Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ

The Generalate

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Via B. Maria De Mattias, 10 – Tel. 06/70.08.816 – Fax 06/ 77.20.88.84

00183 ROME (Italy)

 

To all Adorers of the Blood of Christ

 

“Courage! Lift up your heart often to God and trust completely in God.  Oh! How God loves us!”

(St. Maria De Mattias to Sr. Rosa Maria Possenti)

 Prot.#18/2022

February 4, 2022 – Solemnity of St. Maria De Mattias

March 4, 2022 – Anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute

Dear Sisters,

Joy and peace in the Lord!

Each year, the liturgical commemoration of the birth of St. Maria De Mattias and the anniversary of the Foundation of our Institute are two very important occasions that allow us to renew our sense of belonging to our community of faith and savor anew the riches of our charismatic identity. 

We are living in a historical, cultural and ecclesial time of unique importance: ours is a time to understand: to take, grasp and comprehend” to be able to dwell in it adequately.  It is a time to love: because it is ours, because there is not, nor will there be another for us and because it is a time when the Holy Spirit is working despite our difficulties.  It is a time to evangelize: because it was given to us by the Divine Master; it is the precious pearl of the Reign, the saving word of the Gospel. 

Celebrating St. Maria De Mattias during this time of precariousness and uncertainty is an opportunity to remain in her company and allow ourselves to be taught by her who welcomed the Spirit, the Fire and the Blood, kept it and shared it, overcoming the challenges of her time.  We wish to focus our attention on her heart journey and life pilgrimage that led her toward her encounter with Jesus Christ whom she loved, sought and desired and for whom she offered her whole self.  She lived “with her gaze and heart set wholly on Christ Crucified witnessing that God is happiness (Contemplate n.4)

“Gaze often at the Crucified Jesus, and especially on his most holy wounds…. Oh, what love! What a strong source of perfect peace which flows from the loving wounds of Jesus.  Tender love, tremendous love for Jesus and for saving souls.  Never turn your gaze away from Jesus’ wounds.  Discover in those wounds how to bring happiness to all.” (MDM to Sr. Luisa Abri, August 8, 1862, Letter in English n. 725; Sister Angelita Myerscough’s translation: set III n. 450) 

We encounter many challenges that urge us to be passionately involved in generous apostolic activity, but, as Pope Francis reminds us, “we know that on our own we can do nothing.  The contemplative dimension becomes indispensable in the midst of the most urgent and difficult and taxing undertakings.  The more the mission calls us to go toward the existential peripheries, the more our hearts feel the intimate need to be united to that of Christ, full of love and mercy.” (Tirana – September 21, 2014)

Maria of Vallecorsa lived the challenges of her time by living each moment in which she found herself and with an alert heart, she stood attentive, open, in recollection, and concentration so as not to squander the salvific significance of each moment lived in inner union with God and reaching out toward others. 

She lived in intimate contact with her own deepest self, there at the source of every transformation, but above all of every sharing.  She nourished her actions to become fully human, day by day, learning like Jesus to stop and value the little things and recognize the presence of the Father in the faces of those she met. 

“My daughter, let’s be happy to die for Jesus Christ and to bring souls to his heart.  They cost him Blood.  I encourage you to treat them with love and patience.  They are dear to the Heart of Jesus.  Often have them repeat the sweet names of Jesus and Mary.” (To Vincenza Ferri, October 20, 1855, Letter in English n. 432; Sister Angelita Myerscough’s translation, set III n. 387)

Dear Sisters, we are called to recharge the contemplative dimension of our lives: that of simply being there where life has taken us and, with perseverance, accept every moment without possessing or controlling so that the harmony, fullness and “life in abundance” (Jn. 10:10) promised by Jesus may spring from this deep listening.

In fact, St. Maria De Mattias was a woman who made listening the fundamental trait of her personality.  She lived her discipleship in a prophetic way through this interior stance.  She cradled the Word within herself, keeping it in the shelter of her heart, scrutinizing it and above all letting it act.  She listened.  She understood and assented to it, but she also made room for others, welcoming them into her life and making their pleas and needs her own.  She tried to listen to everyone genuinely, mutually and cordially as an exercise in welcoming them without preconceptions or prejudices in order to advance and grow in the dynamic of friendship and communion.

Open to the challenges of life and aware of her own poverty, Maria De Mattias tried to take care of the brokenness of every person with the supportive, attentive and neighborly attitude of the good Samaritan.  She served everyone, appreciating and valuing the beauty and goodness of all created things (cfr. LC 16) and accepting that life, at certain times, impoverished her, she accepted her own brokenness as a space to embrace and bring everyone into herself. 

She had discovered that there is no greater richness than her own weakness. 

From her courageous and persevering example we discover the call to “walk humbly with our God” (Micha 6:8) because to become sisters and grow in humanity we must set out on a journey without stopping.  Letting go of every security, we must go out to meet what happens with open eyes capable of scrutinizing and passionate, humble hearts and we must take steps toward something beyond and elsewhere, but ready to go together.

