“Be attentive to the voice of the spirit in our community, in the Church and in the signs of the times” Constitutions 13
In our guiding documents and Constitutions, it is clear that as Canonesses we need to be rooted in the culture in which we find ourselves and to be open to the changing needs and circumstances of the world around us.
This call to be aware of, and respond to, the issues of our world and planet demands our attention. It is our imperative to respond to the needs of those locally but we are also called to look beyond ourselves, to situations in the wider world; to challenge unjust structures in society and advocate peace and reconciliation.
As we are confronted with the unequal distribution of the world’s resources and the extreme poverty suffered by many, we can refer to St Augustine’s words, ‘What we waste, we steal from the poor.’ That direct statement is a challenge to all of us who live with plenty. As we strive to answer the call to promote justice and act with compassion there is an important question to ask ourselves: ‘To whom have we linked our destiny?’ Recognising everyone and everything as part of God’s creation and as being a presence of God, will lead us towards a challenging response to this question.
‘By our openness to the needs of others in changing circumstances and cultures, we discover our own identity’
General Chapter IV 1984
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‘Just as Christ was sent into the world so does God send us “to bring the Good News to the poor, proclaim release to captives, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”
Lk 4, 18-19
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In order to be able to share the Good News with the people around us, we must have a clear insight into, and a feeling for, the culture within which we live. In a world without the sense of God be places where God’s presence is found’
General Chapter V (17 Guidelines) 1987
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‘St. Augustine says: “What we waste, we steal from the poor”. This is an appeal for a simple life and for sharing with the poor. When we share, we should do so without imposing ourselves on others’
General Chapter VI 1990
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‘Listening to the cry of the people we must speak of their needs, their pains and their joy’
General Chapter VII 1993
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‘Be present in the culture in which you find yourselves. Attune yourselves to living a reality, finding symbols and a language to express our canonical way of life in an authentic way’
General Chapter VII 1993
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‘Total commitment to Christ entails an equally wholehearted commitment to His members in need’
Sandra Schneider - Finding the Treasure
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‘Live simply, so others may simply live’
Mother Teresa
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‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”
40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25
‘With openness of mind also towards each other we shall together be attentive to the voice of the Spirit in our community, in the Church and in the signs of the times’ Constitutions Chapter II 13
‘While adhering faithfully to the living tradition of each chapter, we must be open to changing needs and circumstances’ Constitutions Chapter IV 53
‘We ought above all to love God and then our neighbour, for these are the greatest commandments that have been given to us’ Rule of St Augustine
for reflection…
- St Augustine said “What we waste we steal from the poor”. What does this mean and what further questions does it raise?
- What are the crying needs of our times?
- We want to encourage people to meet the needs locally and globally and at the same time to challenge any unjust structures which promote any form of poverty and oppression. How do you feel about this challenge?
- Our quotes have distinguished between world and planet. What do you understand by this and are we right to make a distinction?
- a) Structural injustice
As part of the developed world, to whom have we, as a society, linked our destiny?
b) On a personal level
In my own life, to whom have I linked my destiny? - What is the difference between charity and justice?
With reference to the two feet of Christian service (‘working for social justice’ and ‘charitable works’), can you think of any other examples of works of mercy and of works of social action?
