February 9, our Sr. M. Mercedes after a long lingering illness quietly went home to the Father. She was 88 years old, 59th in her religious profession. We had the interment Mass at St. Joseph’s Convent attended by her family, relatives and friends. In keeping with her wish, she was buried in our cemetery here in Tagaytay. May God take her into her eternal embrace and glory.
We are grateful to M. M. Magdalena, our Mother General, and her councillor Sr. M. Renee who were on visitation in St. Joseph’s Convent at the time of the eruption for their encouragement and support. Our gratitude goes also to Sr. Ma. Gloria and her Sisters. They welcome us with outstanding generosity and hospitality. And to all who supported us at this difficult time, may God reward you abundantly in ways he alone can.
While at St. Joseph’s Convent, on February 9, our Sr. M. Mercedes after a long lingering illness quietly went home to the Father. She was 88 years old, 59th in her religious profession. We had the interment Mass at St. Joseph’s Convent attended by her family, relatives and friends. In keeping with her wish, she was buried in our cemetery here in Tagaytay. May God take her into her eternal embrace and glory.
Sr. M. Mercedes
Welcome to Sr. M. Assumpta and Sr. M. Corine who were safely backed with the other capitulars of our 12th General Chapter in Germany last July 22, 2019. They brought with them the warm greetings of our Sisters worldwide and the many small gifts shared with one another during the Chapter from all our houses. Needless to say, we were very happy about the various “pasalubong” given to us. We listened attentively with much interest about their experiences during the 12th General Chapter.
SSpSAP 12th General Chapter The presence of the Holy Spirit was very much felt during the entire Chapter. The intercultural,intercontinental and international encounter among the capitulars from our 22 houses was very enriching. They came to know more of each other and the whole Congregation. The interaction among them was warm and congenial. Relationships deepened. There were many other blessings to be grateful for especially the three achievements of the General Chapter: First, the beautiful Chapter Document; Second, the new resolutions to be implemented as part of our renewal in our contemplative-missionary vocation; Third, the election of the new Mother General with her four international councilors.
SSpSAP 12th General Chapter The presence of the Holy Spirit was very much felt during the entire Chapter. The intercultural,intercontinental and international encounter among the capitulars from our 22 houses was very enriching. They came to know more of each other and the whole Congregation. The interaction among them was warm and congenial. Relationships deepened. There were many other blessings to be grateful for especially the three achievements of the General Chapter: First, the beautiful Chapter Document; Second, the new resolutions to be implemented as part of our renewal in our contemplative-missionary vocation; Third, the election of the new Mother General with her four international councilors.
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This rare image of the Blessed Virgin Mary depicts her deep interiority; it hangs on the wall of the Motherhouse of the Missionary Sisters in Steyl, the Sacred Heart Convent. |
Mary, Summa Contemplatrix “Over the centuries, the Church has always looked to Mary as the Summa Contemplatrix. From the annunciation to the resurrection, through the pilgrimage of faith that reached its climax at the foot of the cross, Mary persevered in contemplation of the mystery dwelling within her. In Mary, we glimpse the mystical journey of the consecrated person, grounded in a humble wisdom that savors the mystery of the ultimate fulfillment.” (cf VDq, 10 )
In our contemplative-missionary vocation Mary is our model; her life shows us the meaning and goal of our vocation.
We are a sign of the virginity of the Church when we faithfully keep the precious gift of the faith and we do not allow ourselves to be corrupted by the mentality of the world; we are a sign of the Church as spouse when we love Jesus Christ with an undivided and tender heart; we are a sign of the Church as mother when we bear children for the Kingdom of God by accepting our daily crosses and uniting ourselves with the loving surrender of Christ to the Father for the salvation of souls.
The image of the dove is the Holy Spirit to whom we are consecrated and whose name we bear in our title, Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration or Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters for short. The praying hands is the symbol of our prayer life as an oblation in service to the Church and for the sake of the whole world and all God’s creation, which the globe symbolizes. The circle portrays Divinity and symbolizes the completeness of God’s redeeming plan and action. The gold or yellow-orange color symbolizes Divine Light and the richness of God’s Kingdom within us baptized in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Eucharist in the Monstrance is Christ, the living bread, sustaining our life. The book is the Holy Scripture. The light rays from the dove represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit empowering us in seeking the Face of God. Contemplation and adoration enable us in faith to see through God’s eyes – the shape of the eye in the Eucharist in the Monstrance.
Only through Christ and in Christ we are united in the life of the Triune God and share in his Kingdom as children of God.
The image of the dove is the Holy Spirit to whom we are consecrated and whose name we bear in our title, Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration or Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters for short. The praying hands is the symbol of our prayer life as an oblation in service to the Church and for the sake of the whole world and all God’s creation, which the globe symbolizes. The circle portrays Divinity and symbolizes the completeness of God’s redeeming plan and action. The gold or yellow-orange color symbolizes Divine Light and the richness of God’s Kingdom within us baptized in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Eucharist in the Monstrance is Christ, the living bread, sustaining our life. The book is the Holy Scripture. The light rays from the dove represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit empowering us in seeking the Face of God. Contemplation and adoration enable us in faith to see through God’s eyes – the shape of the eye in the Eucharist in the Monstrance.
Only through Christ and in Christ we are united in the life of the Triune God and share in his Kingdom as children of God.
Our Esteemed Visitors: Left, SVD Superior General Fr. Paul Budi Kleden; Right, SSpS Congregational Leader, Sr. Maria Theresia
Paying homage to St. Arnold entombed in the SVD Mission House
The New SSpSAP Generalate: from left, Sr. M. Renee, Sr. M. Catherine, elected Assistant General, Mother Ma. Magdalena, newly elected Superior General, Sr. Ma. Raquel and Sr. Lusia Ma.
From left: Sr. M. Corine, Sr. Antonia, SSpS, Superior of the Sacred Heart Convent, and Sr. M. Gloria
Welcome Break from the Sessions
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Sr. M. Assumpta at the Sacred Heart Convent |
Official Photo of the 12th General Chapter with Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD, moderator and theological adviser (center)