As Adorers of the Blood of Christ, we want to cultivate the healthy restlessness that made the heart of St. Maria De Mattias throb and that stems from the living charism we carry written in the depths of our own identity: wanting to undertake new ways, open processes of proclaiming and closeness that bring life to everyone. 

• I ask myself: am I a stagnant person or someone in process? What wind is pushing me?

The fire of the Spirit allowed St. Maria De Mattias to glimpse wider horizons making her capable of rethinking herself in relation to what was happening.  It let her bear witness to an impetus that challenged her and pushed her to dare, to question, to reconsider, to be mistaken and also to learn from her errors, but above all to hope despite the challenges.

By her actions, this disciple of the Blood of Christ opened doors and windows, tore down walls, broke chains and opened borders.  This same Spirit urges us to dare ever-new paths, indicating for us brand new roads, beyond ourselves. 

Last November 18 at the national headquarters of USMI (Italian Major Women Superiors Union) on Via Zanardelli in Rome, Sister Emma Zordan enriched the formation course for novices with her testimony.  There were about forty present in the main hall and many others connected remotely.  Sr. Emma has been volunteering for more than seven years at the Roman prison, offering creative writing workshops.  She recounted the path that led her to the Rebibbia Prison.  Her restlessness, courage and strength she found after passing through the prison gates and the many other opened and closed bars before she got to the penal section where she would carry out her volunteer work.   Last November 18 at the national headquarters of USMI (Italian Major Women Superiors Union) on Via Zanardelli in Rome, Sister Emma Zordan enriched the formation course for novices with her testimony.  There were about forty present in the main hall and many others connected remotely.  Sr. Emma has been volunteering for more than seven years at the Roman prison, offering creative writing workshops.  She recounted the path that led her to the Rebibbia Prison.  Her restlessness, courage and strength she found after passing through the prison gates and the many other opened and closed bars before she got to the penal section where she would carry out her volunteer work.   For several years she had been living in Latina where she was in charge of the St. Gaspar community of 29 elderly sisters, but each Saturday morning at eight she was unfailingly there at Rebibbia, with packets for her detainee friends.  She openly says it to the sisters who were carefully listening:  “That is now my family!”  And in truth she is friend, mother and sister to many inmates.  Even a small gesture like bringing them some candy has great meaning for them.  It is like a caress of the soul.This was confirmed by the other protagonist at the USMI meeting: Carmine C., a prisoner on probation after 16 years in various penal institutions.  She was among the first to meet the Religious volunteer at Rebibbia and to collaborate with her.  It was precisely the discussion between the two, at times intense, other times playful, that allowed those present to “experience” the harshness of prison life and how important it is to have the presence of someone from “outside” who knows how to listen, and show affection, attention and hope. The instrument of this process was S. Emma’s “creative writing workshop.”  In her talk, she retraced the stages of this work, recalling the titles of the books that have gathered the testimonies of the inmates.  She then went on to present the book “Not Everyone Knows … the Voice of Rebibbia’s Inmates” which was the other reason for the meeting.   The instrument of this process was S. Emma’s “creative writing workshop.”  In her talk, she retraced the stages of this work, recalling the titles of the books that have gathered the testimonies of the inmates.  She then went on to present the book “Not Everyone Knows … the Voice of Rebibbia’s Inmates” which was the other reason for the meeting.   The book offers some testimonies of the inmates on hope, gathered before and during the pandemic.  Journalist Roberto Monteforte, who collaborated with Sister Emma in the realization of the book, explained the reason for this choice.  “The testimonies are offered to those outside the bars, to common people who are considered “free” and yet who are too often prisoners of their own prejudices that make them incapable of accepting.  On this point, lawyer Antonella Pacifico, also involved by Sr. Emma in the “prison writing workshop” project, intervenes. She does so by recalling the “fear of the aftermath” expressed by many inmates. “Worrying is the violence outside the prison, made up of prejudice and precautions.  So is the punishment you never finish serving because, she underlines by quoting from one of the book’s testimonies,” the stigma of a prisoner is imprinted like an indelible brand on your skin.”  Why shouldn’t the sentence ever end?  Why should the innocent family of the one serving the sentence pay as well?  How does one deal with the aftermath?  Once out, what will be the social reintegration of the inmate?  The theme is present in every part of the world and involves the novices who came to Rome from every part of the world.  The strong testimony is an appeal launched by Sister Emma.  “We are too few.  Come to give your faith witness in serving inmates. “ How many rosaries they ask me for!” she added.  And I invite them to pray the Our Father.”  Because you can evangelize in this way as well: offering a listening ear and friendship.  The testimony of Carmine was moving.  She recounted her dialogue with the Crucified Lord during nights of loneliness in her cell.  “I pray to him, we talk, I confide in him, we argue….”  Sister Rosanna Costantini, in charge of the formation area of USMI, had already emphasized this at the beginning of the meeting.  Mission today is offering witness in concrete life, in love for the least, as Pope Francis taught us when he celebrated his first Holy Thursday not at the Vatican but in Casal de Marmo juvenile prison, washing the feet of the young inmates.  This is the outgoing Church serving the excluded.  Some assured that they would ask the mother general of their own Congregation for the opportunity to follow the path indicated by Sister Emma.  That’s when a testimony touches the heart!  One might say that one goal has been reached. But the hardest thing remains: touching the hearts of those accustomed to pre-judging without compassion and helping them discover fraternity.  This is the purpose of the book Not everyone knows … – helping  people to understand and know so that we can all be more human.

