Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: 112 Years of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration

"He made me see an immense procession of religious women.
It would be the oasis of purity and suffering,
His consolation on this earth.
There He would be adored day and night, exposed in the Eucharist."

~ From Conchita, A Mother's Spiritual Diary ~

There is a small group of nuns that live on the outskirts of Rome, in a house near the Appian Way. At first glance, it might seem that they only carry out simple work but the reality is that they have a greater mission: to worship the Eucharist and to pray for the world 24 hours a day. They are the Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sister Veronica Angel Lopez, Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
"We take turns to adore the Eucharist throughout the day, each of us prays half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon, and at night we have one-hour turns. And that's how we cover all 24 hours."

Sister Maria Belen Camargo, Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
"When we are in front of the Eucharist, He transmits to us His divine life, His Trinitarian life and so, in a mysterious way, we contribute to the transformation of the world through Jesus, and especially in the transformation of priests."

Each community prays for a particular priest every year, but all of them pray for the Pope's heart because, as they say, that's where he carries all of the Church's problems.

The nuns say that thanks to their communion with Jesus - that is through a continuous and deep prayer - they've been able to develop an exceptional intuition to perceive the needs and problems of the world.

Sister Elzbieta Sadowska, Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
"Each one of us has a mission, you never know what mission Jesus will give you today, for what He wants you to pray, for which cause on its behalf He wants you to pray. For example: one year you might need to pray for a problem that at that time the world neglects or is simply not interested in. But then your one-year prayer prepares the hearts of the people so that at any given time, they re able to respond to the necessities of others."

ConcepciĆ³n Cabrera de Armida founded the religious Order in Mexico in 1862. She was a wife and the mother of nine children, and at the same time, she led a life of holiness and of devotion to the Eucharist. The Mother Superior of the community in Rome says the founder's life could be an example to today's young girls.

Mother Superior Doris Herrera, Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Her message to young girls is that they should not be afraid of a commitment that is forever, whether in marriage or in religious life. They should dare to make a commitment forever because that's what they are most afraid of today and it's the most beautiful thing that can exist.

The Order of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has about 300 women that live in communities in the United States, Spain, Mexico and other countries. In May, they'll celebrate their 112th anniversary of continuous adoration of the Eucharist.
~ From Rome Reports, 5-6-09 ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests, and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.

No comments: