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Her Son — Mary’s First Priority
When the venerable Benjamin Franklin was ambassador to the French court, he won many hearts by his ready turn of phrase. At a diplomatic dinner in 1781, all the big nations were present, including Britain, and Franklin was representing the newly independent United States of America.
What is our La Salette Grace and Charism?
Editor: This is the eleventh 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:
“Our Congregation is called to be a sign and instrument of the work of Reconciliation accomplished by Christ and with which Mary, as she reminds us in her Apparition, is so closely associated. (#22)
La Salette Priorities for Daily Living
This is the first in a series of articles on La Salette Priorities; that is, emphases rooted in the La Salette Message, which should motivate and inspire all those connected with and devoted to Our Lady of La Salette.
An Overview
1) Priority of Christ
Early Italian La Salette Holy CardThe Lady places her Son as her first priority: she never mentions the name of Jesus but refers to him as "my Son." She wants to highlight her title of mother of the Lord. At La Salette, she appears to the world under no prerogative other than that of the Mother of God. by placing him above all else, she is telling the world that the people of God should also have Christ as its own priority. As St. Paul reminds us: “For to me life is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).
This emphasis is not lost on the La Salette person who strives to live the spirit that the Lady wished to convey at La Salette. The apparition is heavily Christ-centered. The life of those devoted to Our Lady of La Salette should reflect that same truth.
2) Priority of the Eucharist
The Mass is the Easter Mystery lived in everyday life. It is Christ's self-giving. In the Eucharist, I am to acquire what I pray for and be what I perform. If I become that, I will become what the La Salette mystery requires me to be, like Christ in the Eucharist.
The Beautiful Lady's message is strong on the matter of the Eucharist: “In the summer, only a few elderly women go to Mass. The rest work on Sundays all summer long. In the winter, when they don't know what to do, they go to Mass just to make fun of religion.” A reconciling La Salette person is one with an extraordinary devotion to the Eucharist because the first goal of the Eucharist is redemption, reconciliation.
What is the witness value of our religious life?
Editor: This is the tenth 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:
Christ is the rule of our life (#7)
Christ is the fundamental rule of all Christianity, however...
“‘All the members ought to be molded into Christ's image until he is formed in them’ (Galatians 4:19)...We must be careful not to fall into the idea that religious are ‘more perfect’ than the non-religious. Perfection is found in the charity that is active in a person's life. The religious, however is to live this charity with a greater effort to focus on the Lord especially in trying to mirror in a particular way the pattern of the Lord's life here on earth.
Pope Francis connects with Elements of La Salette Spirituality
Editor: Discussions were held with La Salette Scholastics and members of our House of Studies in Brighton, MA, led by Fr. Ted Brown., M.S. In their unique approach, they began with the premise that, since Mary came to La Salette to bring God’s message to her people, we can learn from Mary the “feelings (or wisdom) of God.” Here is their summary of the twelve basic elements of La Salette Spirituality for our reflection. The introduction, quotes from Pope Francis, and the reflection questions were added by Fr. Ron Gagne, M.S.
Introduction: The message Our Lady of La Salette brought to us on September 19, 1846, is not uniquely her own but rather the message of her Son, Jesus. Her message is filled with references to her Son and echoes the Old and New Testaments. Pope Francis speaks about some of these same characteristic elements which can, in a supportive sense, deepen our appreciation of the La Salette message.
1. God’s love for us is so deep that it meets us in and through our circumstances.
- Scripture says: “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
La Salette Crucifix with its signature hammer and pincers - After the apparition: The two children described that at the very spot where they had slept was a globe of fire, as if, in the children’s words: “the sun had fallen there.”
- Pope Francis in his homily at Mass on June 8, 2018, said:
Read more Pope Francis connects with Elements of La Salette Spirituality
The Venerable Fr. Jean Berthier, M.S. – A Final Procession
Note from the La Salette Publication, “Les Annales”: A La Salette Missionary has emerged into the honors of the Catholic Church; namely, that of Father Jean-Baptiste Berthier (1840-1908). After his intense activity as an awakener of apostles' souls at our first Minor Seminary of Saint Joseph in Corps, and then as Director of the Scholasticate of Theology, he took refuge in Switzerland at the beginning of the 20th century and, then prompted by a providential inspiration, founded in Holland the first important ministry of Late Vocations. It would soon become a new autonomous religious community, the Missionaries of the Holy Family.
