20 enero 2011

20/01/2011: General House - Rome

Dear Sisters,
Wednesday 20th January 2011 will mark the beginning of the 170th year since the apparition of Mary to the young Alphonse Ratisbonne in the Church of Sant Andrea della Fratte. This event proved to be a foundational moment for his brother Theodore and the beginning of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion - the beginning of our story. As we know the handing on of stories and traditions from one generation to the next is very important in both the Jewish and Christian traditions. Each generation hears the same stories and receives the same traditions but fills them with new meanings.

WHAT SIONIAN STORIES AND TRADITIONS DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT? HOW DO YOU FILL THEM WITH NEW MEANINGS AND MAKE THEM RELEVANT FOR YOUR LIFE TODAY? HOW DO YOU PASS THEM ON TO OTHERS?

The focus of the Event of January 20th was the apparition of Mary to Alphonse. For Alphonse Mary was a light; in many ways she is a light for us too. Mary heard the Word spoken to her. She kept it in her heart and obeyed it, bearing it in her womb. Mary lived out the Sh’ma to the full. Her song of praise, the Magnificat, speaks of the promise and fulfilment she helped to bring about in her life.

WE TOO ARE CALLED TO BE LIGHT AS SISTERS OF SION. HOW CAN WE CARRY THE WORD MORE AND MORE IN OUR LIVES? HOW CAN WE RESPOND MORE FULLY TO THE WORD?

The General Chapter Document 2010 speaks about our biblical spirituality which is “based on the constant study of the Word of God”. The document also recommends that we engage in biblical study “directed in the light of Jewish tradition”. HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS PARTICULAR WAY OF BIBLICAL STUDY WITH ONE ANOTHER A REALITY IN OUR LIVES?

We are encouraged by the new document Verbum Domini which urges all Christians to study the whole Bible and to be shaped by it. Several recent Church documents have emphasised the value of studying Jewish exegesis and learning from it. Can we encourage others to do the same?

We wish you all a very happy Feast of January 20th. May it bring us all many blessings as we walk together with Mary, Alphonse and Theodore.

With our love,