New Year’s Reflection, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

My Dear Good People,

Thank you for your many cards, promises of Masses and prayers and for your financial offerings for the Sisters and our ministries. We are profoundly grateful for the way you never fail to remember us.

The great Dag Hamerskjold penned these words to his Creator: For all that has been, Thanks. For all that will be, Yes. It sounds like a prayer that Mary, Mother of our Redeemer, might have prayed often during her life on earth. Let this be our watchword as we stand on the threshold of the new year. To the extent that we surrender our lives to the Will of God and accept all as coming from His loving Hands, we will be free. Our Foundress, Mother Marie Alma was fond of reminding us, “If you lose your freedom, you will lose the way.” We might embrace (virtually, of course) one another with the assurance that we will never be lost if we continue to remain open to all that God has in store for us. Let us not be afraid of what might be. If we try to live in the present moment, that is, to live deliberately, we may find that we are not so easily overwhelmed by the challenges that come our way–for come, they will. But in all things God is with us– that’s what Emmanuel means, and we heard that often in the last week.

Now, that is cause for hope.

The Sisters and I wish you a year of freedom from fear so that you will be at peace. We’ll light a candle for that intention for each of you reading this today. God knows who you are, so He will know for whom the candle burn

Blessed New Year to you!

With great love,

Mother Marie Julie

and the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady,

Mother of the Church