Witness

The Roman gremlins infested the electronic translation equipment this morning as we were beginning our session making the simultaneous translations impossible. After about 1/2 hour of trying various remedies, it became evident that a call to the technicians needed to be made. With typical Franciscan ingenuity, a temporary solution was found by putting the faciliator, who speaks English, in the English translater's booth so that translation into the other languages could continue. When the time came for Sr. Andrea from Germany to give a digest of the daily news to our group, she used the translator's booth so that the translation into English could be made. Thankfully, the technicians eventually arrived and, after some consultation, diagnosed the problem so that our morning of reflection could begin.

Sr. Colette Rhoney, a member of the Holy Name Province in the U.S.A., is our speaker for the next two days as we spend some time in prayer and reflection. Her talk this morning began with the beautiful words and music of the following chant: Holy Sacred Spirit, breathe Your breath on us. Holy Sacred Spirit breathe Your life in us.

Seven candles were brought into the center of our gathering space by representatives from each language group and placed around the San Damiano cross as each spoke the words of the chant to the Holy Spirit in her own language. It was such a simple prayer, yet at the same time, so complex with layer upon layer of meaning.

Sr. Colette continued the morning with reflections on the theme of "Witness", which is the first of the words of our General Chapter theme for 2009. She reminded us of the testimony of the first sisters of Clare who witnessed to Clare's holy manner of life. Clare, a woman who in choosing to wash the bedding of the sisters in her community who were sick, literally gve her life to the witness of the gospel of service, since those vermin infested beds could have been infected with plague carrying fleas.

Sr. Colette reminded us of our sisters, begining with Mother Magdalen, who have been witnesses of peace, reconciliation, and hope throughout our 174 year history as a congregation. As we remember the witness that we have given as an international congregation and look toward the witness that is yet to be, she reminded us of these words from the Book of Deuteronomy: "Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life." --Deuteronomy 4:9

Her challenge to the Cahpter Delegates is really a question for all

of us, Sisters and Associates alike, who walk together in the Charism of Mother Magdalen: How do we take what we have seen and we have heard in our hearts to the service of a renewed church and a global reverence for all creation and all people? How are we witnesses to the passion of Christ?" It a question that the Delegates will consider together these next few weeks as we shape the direction of our community for the next five years.

Pace e Bene,

Margie