Lk 10:21-22
At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him’.From “The life of the Virgin Elizabeth Eppinger”
Upon the request of her Confessor, David Reichard related by herself and written by the latter:“My desire to know God, to love Him and to do what is pleasing to Him, has increased in me each year (Life …1/20 – 8 years). However, again it happened that my parents called me from prayer to do work. I did not obey my parents at once and continued with my prayer. Suddenly I felt as if the prayer was taken away from me. I was fearful and looked at the cross. I heard, again, an interior voice saying: “Obedience is more pleasing to me than prayer”.
From that moment I have been able to overcome my stubbornness and insubordination (Life … 1/35 – 12 years).
Prayer
God, our Father, encourage us to surrender our life to your love who became man and let us be transformed through this love. Make us, like Mother Alphonse Marie, open to your Gospel and thus participate in your plan of salvation. You want to build up your kingdom in our midst and create a culture of life. Liberate us from egoism and pride which takes us away from you. In situations of daily life make us sensitive to your call and stand by the elderly, sickness and hopeless situations and thus to make them experience your closeness.Meditation
Christian life succeeds when it is in a process of growth, according to the Scripture. St. Paul says that the faith of the Thessalonians is growing (2 Thess. 1:3). Closely linked with the growing faith there is the increasing love. The Colossians are urged to grow in knowledge of God (Col 1:11). St. Peter reminds Christians of his time to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The exhortation of the Apostle in 1 Cor. 15:58 applies also to us: always abounding in energy for the Lord’s work”.Daily prayer
Heavenly Father,You gifted Mother Alphonse Marie
with the grace of being powerfully attracted
to the mystery of the Cross,
even in her most tender years.
In this mystery she perceived your merciful love
for all your children.
You inspired her to found a Congregation to manifest
that love through serving those
who suffer in body or in spirit.
Through the Eucharist you gave her the strength
to participate in the work of the Redemption.
May we be transformed by the love of Christ the Redeemer,
even as she was; and may our lives be a witness
of your great love to all those we encounter.
Hear the prayers that we present through her intercession...
and if it be your will, grant that we may soon venerate
Blessed Alphonse Marie as a Saint throughout the Church.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.