Triumph of Mercy

Feb 4, 2016

[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Dear Friends,
Today, February 4, we celebrate with our sisters, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, and their associates around the world the feast of their foundress, St. Maria de Mattias. In one of her letters, St. Maria speaks of Jesus’ blood as “the triumph of his mercy” that reveals God’s “infinite love for us.” St. Maria described the blood of Christ as “a fountain, or rather, a life-giving river available to all. It springs us and flows unendingly for all the children of Adam and remains with them, accompanying them at every moment of their life on earth to make them holy and to bring them to eternal joy of life in heaven.”[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_slider hover_type=”none” width=”100%” height=”100%” class=”” id=””][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/demattias-215×300.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/garden-at-acuto-225×300.jpg[/fusion_slide][fusion_slide type=”image” link=”” linktarget=”_self” lightbox=”yes”]https://preciousbloodkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/acuto-300×225.jpg[/fusion_slide][/fusion_slider][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Maria de Mattias was born on February 4, 1805 in Vallecorsa in Italy. She was inspired by the preaching of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, and mentored by Venerable Giovanni Merlini, third Moderator General of the Society, to begin a congregation of women religious dedicated to the reconciliation and redemption won for us in the blood of Christ. She founded the congregation on March 4, 1834 at Acuto. Those of us who were privileged to make the bicentennial pilgrimage last July spent an afternoon in Acuto and were the recipients of extraordinary hospitality.
Being in the birthplace of the Adorers sparked within me an even deeper admiration and respect for the remarkable witness of the many ASCs I have known through the years. The favor of their friendship has been one of the great blessings of my life.
So, today, may we pause and hold in prayer with gratitude the life of St. Maria de Mattias and all the Adorers and their associates around the world who continue to live the message of their foundress who said, “The spirit of this holy work is all charity. We have carved this word in our minds and on our hearts. I repeat: Charity! Charity toward God and our dear neighbor.”
With peace,
Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
Provincial Director[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

University of Central Florida Welcomes the Companions

Feb 4, 2016

by the Companion Directors Team
The Companion Directors Team presented the Companion retreat, Living Into Gather, Send, the weekend of January 9th and 10th at the Catholic Center on the campus of the University of Central Florida. The sponsor of the Lake Mary and Orlando Companion groups, Fr. Vince Wirtner, C.PP.S. joined us and presided at our Sunday liturgy on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a fitting celebration in line with the theme of the retreat. This was the fifth of six retreats that we have offered throughout the country in the past few months. The final retreat in this series will take place next weekend in sunny California.
The setting for the retreat was ideal. The Catholic Center is located in a recently constructed upscale dorm that is packed with amenities such as a swimming pool, an exercise room, and a roof-top lounging area where you can view the city of Orlando including Epcot Center’s nightly fireworks display. Fr. Ben Berinti, C.PP.S. is the director of the Catholic Center. The welcome that he and the students extended to the Companions was heartwarming and in keeping with the Precious Blood charism of hospitality. The facility itself was an ideal setting for a spirit-filled time of reflection from the intimate setting of the chapel to the spacious gathering space to the fully equipped kitchen and dining area to the spiritual décor throughout the facility.
Fr. Ben is in an ideal setting to introduce the Companion movement at the college level. Initial discussion have taken place but will be followed by more in-depth conversation to further explore this opportunity.
We are also pleased that Fr. Ben has agreed to lead the following Companion retreats, Celebrating Gather, Send:
October 1, 2                                      Marillac Center                                 Leavenworth, KS
October 29, 30                                 St. Charles Center                          Carthagena, OH
November 5                                      TBD                                                    Iowa
January 14, 15, 2017                       University of Central Florida        Orlando, FL
Febbruary 4, 5, 2017                       TBD                                                  California
We have thoroughly enjoyed meeting once again with the Companions across the country as we have presented Living Into Gather, Send. We have been truly edified by the prayerful and spirited presence of the Companions as well as their enthusiastic participation in these spiritual opportunities.