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1345-1392 of 1833
Henry Koren: Essays on the Spiritan Charism. p.15-18 condensed.
The first characteristic trait of the Spiritan charism is, without doubt, "Evangelic Availability". This availability has two aspects: first of all, availability before Our Lord - we place ourselves before… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IX, 328, 1847.
A soul truly dead to itself and truly abandoned to God always remains true to itself, filled with God, it can be patient like God. It does not wish for… fr pt
Libermann to J. Schwindenhammer, 03.08.1846. L.S. IV, p.327
Our Lord gave me the strength to stand up to my father who wanted me to abandon the Christian faith. He then unexpectedly came to tear me away from myself.… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IX, 328, 1847.
A soul truly dead to itself and truly abandoned to God feels a certain pain when it is in peace. It almost regrets seeing everything going according to its wishes.… fr pt
Joseph Lécuyer, Superior General, 11.01.1969, before the second session of the General Chapter
"Our renewal has two main objectives: to reinvigorate the spiritual life of each member of the Congregation and to relocate our mis-sionary work in the context of the present needs… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IX, 330, 1847.
Do not judge by first impressions; do not judge according to what you have seen in Europe, according to what you have been accustomed to in Europe, rid yourself of… fr pt
Pierre Haas, Christmas Letter, 1987
"An event does not become God's word to us and a sign of his Spirit until we have interiorised it and reflected on it in prayer. Jesus speaks to us… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
Be courageous my dear Brothers, devote yourselves to the glory of God and the salvation of so many poor souls. You have much to suffer, now and in the future.… fr pt
Jacques Laval: unedited letter
Dear Father, the work of God and the Blessed Virgin is proceed-ing very slowly in this poor island of Mauritius because of a lack of sufficient workersÀAt present, where there… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
Disciples of Jesus Christ, do not seek to be better treated than your Master. Never be dismayed by the difficulties you experience, they must never discourage you. fr pt
Poullart des Places: Reflections on the Truths of Religion
Lord, you were looking for me and I was running away. You gave me reason but I refused to use itÀHow loveable you are, my saving God! You do not… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
You do not come in your own name, it is not you who are doing the work, but he who sends you. You are not alone, he is always with… fr pt
Libermann to Leray, 24.07.1834. LS I, p. 51-52
"I am convinced, my dear friend, that the ultimate consummation of our love that will take place in heaven is foreshadowed in this life in the Eucharist, this masterpiece of… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 303, 1843.
You know these words of Saint Paul “God chose those who are nothing at all, to show up those who are everything. For it is when I am weak that… fr pt
Père Brottier, 01.01.1936. Lt.14.
"The future looks bright for the Oeuvre d'Auteuil and our founders would surely be happy at the prospect. If Père Libermann would re-joice to see his sons looking after the… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 303, 1843.
We are all a bunch of poor people brought together by the Master’s will who alone is our hope. If we have powerful means at hand, we would not accomplish… fr pt
Henry Koren: "To the Ends of the Earth" p. 120
The number of priests formed at the Holy Ghost Seminary until 1792 may be estimated conservatively to have been at least 1,300. Only about 130-140 (i.e. 10-11 percent of the… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters. IV, 455, 1847.
You can be certain that by persevering and advancing constantly in this happy fidelity with which you are corresponding to divine grace, you will acquire a powerful influence on those… fr pt
Adrian Van Kamm: Spiritan Papers no. 21, p. 59
"At present, Christianity is in search of a basic spirituality that is meaningful not only for members of a specific religious community in a specific culture but for all cultures.… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 709, 1851.
This community life has been adopted in the Congregation as something essential with the express intention of forewarning the missionaries against exterior dangers and to maintain them in the religious… fr pt
Père Brottier, 01.01.1936. Lt.14.
"The future looks bright for the Oeuvre d'Auteuil and our founders would surely be happy at the prospect. If Père Libermann would rejoice to see his sons looking after the… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 709, 1851.
During the novitiate, it is something like rowing a boat, then on becoming an apostle, one sets out to the sea and the sails have to be unfurled, because it… fr pt
E.G.C. Dakar, 1995
At Dakar, we realised once more our personal weaknesses, the fragility of our communities and the difficulties of our mission- but we were in no way discouraged. We left strengthened… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VI, 3, 1844.
Each pain suffered for the salvation of souls may save many. Remember that the Sovereign Master suffered all the time, and with unheard of tortures, for the salvation of the… fr pt
Daniel Brottier, 01.09.1935. Foyers à la Campagne, III 339
To become men: this must be your aim. You see, it is so necessary and yet so difficult. A man is somebody who knows what he wants to do and… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, IV, 269, 1843.
