The Prayer of Mother Anne-Regis Filliat
“O Divine Lover of the Cross, in your example may I learn to love the crucifixion of the body and the spirit! »:
“Whoever is called to work actively in the Lord’s Vineyard must learn, as the Divine Master does, what souls cost. Surround them with care and tenderness. It is through Charity that God communicates himself to souls, not by compulsion and by force. To put on Jesus Christ, put on meekness and goodness …
To imitate Him: He has His feet tied to wait for us, His arms extended to receive us. O Divine Lover of the Cross, in your example I love the crucifixion of the body and the spirit! Good example, good mood, good grace always and still … My Savior was crowned with thorns by those He came to save. May I be a poor person every day ;endure. More than ever live poverty … simplicity is enough. Poverty means lack, need. He rejoiced at having no place to rest his head, follow in the example of Our Lord. Blush with shame for claiming amenities.
Suffering has above all the advantage of sanctifying the soul: therefore those who procure it for us are our benefactors. Let us love them tenderly, prove that to them on every occasion and without tiring, whatever happens. Let’s do that and let others follow our example. Let’s say like our divine Master: Forgive them. We owe to the Community the perfection of our whole being. We must aspire to be one of his best subjects, and by no means be satisfied with being mediocrities. So let’s do everything remarkably well, like Our Lord, who did all things well. Let them raise their hearts up! They lift up their thoughts, their affections, their looks towards Heaven. To rise is to think like Our Lord, to speak as He does, to act as He does. In trials, contradictions, great patience. Look at our Lord, your Model. When He succumbed under the Cross, He was not relieved by words of compassion, but the executioners struck harder. When he was charged with insults, he made no threats, but He gave himself up to the power of those who mistreated Him, He prayed for those who caused Him to die. In his example, let us pray for those who make us suffer, forgive them while we are offended. ”
Note: Mother Anne-Régis Filliat (1841-1923) born Francine Filliat, Visitandine, Mistress of novices and Superior in 1880 of the Monastery of the Visitation of St. Mary of Lyon-Fourviere and Founder of that of Vassieux.