[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]
