14th January – With Jeanne Antide - Sister of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret

14^th January 2016 – With Saint Jeanne Antide

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Refrain of praise to the Lord

– You are the strong God; it’s on You alone that I lean. You are my strength and my support” – Refrain

“In You alone my Lord, I have put my trust; my Hope, for time and eternity, ” Refrain

On the 14^th January 1934, Pope Pius XI canonised : Jeanne-Antide Thouret, born in Sancey, diocese of Besançon, on the 27^th November 1765, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of charity under the protection of Saint Vincent de Paul, since 11^th April 1799, and died in Naples, in the monastery of Regina Coeli, on the 24^th August 1826.

Let’s recall the event of the canonisation, with all the sisters present on the four continents and with all the friends of Jeanne-Antide.

We are together to thank the Lord; we thank him for the life of Jeanne-Antide, for her fidelity to the Gospel and to the Church, for her creative charity to the service of the poor, for her love towards the sisters of her Congregation.

In this day, like her and with her, we ask “that God’s will be done for his greatest glory!” Ref.

Ps.144 ant. I will exalt you my God, my King, I will bless your name, now and forever !

      I will exalt you, my God
      I will praise your name forever and ever.
      Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
      his greatness no one can fathom.The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love ;
the Lord is good to all,
he has compassion on all he has made. The Lord is faithful to all his promises,
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall,
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you:
and you give them their food at the proper time;

you open your hand :
and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways,
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.He fulfils the desires of those who fear him: He hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord !
Let every creature praise his holy name,
forever and ever ! Glory ….

“Every story is unique, but they all start with an encounter which enlightens, touches the heart and commits the whole individual. The relationship with God doesn’t concern only a part of ourselves but our entire being. This love is so big and so true that it merits everything and merits all our trust” Pope Francis, 4th October 2013– To the youths of Umbria

Song

“Mercy and forgiveness will make us worthy of God’s

mercy and forgiveness” (letter of JA to Sr. Martha, 1825)

How many times has Jeanne-Antide insisted on the urgency of charity towards the poor, the children, the sick … it’s the Lord whom you serve… she also utterly insisted on the importance of fraternal charity lived day by day, a charity without hypocrisy, a generous and loving charity. You, sister, ask for pardon and forgive before the setting of the sun.

Song

From the letter of St. Paul to the Romans 12,9

“Let love be without any pretence. Avoid what is evil; stick to what is good.

In brotherly love let your feeling of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others more important than yourself.… In the service of the Lord, work not half-heartedly but with an eager spirit. Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly …. Look for opportunities to be hospitable. Bless your persecutors: never curse them, bless them.

Rejoice with others when they rejoice, and be sad with those in sorrow. Give the same consideration to all others alike; pay no

regard to social standing, but meet humble people on their own terms. Do not congratulate yourself on your own wisdom. Never try to get revenge: but leave that to the retribution. As much as possible, and to the utmost of your ability, be at peace with everyone. Time of silence

Refrain to the Holy Spirit …

soloist: O God, you reveal your power especially across your mercy and pardon,

together: grant us to live a year of grace, time to love you and our brothers, in the joy of the Gospel.

soloist: Continue to instil in us your Holy Spirit, so that we never tire to turn our glance trustfully towards the one whom we have pierced, your Incarnate Son,

resplendent face of your infinite mercy, a sure refuge for us sinners,

needy of pardon and peace, of truth that liberates and saves. Ref. to the Holy Spirit …

together: He is the Door, through which we come to you, source of consolation for everybody,

eternal beauty, perfect joy in everlasting life.

soloist: May the Immaculate Virgin intercede for us. She is the first splendid fruit of the paschal victory, bright dawn of the new heavens and the new earth, joyful haven of our earthly pilgrimage.

together: To you, Holy Father, to your Son, our Redeemer, to the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, every honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. Refrain to the Holy Spirit …

Magnificat!

Let us pray: Lord we praise you and thank you for giving Saint Jeanne-Antide to your Church.

Grant us to continue in the same path which she indicated to us in the light of the Gospel. We pray you to help us, especially in the dark moments of our life, with the words which she left us: “Lord, you see everything, you know everything, I hope in your goodness and in your power; may your Will be done on me and on us for the Glory of the Father and the happiness of the poor”. Amen!

Hymn to Jeanne-Antide