A Little Exhortation

My dear sisters who have been called to join this little band gathered around Our Lady at the foot of the cross, let us stand firmly united to her to be formed in such an admirable school of the Lord's service! (John 19:25, TD 140, RB Prol:45)

There let us receive the Blood and Water which the Love of Our Savior cannot contain, to help bring to fruition this Life not only in our souls, but especially in the souls of His priests, the sacred ministers of that same Divine Life to the world! (John 19:26-27, John 7:37, John 19:34, John 17:23, John 17:18)

Let us be found in the midst of His Apostles only to be an example to persevere with one mind with the Church in prayer, drawing down the Spirit of Love and Truth upon our souls and the world! (Acts 1:14, Matthew 16:18, John 14:26, John 20:31, Acts 1:8)

As we hasten towards our heavenly goal, let us be available as Our Lady was at Ephesus, receiving and encouraging the tired or faint-hearted Apostles, allowing them an opportunity to refurbish their strength and rediscover the urgent necessity to continue going forth to teach all nations! (RB 73:8, John 19:27, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:13-15, II Timothy 4:1-5)

Any of you, dear sisters, who feel bidden by Our Lady, as the holy women of the Gospel felt impelled, to minister unto Our Lord and His Apostles, to assist them behind-the-scenes as they instruct, govern and sanctify souls, go with her blessing! Hear her say, "Do whatever He tells you!" Your sisters remaining behind will carry out assiduously the Opus Dei, laboring, praying and fasting, awaiting your return from aiding those working to cast our the Evil One from today's society. (Mark 15:40-41, TD 260, John 2:5, RB 16, Mark 9:28)

But let all of us, alone, yet one, withdrawing our mind from the distraction of manifold things, learn, as she did, to listen, to let the Transcendent One Who Is utter His Divine Word in our souls, so that we can in truth say that we live, now not we, but Christ lives in us. While hastening towards divine unity and towards the perfection of holy love, let us give of ourselves all to allow Him to overshadow us; let us receive Him, to bring Him forth in silence and poverty as she did! (Marmion, RB Prol:1, Exodus 3:14, John 1:1, Galatians 2:20, I John 2:5, Luke 1:35, John 1:12, Luke 2:7)

But alas! As we are not the Immaculate Conception, let us consecrate ourselves totally to Him through her in order to be filled with her spirit, which is none other than the Holy Spirit of God! Let us strive for our continuous conversion so as to imitate her, and order our lives under the holy patriarch Benedict's Rule for Monasteries, following it precepts in all its austere simplicity! Hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother! (TD 157, TD 217, TD 258, RB 58:17, RB 73:1, RB Prol:1, Proverbs 1:8)

In joyful self-oblation let us build for our God a house of prayer! Let us go with confidence, to the Source for all that is needed: His mercy and His grace, by which we are made holy and pleasing unto Him! (II Kings 7:25-29, Hebrews 4:16, John 19:34)

In Corde Mariae,