Two months have already passed since our special pilgrimage to Rome, and we are still reveling in the immensity of grace born on the trip. Our Junior Sisters took some time to sit down and reflect on their first trip to Rome as Nazareth Sisters. What a privilege it was to travel to these foundational places of our Congregation and to experience the internationality of our Nazareth Family!
Sister Molly Bernadette
There were many moments of grace for me during our trip, but one that I will always remember is kneeling in St. Mary Major praying, while having Mother’s words running through my head...”Here at the crib, I saw our Nazareth in America, taking roots in the spirit of the Holy Family...” And so it did, and thanks to Mother’s courage in saying “Yes”, and the courage and love of all our sisters who have followed in her footsteps for the past 150 years, now this young American woman (me) is privileged to kneel in the same place as she did. My heart was filled with pride, gratitude, and a deep desire that I too could continue to say “Yes” to whatever my Jesus would ask of me and carry our charism into our future.
As our celebrant said during our jubilee Mass, the gospel is ahead! So stand up, don’t be afraid, walk with hope and courage into tomorrow for the same child Jesus who inspired Mother Foundress, is present and calling to you.
“May these mysteries, O Lord, in which we have participated, profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to those that endure. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
– Prayer after Communion for 1st Sunday of Advent
Sister Incarna
One of the most striking experiences for me was to be able to visit the Holy House of Loreto. Almost the first thing we encountered at the Basilica was the plaque that listed our dear Mother Foundress as a saintly visitor to the Holy House. Seeing her name there brought her so close to us, and then, noticing that her name was surrounded by so many other names of saints I love, it felt like a joyful reunion was accompanying us to the walls of that little Nazareth house. There’s only a little bit of time that can be spent inside the walls of the Holy House itself, but I was so grateful to touch the stone, to lean up against it. I had such a strong sense of God’s desire, through the Holy Family and especially through Mary and her humble fiat, to draw close to us, to comfort us, and to give us strength in the long walk of this life.
Sister Pia
My first trip to Rome, what a remarkable gift! Like Mother Foundress, I have waited so long to visit the eternal city, and what an occasion to visit! We had the chance to visit our Motherhouse on Machiavelli hours before Mass at St. Mary Major. It was remarkable to think of the generations of prayers that have been said in this chapel by Nazareth Sisters. One small detail I particularly loved was learning that Mother Foundress had embroidered a small Host on her habit over her heart. What a beautiful reminder of the hidden Jesus constantly dwelling within her. From Machiavelli, we quite literally walked in the footsteps of Mother Foundress as we traveled from the Convent to St. Mary Major. During Mass, my mind returned to that little Host, in the Eucharist, Heaven and earth meet, and we are united with all who live in Christ. For myself, it was a true return to give thanks for all the years God’s love has guided our Congregation and for all that He is in the process of bringing to birth.
We ask you to join us in thanking God for this incredible opportunity to participate in this historical celebration, both on the level of the Universal Church in the Jubilee Year of Hope and our own 150th Jubilee as Sisters. May God continue to bless all of us as we seek to journey together with the Holy Family in hope.
