Jn 19:16b-18
So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.From “The life of the Virgin Elizabeth Eppinger”
Upon the request of her Confessor, David Reichard, related by herself and written by the latter:Yes, when we are discouraged and do not feel any enthusiasm, when we are desperate and desolate, when we are on the verge of despair, then we want to take Jesus, the Crucified, in our hands and not stop calling and crying. Certainly, we will soon feel enthusiasm and courage, we will be again comforted and refreshed, and will not be defeated in the struggle. When we meditate about Jesus on the cross, all sufferings will be transformed into joy … Could his love go any further than it has gone? And should we not love Jesus? Why don’t we love? Who else should we love if not Jesus, the Crucified?
(Rekindle the gift of God that is within you, Issue II, Page 42)
Prayer
God, our Father, since Jesus, our Savior came to make his way in human life we are not alone anymore on the paths of life. Encourage us like your servant, Mother Alphonse Marie, not to despair in the hour of trial, of loneliness and of powerlessness or helplessness but to give our “yes” to your plan of salvation that is full of love. Give us genuine repentance and conversion when we have left the way of your commandments and was lost in the entanglements of sin. You do not want the death of the sinner, but that he may live. Help us to contribute to protect life in all stages – from its conception to the natural death – and save from despair women who had an abortion; for through your death on the cross you have wiped out all sins of humanity.Mother Alphonse Marie
Mother Alphonse Marie prayed: “Teach me, O my divine bridegroom, to benefit from the value of this kind of suffering. Without you I cannot do anything and I do not know anything”. Jesus, her bridegroom: “Look, my daughter, adore my will always. O, how precious are the inner sufferings for a soul, longing for me. She has to go this way. Such a soul shall not ask anything else of me other than to get to know me and herself. She shall not ask for consolation; she shall not ask for anything other than what I want”(Rekindle the gift of God that is within you, Issue II, Page 45).
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.