February 28 - To form my will to the divine will ...

Today:

Magnolia, Generalate grounds

1868: King Ludwig I of Bavaria died on February 29 in Nice, France. He was an early benefactor of the Congregation.

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To form my will to the divine will must become second nature for me. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 28

February 27 - First Generalate in Rome purchased

Via Appia Nuovo 1468

1956: The house on Via Appia Nuovo 1468 was purchased by the School Sisters of Notre Dame on February 27, 1956.  This was the first Generalate the congregation had in Rome.

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1957: The remains of M. Theresa were transferred to the present vault near the entrance of St. James Church, in Munich (Bavarian Province Motherhouse).

Mother Theresa's tomb.
Photo taken at the EGC held in Munich in 2014.

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I am determined to conquer my self-will little by little and even though I cannot immediately climb heavenwards, I want to have patience with myself, because precisely this patience raises me again closer to God. 
Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 27

February 26 - Give me light and strength, divine Savior ...

Chapel in Generalate, Rome.

1833: The town council of Neunburg vorm Wald accepted Father Job’s endowment for a school for girls.

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1854: Mother Theresa wrote in a letter to Prince von Hohenlohe: We would give everything for the establishment of a house in Rome, be­cause such appears urgently necessary for the future of the congregation.  We hope for support from King Louis, who has shown a lively interest in our affairs.   
(Letter #1613, February 26, 1854)

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Give me light and strength, divine Savior, through your Holy Spirit, that I may recognize the perversion and folly of my self-will. 
Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 26

February 25 - Peter Fourier ordained.

Sketch of St. Peter Fourier
Generalate, Rome

1589: Peter Fourier was ordained a priest.

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O, how those who are slaves of their own will pile up stupidity and misery upon stupidity and misery and so remain unalterably dependent!  

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3

Trust & Dare, February 25

People around the world are facing  growing severity in the form of natural disasters due to climate change in the countries in which the SSNDs serve. Today let us join many sisters in a fast from products that are at the heart of climate change thus answering Mother Theresa's challenge.

February 23 - Approval for provinces of Wilton and Porto Alegre given

Banner

Wilton, Connecticut 

S. Carol Datz, SSND

1957: Rescript of Sacred Congregation of Religious approved the establishment of provinces in Wilton, Connecticut, USA and Porto Alegre, Brazil. Wilton is now part of the Atlantic-Midwest Province (2005), and Porto Alegre is part of the Province of Latin America and the Caribbean (2012).

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Since we creatures do not possess perfect love of God, in our weakness we always prefer to do our own will rather than God’s. However, we can direct ourselves to God’s will and overcome our own.
Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 23

To do this let us build on yesterday’s reflection and pray for the concrete actions needed that will provide nourishment and stability for marginally poor in our whole world.

February 22 - I praise the Lord ...

Image of Mother Theresa
in the upper chapel
Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia

I praise the Lord, who likes to choose the weak to carry out his plan. 
Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2361
Trust & Dare, February 22

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As we pray on this day of Lent, let us make a choice for a personal change of heart that embraces Integral Ecology and  values the culture of all people. What God has given us through these two responsibilities is a living, dynamic and participatory role in his plan.

February 21 - Request to send sisters to England ...

Students at Woolwich, London, England
early 1900s.

1860: M. Theresa responded to a request for sisters for England with the words: “It opened up a whole new possibility.” 

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The dear Lord seeks the tools for carrying out his designs, often in very wonderful ways. 
Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 4546
Trust & Dare, February 21

February 20 - I want to direct my gaze ...

I want to direct my gaze neither to sweetness nor bitterness, but to your holy will alone, whether doing it brings me consolation or desolation.

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 20

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Image of Mother Theresa: 1870 image of Mother Theresa that was used for her travel documents, passport.  It was found in Vienna in 1952 and presently believed to be in Munich.

February 19 - O God, I want to serve you in everything ...

Ljubljanna, Slovenia

1941: S. M. Medulpha Ebner, 6th Commissary General in North America, died.

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O God, I want to serve you in everything, even in eating and drinking. In all things I want to focus only on you, because you alone are my goal. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardiner, 2
Trust & Dare, February 19

February 18 - What God wills ...

What God wills, as God wills, because God wills, where God wills, when God wills. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2785
Trust & Dare, February 18

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Image of Mother Theresa: The brown tint painting by Stanislaw Bober is similar to the passport picture found in 1952.  The painting is located in the Polish Motherhouse, Opole, Poland.

February 17 - What good will all our work do ...

1917: The first interprovincial educational meeting was held in St. Louis.

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What good will all our work do, if we do not work as God wills? 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 4262
Trust & Dare, February 17

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St. Louis, Missouri

Artist:  S. Josephine Niemann, SSND

S. Josephine Niemann, SSND did the drawing and cutting of fabrics and sewed the faces.  S. Regina Kabayama, SSND did the additional sewing.

This narrow banner, approximately 11 inches, is placed on one of the pillars in the Motherhouse Chapel.  Along with one of Mother Caroline Friess, SSND, it is displayed during the Easter Season, Province Days and Jubilee Days.  

