You are invited to take part in this practice of Oraison. Sunday, September 15th, is the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows and the anniversary of the beatification of Blessed Joseph Gerard, OMI.

 

 

With Mary contemplating Jesus Christ crucified and with Bl. Joseph Gerard who dedicated his life to preaching Him, you are invited to set apart some time this day to enter into prayerful communion with the whole Mazenodian Family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are two texts that you may find helpful.

John 19:25-27 – Our Crucified Savior is at the heart of Mazenodian spirituality, and Mary was at the foot of the Cross, sorrowful but trusting in God’s salvation. We are invited to take her to the home of our lives.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Blessed Joseph Gerard OMI was beatified on this day in Lesotho. He dedicated his Oblate missionary life to bring others to know the love of the Crucified Savior. Here, from his personal diary,  is the secret of how he did it:

“There is a secret to be loved, it is to love. Also, for the Basotho, the Matebele, even the unbelievers, in seeing them we can ask ourselves what to do to convert them? The answer is on every page of the Gospel: we must love them, love them in spite of everything, love them always. The good God has wanted that we do good to a person in loving that person. The world belongs to the person who loves it most and proves it.”

(For further details on Blessed Joseph Gerard see http://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=3699)