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| Sunday, 13 October 2002 |
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Ceremony on Oct. 20 : Beatification of the foundress of the Franciscan Missionaries by Rev. Sister Shirley de Silva FMM Pope John Paul II will beatify Sister Mary of the Passion, the Foundress of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, on Mission Sunday, October 20,in Rome. The beatification of the Foundress takes place after 125 years of the Congregation and it will be a day of rejoicing and jubilation to all the Sisters of the Congregation and to the Franciscan family throughout the world. Sri Lanka will join the Universal Church in praising God for she had benefitted much from the services rendered by the Franciscan Sisters. They worked among the lepers and also served as nurses at the General Hospital in Colombo. Even to this day our people remember the selfless service rendered by these nuns in our hospitals, from which they were forced to leave in 1964. They came to Sri Lanka in 1886, on the invitation of the government to serve in General Hospital in Colombo and also took steps to introduce English education girls responding favourably to a request made by the parents of Moratuwa. The School, Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa now a leading school in the country. Helen de Chappotin, who took the religious name as Mary of Passion, was a woman of destiny, born on the 21st of May,1839, as the youngest daughter of the noble Chappotin family of Nantes in France. She was specially chosen by God to spread his message of love far and wide. Helen's childhood was a very happy one. Surrounded by love she lived with her parents and four siblings at Chateau du Fort, a spacious building with gardens not far from the woodlands and a meandering river - a veritable paradise for lively children. Christian goodness prevailed in the Chappotin family and Gospel values were inculcated mainly by example. Following in her mother's footsteps, Helen imbibed a deep and abiding love for God and for the poor. From her father who was a man of deep faith and broad vision, she acquired a knowledge of distant lands and needs of the people. At the age of 17, she decided to give herself entirely to God, and at the age of 21, she entered the Order of Poor Clares. However,as a result of ill health, she had to return home. Undaunted by this disappointment in 1864 she entered the Order of Marie Reparatrice and received the habit and the name Mary of Passion. Her dream of becoming a missionary was finally realised when she commenced her work as a Missionary in India. Before long, she was appointed Provincial of the Congregation of Madura Mission. She regarded authority as service, an opportunity to respond to the needs of the mission with a greater zeal. Shortly afterwards, she had to give heed to another call: To found a Congregation with a mission to the people all over the world. She went to Rome to sow the seed for such far-reaching work. On the day of the Feast of Epiphany of Our Lord, January 6,1877, with the approbation of Holy Father Pope Pius IX, she founded the Institute of Missionaries of Mary and in 1882, she had the joy of joining the Franciscan family. Her dearest wish had been fulfilled and the Institute was named Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. A very painful period followed. She had to undergo much suffering. "The seed had to die to be born to a new life". After this trying period, Mary of the Passion emerged victorious. The time was not ripe to venture into foreign climes, even the most distant and dangerous places had to be visited, should the need arise. Mary of Passion was a woman for all seasons. With her courage, daring and vision, she looked for ways and means of answering to the needs of the world. At a time when a woman's place was the home, she saw her religious daughters fulfilling her aspirations to "launch into the deep". She foresaw their importance as women of their era taking up the challenge of future society. Thus with the daring inherent in her, Mary of the Passion began to answer to the call for service from the furthest nooks and corners of the world, especially to the poorest and the most needy. She was ready with her daughters to face the difficulties that they would inevitably encounter - a painful response mingled with joy. Burning with zeal to lead others to experience God's love, she despatched her sisters far and wide with the thought - "if I had a thousand lives". Thus Sisters were sent to Africa, Sri Lanka, China, France, England, Switzerland and Congo. The first group came to Sri Lanka in 1886, on the invitation of the government to serve in General Hospital in Colombo.At the time of her death, the Institute had spread to Mozambique, Burma, Japan, Mongolia, Australia, Spain and Madagascar.There were more than 2000 missionaries serving in 23 countries. Sixty years later, there were more than 10,000 Sisters belonging to 65 different nationalities. The unity in diversity is a trait inherent in the life of Franciscan Missionary of Mary, which is a challenge to us even today. The Founder's deep devotion for the extension of God's Kingdom in the hearts of the people knew no bounds with clarity of faith she said -"If the Institute were my work, it would die with me. But if it is the work of God it will continue". This conviction enabled her to see God's hand in the growth of the Institute. Before long the Divine Call came to her join her Beloved Master in Heaven,as her work on earth was accomplished. Thus on November 15, 1904, mary of the passion gained her reward. With St. Paul she could say: " I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept my faith. And there is laid up for me, a crown which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me". Mary of the Passion bequeathed to her daughters the joy and simplicity of St. Francis and the attitude of availability of the Blessed Virgin Mary, always ready with an "Ecce" or "yes" to God's will. She also inculcated in the sisters her love of Jesus in the Eucharist as the Centre of their lives. Through contemplation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament they derive strength and courage to fulfil their mission even amidst great trials. They are dedicated to the universal mission announcing Jesus mainly through the witness of their lives. As artisans of peace they work to make the world more just and more human so that all may attain total liberation in Christ. "Our lives will be founded on prayer and the presence of God: and this union of mind and heart will accompany us everywhere and in all our undertakings".(Mary of the Passion) |
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