This stunning portrait, “Into the Light*” was painted by Sr. Pat Willems, CSJ, of the Sisters of St. Joseph, LaGrange, Il. (courtesy of Ministry of Arts). Sister Pat gave permission to share it with the Ladies of Charity. We find the tomb and the stones that marked the grave of the Risen Lord ‘transformed’ into Light, into a new Life of budding, emerging Springtime. “ Alleluia!” is the song of the desert. “The Lord has Risen”! Jesus emerges from the tomb and visits Mary Magdalene, the apostles by the sea shore, the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Our Risen Savior prepares us for His Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. “Into the Light” captures the beauty, the hope of the message of the Readings for us in the Gospel- time of Resurrection to Pentecost.
For St. Louise de Marillac, ‘light’ and the time of Ascension to Pentecost, had particular significance. A powerful mystical moment was experienced on the Feast of Pentecost (1623) for St. Louise, which she called her ‘Lumiere experience’. She wrote: ”I would be in a small community where others would do the same. I, then, understood where I could help my neighbor, but I did not understand how this would be possible because there was much coming and going.” (L.Sullivan DC, (1995) Classics: Vincent DePaul and Louise de Marillac. Paulist,p.226). Working to establish the Daughters of Charity and assisting the Confraternities of the Ladies of Charity was to be her work in meeting the Will of God for her. In the spirit of St. Louise de Marillac, let us enter into the prayer of the Paschal Mystery and Pentecost Springtime, so that we, too, may find the Will of God in our lives and go “Into the Light.”
– Sr. Fran Ryan, DC , LCUSA Sister Moderator
*“Into the Light”
Artist: Pat Willems, CSJ
Courtesy of www.Ministryofthearts.org
Congregation of St. Joseph