A PUBLICATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ADORATION SISTERS (SSpSAP)
Newsletter: Lent-Easter 2024
Newsletter: Lent-Easter 2024
The Asceticism of Lent
We get into the heart and asceticism of Lent through the observance of silence. Silence disposes us to encounter God in prayer. Silence opens our eyes to see the face of God in our needy brothers and sisters and invites us to come to their aid. Silence is fasting from the noise of our world today, the fast developing high-tech of our digital age. Silence leads us to the practice of virtues.
REFLECTIONS ON SILENCE
SILENCE IS MEEKNESS
- when you do not defend yourself
- when you do not claim your rights
- when you let God defend you
SILENCE IS MERCY
- when you do not reveal the faults of others
- when you do not judge but pray in your heart
SILENCE IS PATIENCE
-when you accept suffering without grumbling but joyfully
- when you do not become anxious
but wait in patience for the “seed” to germinate
SILENCE IS HUMILITY
- when there is no competition
- when you let others grow and mature
- when you leave to others the glory of success
SILENCE IS FAITH
- when you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act
- when you renounce the voice of the world
and remain in the presence of the Lord
SILENCE IS ADORATION
- when you embrace the cross without asking why
SILENCE IS MEEKNESS
- when you do not defend yourself
- when you do not claim your rights
- when you let God defend you
SILENCE IS MERCY
- when you do not reveal the faults of others
- when you do not judge but pray in your heart
SILENCE IS PATIENCE
-when you accept suffering without grumbling but joyfully
- when you do not become anxious
but wait in patience for the “seed” to germinate
SILENCE IS HUMILITY
- when there is no competition
- when you let others grow and mature
- when you leave to others the glory of success
SILENCE IS FAITH
- when you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act
- when you renounce the voice of the world
and remain in the presence of the Lord
SILENCE IS ADORATION
- when you embrace the cross without asking why
“But JESUS was Silent” (Mt. 26:63).
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Flashback
Pictures tell the story of captured moments of joy, bonding and memorable celebration of life. Our hearts swell in gratitude to God for his goodness.
The three Congregations by St. Arnold Janssen. The SVDs and the SSpS Sisters joined us for this souvenir picture of our Centenary Jubilee. |
Thanks to Sr. Mary Auxilindis and all who helped to prepare the place for the centenary celebration and no less to the Redemptorists who took over the house when we had to close in 1936 heartily welcomed us to celebrate in this very place where our pioneer Sisters started in the Philippines. The Redemptorists kept the name Convento del Divino Amor.
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Easter
The light and darkness of the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection interplay in our life. There is the darkness of the tomb and the light of the resurrected Christ which shines in the darkness, which darkness has not overcome brings us hope, deepens our faith, trust and love. Whether we are like Peter or John who run to the tomb, the risen Christ reveals himself to us who seek him in love. Believing in his resurrection, he gives us the mandate: “Go and preach the Good News to all peoples.”
With the Risen Christ whom shall we fear?” Not even the challenges of healing the scars of life whatever: infidelities, hurts, misunderstandings, negative experiences of rejections, physical injuries, harsh treatment and even neglect, and love withhold. The grace of the Resurrection brings healing, deliverance and strength from on high if we but believe. We can live anew, begin a new life, live in hope with the unfailing promise of God if only we keep and grow in our faith in the Risen Lord.
Let us free ourselves from encumbrances and live in the Risen Lord. Leave behind our darkness and live in the light of Christ’s Resurrection. Happy New Life! Blessed Easter! Christ’s Easter promise be upon us – a share in his glory! Let us break into the Alleluias of Easter!
With the Risen Christ whom shall we fear?” Not even the challenges of healing the scars of life whatever: infidelities, hurts, misunderstandings, negative experiences of rejections, physical injuries, harsh treatment and even neglect, and love withhold. The grace of the Resurrection brings healing, deliverance and strength from on high if we but believe. We can live anew, begin a new life, live in hope with the unfailing promise of God if only we keep and grow in our faith in the Risen Lord.
Let us free ourselves from encumbrances and live in the Risen Lord. Leave behind our darkness and live in the light of Christ’s Resurrection. Happy New Life! Blessed Easter! Christ’s Easter promise be upon us – a share in his glory! Let us break into the Alleluias of Easter!
The Risen Lord and the Holy Spirit
Easter is learning from the Risen Lord who was wounded for our sins, suffered and died on the cross to give us salvation; raised by the Father to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us own and face our woundedness and the woundedness of others and turn to the Lord that the Father may raise us in the power of the Holy Spirit to the Easter life of Christ, promising us a share in his glory.
If we but own our woundedness and the woundedness of others; embrace our weaknesses and the weaknesses of others, even the meanness of others, our hearts open to the fruits of Easter – the grace to forgive as Jesus forgives and to ask for forgiveness for our own offenses.
Easter does not take away our pain but Easter gives us the hope for a new beginning, new life that makes us believe healing from pains and hurts is possible. Easter does illuminate the path to something beyond the pain. There is something better waiting for us if we can go beyond past hurts and pains (Fr. Francis Alvarez, SJ) – the freedom from negative experiences is to have peace, a serene spirit and well-being with Christ who loves us unconditionally.
Let us pray and ask for this grace and blessing of Easter to overcome our pains and have a free, unencumbered heart. Death was not the last word in the passion of Christ but the victory of his cross, Jesus’ Easter life in glory and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday!
Just as the Spirit is Jesus’ gift to us from his pierced side (see Jn. 19:35), Easter is the Holy Spirit’s gift to us (see Rm. 8:11) as Church to know that Christ is in our midst. These are the two aspects of one mystery we celebrate following the passion and death of Jesus, from Easter morning to Pentecost Sunday, that is, fifty days after Easter, on May 19 this year.
The Spirit of the Risen Christ is working powerfully through our lives, leading us to follow the pattern of Jesus’ life of mercy and compassion, of loving and selfless service so as finally to share fully in his resurrection from the dead. (Bruce T. Morrill, S.J.)
If we but own our woundedness and the woundedness of others; embrace our weaknesses and the weaknesses of others, even the meanness of others, our hearts open to the fruits of Easter – the grace to forgive as Jesus forgives and to ask for forgiveness for our own offenses.
Easter does not take away our pain but Easter gives us the hope for a new beginning, new life that makes us believe healing from pains and hurts is possible. Easter does illuminate the path to something beyond the pain. There is something better waiting for us if we can go beyond past hurts and pains (Fr. Francis Alvarez, SJ) – the freedom from negative experiences is to have peace, a serene spirit and well-being with Christ who loves us unconditionally.
Let us pray and ask for this grace and blessing of Easter to overcome our pains and have a free, unencumbered heart. Death was not the last word in the passion of Christ but the victory of his cross, Jesus’ Easter life in glory and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday!
Just as the Spirit is Jesus’ gift to us from his pierced side (see Jn. 19:35), Easter is the Holy Spirit’s gift to us (see Rm. 8:11) as Church to know that Christ is in our midst. These are the two aspects of one mystery we celebrate following the passion and death of Jesus, from Easter morning to Pentecost Sunday, that is, fifty days after Easter, on May 19 this year.
The Spirit of the Risen Christ is working powerfully through our lives, leading us to follow the pattern of Jesus’ life of mercy and compassion, of loving and selfless service so as finally to share fully in his resurrection from the dead. (Bruce T. Morrill, S.J.)