We are happy to publish the pages that Fr. Leon Jambois, M.S. (1893-1959) wrote in 1954 on his return from Holland, after having attended the exhumation and the canonical recognition of the body of the Servant of God, a ceremony that brought to a close the long investigation of the Diocesan Process, preceding the introduction of his cause of beatification in Rome. (Video above shows Fr. Berthier’s final resting-place on the Holy Mountain of La Salette in France.)
A challenging beginning
Read more The Venerable Fr. Jean Berthier, M.S. – A Final Procession
We’re made in the Image of God
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26–27).”
God had a dream—make humans in God’s own image
God dreamt of man and created him in his own image and likeness. And although, by disobeying, man lost the divine friendship, sin did not destroy this relationship entirely, since God dreamt of the restoration of the human race and, for this reason, sent forth his Son (John 3:16). The plan to send the Son was preceded by great men whose faithfulness was put to the test, like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David. With these, and especially after Moses, He dreams of having a whole prophetic people; He dreams of the day when He can purify man, exchange his heart of stone for one of flesh, infuse him with the Holy Spirit.
A La Salette Novena of Acceptance
What is a Novena? It is the venerable practice of saying special prayers for nine successive days to obtain special favors or graces from God. This devout practice began in twelfth-century Christianity and can be most beneficial today as a prayerful way to ask for healing, protection, or other special blessings for ourselves or others.
Our Lady of La Salette speaks with the two children, phase two of her ApparitionThis Novena of Acceptance: is a gift for your prayer. It is based on the two great commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves [Matthew 22:35-40]. It is a prayerful way to read scripture and reflect over nine days on our call to accept ourselves, others, and God. You may find it useful as a daily Examination of Conscience or in preparation for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Each day contains: 1) a scripture passage, 2) reflection questions and 3) a closing prayer and La Salette Invocation. Each day of the novena may be concluded with personal or traditional prayers.
Know that, as you pray this Novena, the members of the La Salette Communities who serve in our ministries will be praying for you as well. May Our Lady of La Salette guide you and God bless you abundantly.
Day One: Accepting Myself As A Sinner
1) Scripture: Psalm 51:3-4,12-14,19 (Have mercy on me, God)
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me... A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit. Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit... My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.
Our Emmanuel—The Reconciler In Deed
John the Baptizer plays a prominent role in all of the four gospels. Some gospels don't feature Joseph. Only Luke has the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. The Gospel is the same and different in the four versions. But John the Baptizer plays a center-stage role in all of them because of his relationship to Christ. He was the Announcer, the Proclaimer of the One coming to reconcile the whole world to himself. They just could not leave John out of any gospel.
Creation –a gift to be worked, contemplated and enjoyed
When God created the world, on the first three days he called into existence the cosmos and the earth. Then on the following three days, he decorated them, ending in the sixth day with the creation of man: male and female. On the seventh day he rested.
A truly beautiful world
The Creation – Bible Historiale (c. 1411); photo: British LibraryNevertheless, this was not a rest because God got tired with the work of his creation, but it was the rest God wanted in order to enjoy the wonders he had created. We can attribute to creation the transcendental qualities St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P., had listed—the good, the true, and the beautiful. The Universe and the earth are very good (for us), true (or real), and stunningly beautful.
And if the days of creation point out the steps of time (not necessarily of twenty-four hours for each of us) then the last day, the seventh step, can last until the end of the world, because there is so much to be admired!
“I gave you six days...”
In this context wells up the words of the Beautiful Lady in the message: “I gave you six days to work; I kept the seventh for myself, and no one will give it to me.” If we interpretate this reproach from Mary in the context of rest, meant as admiration, then it would be right to utter here that song of praise she sang for the wonders of God accomplished in her life, her Magnificat:
Read more Creation –a gift to be worked, contemplated and enjoyed