THE MEANING FOR MY LIFE OF
THE MIRACULOUS BENEDICTION OF FEBRUARY 3 1822
What
does this date mean for the Family of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles? On that day, we
remember and give thanks for a very special gift.
On
February 3 1822, in the poor chapel of Loreto, we find the seeds of what has
become a big tree: sisters, young
orphans, lay people …
They
had gathered for Benediction. This
little group was in a very difficult situation.
Their project was vast but they
had few means to carry it out. So they
felt poor and uncertain. They had begun
to ask themselves whether the plan was God’s will or just an impossible dream.
The
response was clear, simple and addressed to the whole community. Jesus appeared
to the small group who had big plans for about 20 minutes and gave them his
blessing. Everyone either saw him or felt
his presence. That blessing was a clear
response. Today it continues to sustain
the mission which began in such a humble way and was then given new life and
strength by the Miraculous Benediction.
Carmen
Leach - Rome
THE MEANING FOR MY LIFE OF
THE MIRACULOUS BENEDICTION
For me, the commemoration of the Miraculous
Benediction of February 3 is a sign of the presence of Christ in my life. It
encourages me to work in communion and in collaboration with the other
Vocations.
Every time I participate in the Eucharist, I feel the
need to work for unity, love and charity. Under the influence of the Holy
Spirit, I try to live this communion in my family, to serve those who are
suffering, those who are marginalised and the young people who are in my care.
This Benedicaiton is a grace for me as a Lay Associate
of the Holy Family and enables me to become an apostle of Christ in the various
milieux of life in order to spread the faith and strengthen it for others…
Delegation
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Léonard MBEMBE, Lay Associate
THE TESTIMONY OF JUANITA –
AN APOSTOLIC SISTER
The
Eucharistic Miracle has a very profound meaning for me. It is a confirmation that Jesus continues to
be present among us and we need to believe, to have faith, if we are to
recognise this silent presence. If we
truly enter into that silence he will speak to us.
This
event has marked my life and supports me during difficult times. I feel
that the Blessing which the first Sisters received continues to be given to us
today as members of the Holy Family.
I
feel blessed also and this is what often supports me. It was this very
experience which led me to seek my vocation in the contemplative life and I now
see that I can also live this Eucharistic dimension of life as an Apostolic
Sister.
THE TESTIMONY ...
Firstly, I would say that the
Miraculous Benediction forms an intrinsic part of my life and of my vocation as
a Holy Family Contemplative Sister. I could say that this Benediction shapes the
whole of my life which is a response to what our Founder said, The Divine
Master miraculously blessed the Association from the moment of its birth and we
therefore owe him continual thanksgiving for such a great favour and continual
intercession that he will pour out the graces necessary for the various Works. It
is natural that some Associates, blessed in the persons of our Foundresses,
should carry out this double service on behalf of the whole Family and this is
the mission which we entrust to the “contemplatives”.
As
Contemplatives, we prolong the memory of this Benediction through Adoration
before the Blessed Sacrament exposed, something to which the faithful feel
strongly attracted.
THE MIRACULOUS
BENEDICTION ...
The
miracles of Jesus had the aim to affirm the faith and to increase the faith of
the people. Likewise the Eucharistic miracles which take place all around the
world have increased the faith of the Christians to a great extent. The repeated
apparitions of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection are clear signs to
show their lack of faith. But once they believed Jesus they began to bear
witness to the extent of sacrificing their own lives. The transfiguration of
Jesus was a foretaste of heavenly glory which would become a reality after the
passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The curiosity or an anxiety to see a
miracle is in our human nature. Jesus demanded faith before performing
miracles. Every miracle is a call to a deeper faith.
For
me the Eucharistic miracle is a daily event. The bread is changed into the body
of Christ. My faith is increased because of the Mass I offer. Perhaps we
consider it as an ordinary miracle and we are tempted to ask Jesus for
extraordinary miracles to believe in him. The sign of Jonah mentioned by Jesus
makes it clear that we need to break and share ourselves as the Eucharistic
Lord. The Eucharist calls us to suffer and die for others in order to bear
witness to our faith. The Eucharist calls us to a life of communion with the
suffering and the poor. The Eucharist calls us for a life of sacrifice. The
miraculous benediction is a gentle reminder that we are the living signs of the
hidden Christ who is buried in the globalised culture of the present world.
Fr.Jacob
Nicholas
THE TESTIMONY ...
I experience it
as an act of faith.
It provides me
with a very positive and satisfying guarantee that the work of our Founder was
God’s will.
The word benediction means “to speak well of” something or someone. We speak well of good things, especially of
what we LOVE.
God blesses us. For me, the benediction is a reflection of his LOVE. What does this mean for my life? It
means being aware each day of his LOVE and his loving presence, knowing that he
blesses me and that, in spite of all my faults, he continues to bless me
because he loves me unconditionally.
The fact that
Christ appeared at the beginning of the Holy
Family as a sign of his approval of our Founder’s work helps to confirm me
in my vocational choice. I give thanks for that and I renew my act of
faith in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
SECULARS