Reparation Thoughts
….By His Wounds we are healed
Volume XXIII, Number 7
Dear Donnès of Reparation, Family and Friends,
Roses have been particularly special to our Religious Community since its inception. The ‘rose’ was indicative in the work honoring Marie Rose Ferron, our spiritual inspiration, that eventually led to our founding. Mother Therese titled her concerts depicting the life of Rose Ferron, “The Life of A Mystical Rose”. It seemed a special landmark when God brought us to Portland, the “City of Roses”.
Our convent has an entire row of roses planted on the north border and others spread throughout the property. They are naturally beginning to bloom as the days of May become warmer. The first ones are always placed before the Most Blessed Sacrament and bouquets continue to honor all that is of heaven as the season unfolds. For Pentecost, we should have some lovely rose displays for the chapel.
Mother Therese and Mother Regina Rose would remind us that we were meant to be like beautiful fragrant ‘human’ roses honoring God with all that we are and all that we have the capability of becoming. Consequently, roses take on a spiritual perspective for us. In their naturalness, they are beautiful, fragrant, notable, and quite various in shape, size, color, form and fragrance. When we consider our own spiritual life of reparation, we too have many variances. Each of us is made in the image and likeness of God and each is unique, unlike any other. We have characteristics that take forms of beauty before the God Who made us. Our lives are meant to be fragrant and blossoming with grace. We are called to strive to holiness which is beautiful in the light of that grace. None of us are identical and none totally match in size and form. We are singular in our totality. The thorns of the rose remind us of the sacrificial life we were destined to joyfully embrace when we daily pray: “Voluntarie Sacrificabo, Tibi Domine, Jubilatio!” translated, “I Will Freely Sacrifice Unto You, O Lord, With Joy!” This is the work of an entire life. Thank goodness that God has given us a lifetime in which to complete it!!!
The months of May and June are set aside to honor Our Blessed Mother and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. They are the two greatest human examples of reparation. Every aspect of their life on earth teaches us how to live this call. And, beyond that, they have appeared to humankind teaching us more and more about the need to make reparation for our own sins and for the whole world.
This is a redemptive plea and one we cannot afford to ignore. Wherever and however possible, our daily life is to be approached with loving reparation in mind. No opportunity to joyfully offer to the Lord should be avoided. The more you do it, the less seems the cost!
So, we continue to plead: Sweet, Heart of Jesus, be my love! Sweet, Heart of Mary, be my salvation! Sweet, Heart of Joseph, be my justification in Jesus! Amen!
Mother Mary of the Angels, SR
May 2024