Do not be surprise if men judge you, condemn you and annoy you incessantly, by venting their bad temper on you, they will be more peaceful with others. Look at… fr pt
Frans Timmermans: Report to General Chapter, 1986
Dialogue is mission. This is the first time in history that the Church in its Magisterium recognises other Religions as true part-ners in a common search for God. We cannot… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
A strong and truly apostolic soul is always calm, gentle and unshakeable in the midst of pains and contradictions. If you knew my very dear confrere, what the value of… fr pt
Libermann to Salier, 09.07.1840. N.D.II, p. 153
Since I came to Rome concerning our project (the work for the Black People), my policy was never to do anything that was not straightforward. I kept quiet and stayed… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
The climates in which you live act strongly on the sensitivity and imagination. You will be more inclined to be agitated, to become embittered, to be irritated than before. Yet… fr pt
J. Michel in Spiritus, October 1959
The basic work of Claude Poullart des Places was that of the "Poor Scholars". He certainly showed a great concern for the material and spiritual poverty of these young clerics… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 463, 1847.
Do not listen easily to the words of people who walk along the coast, when they tell you about the people they have. Hear everything and be peaceful within yourself,… fr pt
Joseph Shanahan to Holy Rosary Sisters. Fox, p. 25
Be both sympathetic and understanding to African people, especially the women: meet the people of Africa with courtesy and respect; never do for them the things they can do for… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VIII, 92, 1846.
It has always been in the order of Providence to manifest its maternal care in the midst of obstacles, and the happiest results have usually been produced after the greatest… fr pt
Joseph Lécuyer, Superior General, talking of the Spiritan charism. B.G. 1974, pp 34-37
Simplicity means the refusal of everything that is complicated, out of the ordinary, showy, excessive; no spectacular poverty, no dramatic tormenting obedience, no dazzling mortifications. But it also means a… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters, IV, 458, 1847.
Be full of affection, gentleness and openness to the superiors in order to make their charge easy to bear. Live together in unity and the most perfect peace of charity,… fr pt
J. Gay: Libermann, p. 288
The Christian life of Père Libermann can be summed up as follows: a serene abandonment to the Holy Spirit and unfailing openness to his influence. He was perfectly sincere when… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, VIII, 126, 1846.
Ayez une piété calme, simple, humble, une piété de « bonhomme » qui ne cherche ni les grandes, ni les petites choses, mais qui sert Dieu en tout et à… fr pt
Schwindenhammer
At half past three in the afternoon, as I told you yesterday, our dear Father was almost unconscious, apparently seeing and hearing nothing. This lasted until two this afternoon. Suddenly,… fr pt
Cf. The last words of Father Libermann, 2nd February 1852.
Be fervent, fervent, always fervent, and above all, charity, charity, charity above all. Charity in Jesus Christ, charity through Jesus Christ, charity in the name of Jesus Christ. Fervour, charity,… fr pt
Provisional Rule, nos. 229-231
The Missionaries of the Holy Heart of Mary will consider zeal to be at the heart of the apostolic spirit which will animate them. They will make it their main… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, XIII, 354, 1851.
God’s will is that we take our place in the midst of these Peoples while leading a completely holy life giving quite particular attention to the practice of the priestly… fr pt
Henry Koren: "Essay in the Spiritan Charism and on Spiritan History", p. 21
One can see with the examples of Fr. Caris, Allenou, Le Loutre, Bishop Kerhervé, Fr Maillard, Bishop Pottier, Frs Lano‘, John Mo-ranvillé and Matthew Hérard, how the Spiritans or yesteryear… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, II, 290, 1840.
Apostolic life is nothing other than the life of holiness which the Son of God led on earth to save and sanctify souls, and by which he sanctify himself to… fr pt
Libermann: Commentary on St. John: 3.8
The wind blows wherever it wants: you hear its sound but you do not know where it comes from. Blessed is the one who listens to this divine voice and… fr pt
Cf. Notes and Documents, II, 160, 1841.
When obstacles arise, you have to go, go always, remain at the foot of the wall, wait for it to fall, then pass over it. fr pt
Daniel Brottier, in his letter requesting profession; 19.08.1903
Forgive my presumption, but if are looking for someone for a dangerous and risky place, you can count on me. The blood of the missionary is the seed of Christians;… fr pt
Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 484, 1838.
A priest should have nothing of a human way of life about him; he ought to act and behave no more as a human being, but the spirit of Jesus… fr pt
1345-1392 of 1833