Sundays / 'Prayer Days' / Sabbath Rest

I prayed hard yesterday for the Fundraiser! I hope all went well and that those of you who were free to help at Madonna Inn had a good time. Thanks! How much did the Newman Staff dinner go for this year?

Meanwhile over here in La Neyliere there are no group sessions planned on Sundays. It's a day dedicated to prayer, rest, and reading. The 'rest' part is really unnecessary, since we're not really working that hard on the other days of the week.

Today we had Mass in 'Le Grande Chapelle,' which is the Church built shortly after Fr. Colin died. Believe me, it doesn't have the feel of a Chapelle. It feels like a little Church. The stain glass windows, depicting scenes from Jesus' life, are incredible, and the chapel is Gothic in style. A group of children who were preparing for First Communion celebrated Mass with us and the locals this morning. Lots of energy was present.

There is a beautiful statue of Mary holding Jesus in the Chapelle. I was able to capture it the other day -- just at the right moment of light. The colors that enveloped Mary reminded me of the diversity of our Church, of how Mary reflects the light of Christ in her own life, and of how we are called to do the same as Catholics and Marists. As I was reflecting on this picture this morning, I remembered an important quote for us members of the Society of Mary. I'll leave you with the quote and the picture as you mark your Sunday, which is not very old yet on your side of the Ocean. Perhaps some of you Newmanites have already heard this call in your heart -- and are searching for the courage to bring it to fruition.

"Let them always bear in mind that they belong by a gracious choice to the family of the blessed Mary, Mother of God, from whose name they are called Marists, and whom they have chosen from the beginning as their model and their first and perpetual superior. If therefore they are true sons of this dear Mother, let them try constantly to breathe her spirit of humility, self-denial, intimate union with God, and the most ardent love of neighbor." (Jean Claude Colin)