Celebrating the Fourth Joyful Mystery…. and Four Joyful Foundresses
The Fourth Joyful Mystery:
The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
In January 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life to be celebrated every year on February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Feast commemorates the act of Mary and Joseph in the Temple, presenting Jesus to the Lord. “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is an eloquent icon of the total offering of one’s life for all those who are called to show forth in the Church and in the world, by means of the evangelical counsels ‘the characteristic features of Jesus—the chaste, poor and obedient one.’” -Message of the Holy Father John Paul II for the World Day for Consecrated Life, paragraph 5
Consecrated to the Lord: A New Community
Just seven days after the first ever World Day for Prayer for Consecrated Life, Mother Assumpta, O.P., Sr. John Dominic, O.P., Sr. Joseph Andrew, O.P., and Sr. Mary Samuel, O.P. were presented to the Universal Church as its newest community: The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.
As candles are blessed today, symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world, we gratefully reflect on how our foundresses were drawn to reflect Christ’s radiance through the founding of a new religious community!
We invite you to pray for our foundresses and for all consecrated religious throughout the World on the 23rd Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life:
