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A Last Testament – God Has Done Great Things for Me
The Almighty has gifted me with longevity (90 years) plus 63 years of fruitful ministry in Madagascar. I can now very humbly witness the many graces and blessings received as a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette.
I witness not what I have done but what Our Lady of La Salette accomplished in and with me through her Son and the loving care of many men and women who believed in me and loved me despite my weaknesses and failures. “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
At the age of ten, when God moved into my life, taking my dear mother away from me, little could I envision that the Weeping Mother of La Salette would open her arms to me and dry my tears. It was as an altar server that my vocation was born and blossomed.
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La Salette: an Apparition of Hope
Crucifixion by El Greco
In the Mass for the Feast of La Salette, the gospel contains the scene of Jesus, on the cross, speaking to his mother, Mary, and John, his disciple. Jesus says to his mother: “Woman, this is your son.” To the disciple he says: “This is your mother.”
Donald, This is Your Mother
We all know that Saint Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuits while fewer know that he remains a solid and sure guide in our spiritual life, in our quest to meet and experience God in everyday life. As a spiritual leader, St. Ignatius has much to say about the use of imagination in prayer and invites us not only to use our imagination but to really make a “composition of the event” using our imagination. What do I hear? What do I see? As I try to imagine that Calvary event as related by St. John, I try to experience what God is telling me and where God meets me in this Gospel event — how this event can transform, change my life.
Today we stand at the foot of the cross with Mary, the beloved disciple and a few other women. What do I hear? What do I see? “Donald this is your mother. And from that hour Donald took her into his home.” The question is: to what extent have I taken Mary into my home?
Many years ago, when the Liturgical Commission in Rome chose this Gospel for the feast of Our Lady of La Salette, it was evident that this Gospel was not only meant to lead us to the apparition but even more importantly, La Salette would illustrate and actualize – beautifully and forcefully — the mystery that is revealed to us in the simple words, “This is your mother.” If the beloved disciple is not named, perhaps it is because he represents all the countless generations of believers who would be disciples of Jesus. Perhaps they would not be afraid to stand at the foot of the cross and open their hearts and lives to that word. And so today we stand attentively at the foot of that cross.
What are Some of our Challenges as La Salette Ministers of Reconciliation?
Editor: This is the fourteenth in this series of articles based on the eight Dossiers (from February 1978 to November 1981) totaling 718 pages in this study. In 1982, Fr. Eugene Barrette, M.S., the prime mover in this historic study, was elected the thirteenth La Salette Superior General (1982-1988). Other articles on Religious Life are available in our La Salette Online Library
In this video (above), we hear Noah describing to his children how sin entered our human history. He concludes by saying that “man must end” and be cleansed by a deadly flood. Then humankind can begin with Noah’s family the long process of reconciliation with God and others. A new covenant with God can begin, with God’s sign, a radiant rainbow.
La Salette Rule:
Likewise, the Missionary makes every effort to be:
• available to all people since they are all loved by God;
• respectful of the culture and personality of the people he serves, identifying himself with them, uncovering the richness and values of their culture, and offering, along with them, these innate gifts to Christ;
• open to people's problems and difficulties to help them find solutions that are consonant with the Good News of Christ. (#40cp)
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Why did Mary come to La Salette?
It seems to be a simple question but there are actually many different reasons why Mary appeared to the two children on Saturday, September 19th, 1846 on that serene mountain in the French Alps.
Phase One of the La Salette Apparition: the children see a Lady seatred, weeping
1) Our Lady came to express her specific concerns: The Name of her Son, the Lord’s Day, Penance and Prayer. These are not just injunctions and options or multiple choices, but especially the means of a relationship with God, and they all have to be practiced and lived, if they are to become part of our lives, and if we are to have relationships at all.
We learn from Mary that: Relationships are the stuff of today’s spiritual books and spirituality. Relationships with Christ, with others are the Promised Land of Bible study and retreats, seminars, workshops – you name it. But they have to be lived before they can be possessed. As the Beautiful Lady said:
- The “other” has to be respected (Name).
- We must spend precious, quality time with that person (Sunday worhsip and rest).
- We must appreciate and practice the qualities of self-denial, self-forgetfulness, life-long selflessness (Penance).
- And these qualities must become part of our inner selves, part of our very souls; the other’s concerns become ours, and the other’s suffering becomes part of our daily existence (Prayer).
Relationships are pleasing; that is, they are meant to please the other, and they often do. But the person working toward strengthening their relationship finds it pleasing and unpleasant as well – pleasing to receive, but not always easy to give. And this is all right, because this is the way our life should be. After all, Christ did suffer his passion and death with love, but he still did ask, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42).
Is the La Salette Apparition a Charism?
Editor: This is the first in a series of three talks, based on notes taken by Fr. Donald Paradis, M.S. and expanded by Fr. Ron Gagne, M.S. These talks, entitled “La Salette – Charism as Mission,” were delivered at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette Attleboro, MA, by Fr. Johann Roten, S.M., Director of the Marian Center at Dayton University, Dayton, Ohio. They were given on two occasions: August 17, 2002, and April 23, 2005.
