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A Message from Sr. Diana On The Feasts of the Transfiguration and the Assumption, August 6, 2008

From the Motherhouse, Sr. Diana -- our Superior General -- writes this letter:

Feast of the Transfiguration
Feast of the Assumption 2008

Dearest Sisters,

Surely these two August feasts have many things in common. Both are about "the glory of God breaking through humanity" (from the Introduction to the Rule of Life). In the Transfiguration the Father revealed to the disciples Jesus’ identity: "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" And in the Assumption we see how Mary had allowed the Life of the Trinity to gradually pervade her whole being.

This year the feast of the Transfiguration holds a special meaning for us because it is the 40th anniversary of the union between the Assumption and the Gardiennes Adoratrices. In her letter for the 20th anniversary, Sr. Clare Teresa wrote: "To each one of you, I want to say how happy I am that you are present with us, witnesses to your own rich spirituality … The common traits of our charisms.. love of the Eucharist and adoration, have been powerful means of deep communion." Responding to this letter, Sr. Marie Chantal, the last Assistant General of the Gardiennes, recognized the way that our story resonated with that of the gospel of the day when she referred to the gospel narrative of the Transfiguration: "With all of my sisters [Gardiennes Adoratrices] I want to repeat our filial appreciation and profound affection in thanksgiving: It is good for us to be here."

The disciples in Mark and Luke suggested that three dwellings be built on the mountain. Luke says that they didn’t know what they were saying, but it seems to me that they had a dim understanding of something that we can know clearly: indeed it is good for us to behold the glory of God in Jesus and to seek together to listen to the Father’s voice: "This is my Beloved Son."

Forty years ago our congregation was asked to widen and enlarge the space of its tent, and in doing so, we gained wider horizons. Since then, the Spirit has constantly called us to go forward with others -- the poor, immigrants, laity -- and we have benefited time and again from the experience of leaving the mountain and heading back down into the plain with them. Who knows? One day we may be welcoming other religious congregations! That can sound a little overwhelming, but let’s keep in mind that the Spirit is the principal actor in maintaining, reinforcing, and deepening the charism so that we can serve the Church and the world well.

"Lord, it is good to be here"...in this process of sharing ever more widely our joys, struggles, riches, and even our weaknesses. Together we are called to be witnesses of God’s love and of God’s covenant with humanity. May Mary be our model as we discover in her and in ourselves a woman’s capacity for love. (Introduction RL)

Joyous Feast of the Transfiguration and Assumption!

With my prayer and affection,
Sr. Diana ra

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Sr. Diana Wauters,

Superior General

Saint Marie Eugenie's tomb at the Religious of the Assumption Motherhouse, Paris

The Motherhouse in Paris