REDEMPTORISTINE NUNS of NEW YORK, Inc.

     Do you like Lent?   The hymns tend to be downers, there are no Glorias or Alleluias and no flowers adorn the altar. 
And like New Year’s resolutions, ‘giving up’ something for Lent eventually falls to the wayside.  Yet, there is a bright side to Lent since it falls mostly in March; and these are mostly ‘forgiven’ so that we may celebrate four feast days and three solemnities:  March 7^th we honor Perpetua and Felicity; Brazilian St. Dulce on March 13; March 15^th is the great Redemptorist Saint Clement Hoffbauer;  everyone’s favorite, St. Patrick on the 17^th; quickly followed by St. Joseph on the 19^th ; St. Oscar Romero, the patron saint of the poor and oppressed on March 24 and the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25.   
     To prepare for Easter, how can we make Lent more meaningful?  In the Eastern Orthodox church Lent is known as ‘bright sadness.’  The days are getting brighter; lengthening.  It is time to cast behind ourselves the darkness of our past troubles and discover new life abounds as we journey toward Jerusalem where we call to mind and grow deeper in love with the cross of Christ and His glorious Resurrection.    

     Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross each day and follow me." (Luke 9/23)    In the 18^th century, Jesus spoke to our Foundress, Blessed Celeste, with these words: ‘With the kiss of tender union: union on the cross, be an echo of my love...I will make the plants of my virtues grow in your soul, and these in turn will produce flowers of eternal life.”

     About eight years ago, we put together reflections on the SAINTS AND FLOWERS OF LENT.  It was an opportunity to settle down and enjoy the wonder-filled saints that God has given us while going out for walks and being on the look-out for Spring flowers.   (To read the March mini-reflections on the Saints and Flowers of Lent, go to our Blog: Followers of the Wayfarer.)

     As we begin this ‘bright sadness’ let us celebrate the saints and remember, as they did, the sufferings and joys of loving the cross so that, with them, we may plant the seeds of flowers to grow in this life and the life to come for the glory of God forever. 

"Life for me is Christ." Phil1:21

Redemptoristine Nuns are a worldwide monastic contemplative Order who strive to be a living memorial, an active participant of Jesus' life in today’s Church for the salvation of the world.  The Sisters celebrate this life of prayer, praise and intercession in the name of all, and in support of the missionary activity of the Redemptorist priests and brothers.