St. Paul mentions the source and distribution of charisms, understanding these as divine spiritual gifts to individuals or groups for the good of the community. He explains: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit . . . But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes” (1 Corinthians 12:7,11).
The La Salette Virtual Novena
A La Salette Novena has existed from the earliest days following the La Salette Apparition on that Holy Mountain on September 19, 1846. In each age, it has continued to express the ongoing needs of the People of God and their response to Mary’s Apparition at La Salette.
Mary’s message is seen by many Marian scholars as the most biblical of the modern apparitions, and rightly so. We can return again and again to her message and hear echoes of both the Old and New Testaments in her words and actions, her surroundings and the various symbols of her apparition.
In this digital age, it is good to use contemporary communication methods to express and support these nine days of prayer to Our Lady of La Salette. Therefore we offer you this La Salette Virtual Novena for your prayerful communication with God. Fortunately our La Salette Parish of St. Ann’s in Marietta, Georgia has done this in the following Novena, using the latest scripture-based reflections on the La Salette Message. Enjoy!
You can buy a copy of the La Salette Prayer Book with various La Salette prayers and devotions at Amazon.com.
Introduction:
Title: La Salette virtual novena: Introduction
What is our Mission and Ministry as La Salettes in the Church?
Editor: This is the thirteenth in this series of articles based on the eight Dossiers (from February 1978 to November 1981) totaling 718 pages in this study. In 1982, Fr. Eugene Barrette, M.S., the prime mover in this historic study, was elected the thirteenth La Salette Superior General (1982-1988). Other articles on Religious Life are available in our La Salette Online Library.
What do the La Salettes do?
“It’s a question that all of us have been asked at one time or another. Most of us answer, ‘A little bit of everything,’ or ‘We work for reconciliation.’ The Church also asks the same question in an official way when it approves the Rule of Religious Communities. Apparently, our present Rule does not give a completely satisfactory answer because the Congregation for Religious has asked that our text make more apparent the specific apostolate that the [Community] is pledged to fulfill. The additions and changes made in this Chapter on the Apostolate [or Ministry] are an attempt to do precisely that.
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Mary’s purpose was our conversion
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-20;6:1 (The ministry of reconciliation)
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Portion of The Conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus by Michelangelo (1475-1564)So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God… Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
Reflection:
There was a new priest who came to a parish. It was his first sermon and it was great and they were all talking about it all week. So the next Sunday the parishioners were packed into the church. The new pastor got up, and guess what, he gave the very same sermon. And well, alright, that didn't in initially faze anybody. They said, “Oh, that's understandable. There were people who weren't here last Sunday so it was good he gave the same one. But on the third, fourth and fifth Sunday, he gave the very same one!
Mary’s unique crucifix
Solemn Crowning of Our Weeping Mother, a window from La Salette House Chapel, Hartford, ConnecticutMany renowned artists have created masterpieces depicting the Virgin Mother with the infant Jesus in her arms. Still, very few have left us a portrait of Mary carrying the image of the crucified Jesus on her heart – perhaps out of respect for the traditions of religious art.
However – who would have ever thought of it! When Our Lady appeared at La Salette, she wore a bright crucifix suspended from a golden chain on her chest. At the solemn crowning of Our Lady of La Salette on the Holy Mountain by Cardinal Guibert of Paris, Papal Legate, on August 21, 1879, the statue chosen for the occasion reproduced this unique crucifix of the Virgin, and Rome approved this new way of representing the Mother of God.
Here is how the little shepherdess Melanie described this crucifix of the Beautiful Lady:
"She also had a little gold chain around her neck. This chain was one finger wide and held a cross with its Christ. This crucifix was seven to eight inches long. It took from the top of the chest and went down to the crossed arms so that the foot of the cross was a little hidden under the sleeves."
According to the child, the figure of Christ looked alive and shone with a delightful radiance. This crucifix outshone in light and beauty all the finery of the Beautiful Lady.
What is our La Salette Life and Ministry?
Third phase of the Apparition: Mary ascends and disappears into the air
Editor: This is the twelfth in this series of articles based on the eight Dossiers (from February 1978 to November 1981) totaling 718 pages in this study. In 1982, Fr. Eugene Barrette, M.S., the prime mover in this historic study, was elected the thirteenth La Salette Superior General (1982-1988). Other articles on Religious Life are available in our La Salette Online Library.
La Salette Rule:
As disciples of Christ we live in communion with him. As his apostles we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit, as he was, for the fulfillment of the Father's loving design. Our life, like Christ's, comprises both prayer and apostolic activity in our service to people for the Kingdom of God. (#25, emphasis added)
What three competing areas must be balanced
in our religious life and ministry?
“We have not included the specific stress on the study of Holy Scripture (which was previously contained here) because it has now been included in our Rule, #8C and #66C. Apostles/disciples, action/contemplation, being sent/being with – these are . . . aspects of our (ministerial) religious life that must always be maintained. What is important to realize is that prayer is not primarily concerned with our spiritual life and the apostolate with our work life. Both are concerned with our spiritual life – both are concerned with our work life.