Veni Si Amas Retreat - April 8-10, 2016

Where: St. Francis Convent, Alton, IL
Who: Single, Catholic women age 17-30
When: Friday, April 8th at 6:30pm/7:00pm to Sunday, April 10th at 9:00am
For more information or questions, please contact Sr. M. Consolata at vocations@altonfranciscans.org

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Journey with Mary: Sacrificial Love of Spiritual Motherhood

Recently, I found a reflection I had written during my first retreat as a postulant. The last conference that had been given was on Spiritual Motherhood. As I approached the 4 th Station where Jesus meets His Sorrowful Mother, this is what struck my heart: What is the sacrificial love of a mother? It is the self-sacrifice made to love her children. Mary’s self-sacrifice to be there with Christ, her Son, in His passion was the selfless love that united her with Him. Her heart was pierced with 7 swords in the agony of watching her beloved Son endure a cross that He did not deserve, but which He embraced for the love of the Father and mankind. Could she not have said to Jesus, “You don’t have to do this, there are other ways. Do you know how much pain You are causing me and those who love you?” She knew He could have chosen any other way t...

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