Section:
prayers
April 9
Environment
Candle, incense, any congregational historical books available, pictures, illustrations of our founding sisters
Preparation
(Excerpts from "The Tree and the Leaf" page 6, by Sister Jeannette Clare McDonnell, OSF)
". . . after her husband's death, in her moment of prayer, Mrs. Bachmann was gradually awakened to an insistent desire to consecrate herself to the Lord. In whatever way, she did not know, but in total consecration. In this period, her spiritual life must have been profoundly deepened as she sank her roots into the redeeming mystery of human suffering, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
Mrs. Bachmann's sister, Barbara Boll, had long wished to become a religious;
even perhaps to begin a new community. Anna now found this thought more
and more appealing. Both women consulted their confessors who encouraged
their desires for a deep union with God and a life of service in God’s name.
Anna Dorn, a young Franciscan tertiary, strengthened their interest in the
Franciscan way of life.... John Neumann, saintly bishop of Philadelphia, was gravely concerned
for the life of his immigrant church. In a visit to Rome in 1854, he asked
the Holy Father to approve his inviting European sisters to join him in the Philadelphia apostolates.You know Pius IX's answer: "Establish a Franciscan Sisterhood for your people."
Hymn Suggestions
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Likovich)
Remain As One (Roberts)
By Name I Have Called You (Landry)
Only This I Want (Schutte)
Before The Sun Burned Bright (Schutte)
Servant Song (McGargill)
Reconciling Creation (Likovich, Roberts)
Psalm/Canticle Suggestions
16; 45; 141; 119; Philippians 2 6-11; Ephesians 1:3-10
Antiphons
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I beseech you, my cherished Sisters, to become true imitators of Christ Jesus, your Spouse, whom we have chosen above all others.
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O, beloved daughters, elevate your hearts to God and let them dwell only on what pertains to God.
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May sisterly charity abide with you, and may you all be blessed eternally!
(Letters of Mother Francis Bachmann to Philadelphia from Utica, May 16, 1860)
Reading Suggestions
Philippians 3:7-8; Romans 8:28-30
Gospel Canticle Antiphon (sing/recite)
Remain as one in the Spirit of Love.
Remain as one in the union with God.
And even if all is lost; everything destroyed;
Let us be one heart united in love. (Roberts)
Intercessions
Loving God, you crowned with your blessing the founding spirit of Mother Francis Bachmann, Sr. Bernardine Dorn, and Sr. Margaret Boll. With trust in your loving providence, we pray...
Response: Loving God, hear us.
For the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and the sisters of our heritage congregations as we strive to live the gospel daily, we pray...
For the goal to live as one in dialogue with the Church, within our governing structures and in relationship with one another as sister, we pray...
For the passion to truly live the gospel, we pray...
For the vision and the strength to put our gifts at the disposal of others, especially women and children, and those who have no voice, we pray...
For the willingness to commit ourselves daily to conversion of heart, contemplation, poverty, and humility, we pray...
Conclusion:
We recommit ourselves to “rebuilding the Church”
by living the passion of the Gospel
in the discerning spirit of our Franciscan charism and tradition.We are willing to take the necessary risks
to be a healing, compassionate presence in our violent world
especially with women, children, and those who have no voice.We desire to reflect this commitment
in our dialogue with the entire Church,
in our own governing structures
and in our relationship with one another as sister.Commitment Statement, General Chapter, 1996
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
