Jesus Caritas

Book cover of 'Pathway of Prayer with Little Sister Magdeleine'

The first thing we notice is that we don't find a prayer method in Little Sister Magdeleine's writings, nor any significant tract on prayer.. .In a letter to Father Voillaume dated April 17, 1946, she wrote:

"Tomorrow is Holy Thursday! Oh how I would love to inculcate in the little sisters all my own dreams of love for God. How I wish they would live with Him. But I don't quite know what to say—my contemplative life was fashioned by the Lord himself. And so I don't know how to craft its stages in the souls of my little sisters...And I don't believe they'll find such a formation here any more than anywhere else...It is so important that we can be with you as soon as possible."

L. Sr. Magdeleine was convinced that it was with Fr. Voillaume that the little sisters would be formed to a way of prayer adapted to their lifestyle. It was for this purpose that she founded the fraternity of El Abiodh in 1946; generations of little sisters attended his sessions there, and he initiated them in the way of prayer first marked out by brother Charles.

Even though L. Sr. Magdeleine didn't write very much on the subject of prayer, still she left us a witness and a deep experience of the mystery of God. We're going to watch her pray, re-read some of her early writings, and spend a moment looking at two basic prayers she bequeathed to us. Above all we'll seek to rediscover the passionate love that filled her prayer, because without that love, the fire turns to ashes!

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