Little Sisters And Brothers Of Jesus

[beatitude]

I don't think i have gone on enough about my spiritual 'family', who take Blessed Charles de Foucauld (or Little Brother Charles of Jesus, as he preferred to be known) as their inspiration in everything. Last night I was reading excerpts from the sisters' constitutions and other writings by their founder, Magdeleine Hutin, and I was almost moved to tears. This bit from the constitutions seems extremely relevant in the face of all the violence and persecution in the world:

 

Their communion will mean that even though they are widely scattered, they will form throughout the world a genuine family, close-knit in sisterly love, over and above all frontiers. The growth of this mutual love will keep step with the growth of their love for their beloved Brother and Lord Jesus.

Unity in Love, the supreme desire of the heart of Jesus, calls the little sisters to regard every person as their brother or sister and to combat every form of discrimination or exclusiveness. It calls them to solidarity with those who struggle to build a more just and loving world, without letting themselves be drawn into the spiral of violence in the conflicts between classes, nations or races. Mt 5

Their vocation to intercession will bring them to live each day in passionate longing for unity at the very heart of human suffering. In union with those who are victims of evil, they will lift up this suffering to God in an earnest prayer of supplication, thirsting for justice and truth. Mt 5:6

Like Jesus himself, the little sisters will have a preferential love for the poorest and most disregarded, but no human being will be excluded from their hearts. Mt 5:5 And they will be ready to lay down their lives for each one of them. Mt 5:7

They will respect the mentality of every country and be receptive to its values, heedful of its aspiration and its needs. By means of their vocation as little sisters they will carry the whole world in their hearts and prayer.

They will never give up seeking unity, and wherever they are they will be elements of peace and reconciliation, witnesses to Christ and the hope that he brings to the world. Mt 5:9 But they will never attain universal love without sincere humility, which will help them acknowledge the flaws and limitations of their own background, nation and race, without, however, disowning the authentic values there. Mt 5:3

This humility will help them free themselves both from attitudes of superiority, which crush others, and attitudes of inferiority, which make for withdrawal and isolation. Both tend just as much toward separation and are opposed to unity in love.

As they become aware of the roots of evil in their own hearts, they will realise how closely Gospel liberation, the cornerstone of genuine unity among people, is linked to personal conversion of heart. Mt 5:8

This conversion will be the little sisters' lifelong work. It will come about through the grace of the Holy Spirit, to the degree that the little sisters put on the mind and heart of Christ and let him live in them. Ga 2:20 Ph 2:5

Convinced that a new world cannot be built up without the cross, the little sisters will offer their lives as a living sacrifice each day, so that Unity in the Love of the Lord may reign among all people. Mt 5:10-12

 

 

Little Sister Magdeleine wrote that if she had to sum up the community's mission in one word, it would be unity.

 

Their website has some good vocation information, including a booklet (available in full online) that L. Sr Magdeleine wrote for people who might be considering the community, and lots of other fascinating and very prayerful material besides. Take a look. They are fantastic.

[brandelynmarie]

So beautiful...thank you. :)