A psychological-pedagogical team to support students, families and teachers was formed

This response to a concrete need of our time has been a great opportunity for our area.  This is the “Well-being at School” project at the Precious Blood Institute in Bari.  It is a psychological and pedagogical team made available to the scholastic community by our Institute, animated by its tireless attention to the human.  It also serves the entire capital of Puglia, where the Adorers have been involved in education for almost a century.  This response to a concrete need of our time has been a great opportunity for our area.  This is the “Well-being at School” project at the Precious Blood Institute in Bari.  It is a psychological and pedagogical team made available to the scholastic community by our Institute, animated by its tireless attention to the human.  It also serves the entire capital of Puglia, where the Adorers have been involved in education for almost a century.  Last October 13, during a press conference, the PBI administration in the persons of the Leadership team of the Institute, Sr. Giuseppina Fragasso, Sister Francesca Palamà and Professor Angelamaria Garofalo, introduced the project and the members of the team and listening center.  The presence at the event of representatives from other Institutes in the area underscored the fruitful interweaving of the life of the Institute with the entire surrounding social fabric, as well the important contribution the community of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ represents for the human growth of the city of Bari.  The Ombudsman of the rights of minors, children and adolescents of the Puglia Region, Dr. Ludovico Abbaticchio, was present, as were the Councilor for Public Instruction of the Municipality of Bari, Paola Romano, and the President of the CISM Catholic Parochial Schools of Puglia, Father Luigi Gaetani.  “Well-being at School” was created in the scholastic environment to support the educational community, the students and families in the natural path of formation and growth, which is threatened today and greatly weakened by the pandemic.  Its purpose is that of responding to new family and relational challenges of the children, emphasized by the isolation imposed by the pandemic situation that recently marked the whole of society.  Psychological and pedagogical support – explained during the presentation – aims to support and re-establish that psychological wellbeing necessary for educational and didactic success of each student.  There are many, too many, critical issues impacting the children and teens following the consequences of the pandemic.  But not only that, restlessness being in groups, excessive use of smartphones and computers are only some of the obstacles to be overcome.  The school is aware of the urgent need of expert help in order not to just navigate by sight, but to know exactly where to take the right steps and be a reference point for parents who are often disoriented and ask to be educated in parenting.   Conceived some time ago and strongly desired by the administration of our Institute in Bari, the psychological-pedagogical team is made up of high-quality local professionals: Dr. Giacoma Panzarino, pedagogue, Dr. Chiara Leuci, psychologist, Dr. Francesca Gioieni, psychotherapist, Dr. Caterina Pucci, psychomotor therapist, and Sr. Liana Campanelii, teacher of justice education and graduate in psychology.  At the end of the meeting, Sister Francesca Palamà recalled how at the heart of the commitment of the Precious Blood Institute there has been the constant overall wellbeing of the person, pursued with unceasing competence and care.  This year the Precious Blood Institute chose to enrich the educational offerings for children 3 to 5 years of age with the project “Playing is a serious matter!”, a pedagogical process and attention to the growth and wellbeing of the child, which includes workshops of psychomotor activities, roller skating and learning English, and aims to foster the harmonious and complete psycho-physical development of the children.
Aware that “staying close” is a mission to be built day by day, the Precious Blood Institute of Bari has also thought of a human-spiritual training program for families in order to enter into the daily lives of the parents engaged in the educational challenge, made even more complex by recent events and in general by a society in continuous and rapid evolution.  Inspired by the Global Educational Pact promoted by Pope Francis, the first step toward a restart that is able to “guarantee access to quality education to everyone that be worthy of the dignity of every person, ”is the “PBI Space.”  This is the title of the program proposed by the Institute to all families who would like to take part in it.  It is a response to the men and women desiring encounter, dialogue and discussion among diversities.Aware that “staying close” is a mission to be built day by day, the Precious Blood Institute of Bari has also thought of a human-spiritual training program for families in order to enter into the daily lives of the parents engaged in the educational challenge, made even more complex by recent events and in general by a society in continuous and rapid evolution.  Inspired by the Global Educational Pact promoted by Pope Francis, the first step toward a restart that is able to “guarantee access to quality education to everyone that be worthy of the dignity of every person, ”is the “PBI Space.”  This is the title of the program proposed by the Institute to all families who would like to take part in it.  It is a response to the men and women desiring encounter, dialogue and discussion among diversities.