It is difficult to love one another. Nevertheless we must do it. Not only reason, but the Gospel demands it. Let us, then, be firmly resolved never to do anything that might impair kindly relations in the community, or weaken among its members the sincere affection becoming true sisters. Many are false in their use of words. May we never lie in giving to any member whatsoever of the community the sweet name, mother, or sister.
Through Baptism alone, we compose among ourselves a glorious and beautiful unity in Christ. We have agreed to seal this unity tightly by the same profession in the same Institute.
All right, then, let us live it! Never permit anything that will injure it! And since all this is but negative, let us resolve to do all in our power that each day this unity may become holier, more vital, and more loving.
In the Church of Vesinet, in a suburb of Paris, the painter Maurice Denis has represented among other panels this image: in the first painted arch, where one can perceive the basilica of Montmartre as the background, five persons are distinguishable, in the center St. Margaret Mary with arms extended; next to her at one side are St. John Eudes and the Blessed Claude de la Colombiere; on the other, the queen, St. Jeanne of Valois, and St. Gertrude; below in a smaller arch is a group representing Christ uniting in a fraternal embrace a working man, a peasant, a man of the middle class and a man of letters.
What a beautiful idea! The Heart of Jesus, King and Center of all hearts! To establish union among the hearts of all men requires the heart of a God. We too will place all our efforts to practice fraternal charity, particularly during this month of the Sacred Heart, under the protection of the Heart of Jesus.
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
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