TO ALL THE RELIGIOUS OF THE CONGREGATION
AND COMPANIONS IN MISSION,
My dear Sisters and Companions in Mission,
Greetings from Rome.
Let me begin with a familiar story from Tony De Mello.
Once upon a time, a monk in his travels found a precious stone and kept it. One day he met a traveler, and when he opened his provisions with him, the traveler saw the pearl and asked the monk to give it to him. The monk did so readily. The traveler departed overjoyed with the unexpected gift of the precious stone that was enough to give him wealth and security for the rest of his life. However, a few days later he came in search of the monk, found him, gave him back the stone and entreated him: ‘Now give me something much more precious than this stone, valuable as it is. Give me that which enabled you to give it to me.’
This is the Ignatian indifference we are called to aspire – an equanimity of soul, which is the fruit of the discernment of spirits and freedom from disordered attachments.
We could ask ourselves:
- What is the precious stone that I cling to, what am I afraid to give up?
- Where or what is God calling or inviting me to?
- How can I/we respond to the cries of today’s world?
May Mary our dear Mother, through the intercession of St. Ignatius grant us the gift of indifference, to surrender all that we have and possess, with great liberty and inner joy, so as to ‘go to the peripheries’ and ‘beyond our own boundaries’ (#3 and # 4 JM Preferences), to sow the seeds of our charism and to bear fruit in many parts of the world.
A Very Happy Feast from all of us.
Mª Carmen RJM, Alejandra RJM, Encarna RJM, Nuria RJM, Shanty RJM
Monica Joseph RJM
General superior