February 16 - Do not give the dear God any orders

Munich, Germany

Artist: S. M. Gerhilda Schleich,1949

Mother Theresa in the later years

of her life.

God needs neither you nor me. . . . Do not give the dear God any orders.  

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, Ziegler, p. 107
Trust & Dare, February 16

February 15 - If it is God's will ...

1855: Archbishop Henry von Foerster of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) authorized a motherhouse and novitiate in Breslau. This became the 3rd province of the Congregation, the Silesian Province which later became the Berlin Province and is now part of the Bavarian Province.

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1962: Cardinal Protector Aloysius Muench died.

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1998: S. Rosemary Howarth was installed as the 11th General Superior.

Wrocław, Poland

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If it is God’s will, it will happen; if not, even then we adore his holy designs. 
Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 1161
Trust & Dare, February 15

February 14 - God in his wisdom...

Window in the chapel
Notre Dame Convent
Waterdown, Ontario, 
Canada

1927: The official beginning of the Canadian Province and opening of its motherhouse in Waterdown, Ontario. The Canadian Province integrated with the Atlantic-Midwest Province July 14, 2012.

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1939: M. Bruno Thoma, 5th General Superior, died in Munich.

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God, in his wisdom and mercy, can and will direct all for our best. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 4884
Trust & Dare, February 14

February 13 - Death anniversary of Fr. Francis Sebastian Job

1834: Father Francis Sebastian Job died in Vienna, Austria.

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Congregation's Family Tree 
Artist: Josef Kastner, 1883
 It had three roots sprouting
from the hearts of Wittmann,
Job and Mother Theresa.
Munich, Germany

1906: M. Marianne Haas was installed as the 4th Commissary General of North America.

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1928: Cardinal Faulhaber of Munich called for all the writings of M. Theresa as part of the Beatification process. The diocesan process began.

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1957: Foundation of the Wilton Province. The Wilton Province reconfigured with the Chicago and Baltimore Provinces to form the Atlantic-Midwest Province on December 31, 2005.

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Fathers Wittmann and Job are our powerful support before God, effecting more for us there than they could do here on earth. This is daily tangible. Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 58
Trust & Dare, February 13

February 12 - I am ready for all ...

Argentina

1830: Auxiliary Bishop George Michael Wittmann became Vicar General for Bishop John Michael Sailer. He vigorously defended Church rights against State interference.

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I am ready for all, since I propose to do nothing else but God’s holy will alone, which should be done in and with us.

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2938
Trust & Dare, February 12

February 11 - Property on via della Stazione Aurelia 95 was purchased

2012: Snow at the Generalate. It rarely snows in Rome---the first snow in 30 years. However in February 2012, there was snow for two whole weeks. Sisters cleared the driveway using rakes, brooms and garden shovels. For more photos click here.

1950: M. Andrina Aalbers was installed as the 8^th Commissary General of North America (1950-1956).

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1956: M. Hilaria Coleman was installed as the 9^th and last Commissary General of North America (1956-1959).

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1960: Property on Via della Stazione Aurelia, 95, Rome was purchased. Ground was broken for the new Generalate building in 1961.  Three years later, sisters moved into the first section of the building. It was another two years before the second part was ready.

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We are religious, and we work in the service of the Lord as long as he wishes.  We are in his hands; may he do with us what pleases him.  

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 5317
Trust & Dare, February 11

February 10 - ...there we are most ready to go...

Hohenthann, Germany:
Artist, Dr. Johann Kappel, 1936.

Location: parish church
It was in this small town
that Mother Theresa opened
the third SSND mission.

1783: Father George Michael Wittmann began his first priestly assignment, at Kemnath, where at first the pastor did not want him.

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1982: Mary Margaret Johanning, General Superior, announced that the 17^th General Chapter would consider the world issue of violence. Today, SSNDs partnering with Pax Christi, stand in opposition to the violence used against the ethnic groups in Myanmar.

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Wherever divine providence calls us, there we are most ready to go.  

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3623Trust & Dare, February 10

February 9 - Those who are free in God

Porto Alegre, Brazil

Mother Theresa wood carving 

located in the Retreat House Chapel.

Those who are free in God will always remain joyful and alive.  Since they fulfill the will of God, they never lose anything but gain, even though, to all appearances or according to human opinion, they lose everything.

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 9

February 8 - International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking

Today: is the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. SSND are joining in the global livestreaming seven hour prayer service presented in five different languages. The intent is to shine a light on the problem of human trafficking. Resources are available on the website for the day. Also visit the Talitha Kum website. 

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Via Tarquinio Vipera 16
as it is today. Photo: Google maps.

1950: Sisters M. Lelia Pond, Cosma Vettese, Omer Obermark and Paraclita Bartoli officially opened the first SSND house in Rome, in  Monteverde Nuovo, at Via Tarquinio Vipera 16. (Over the years, the house was used as a language school - English, German, French, Latin -  and a preparatory school for vocations to the Italian Province. It was sold in 1991 to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart.)

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Nandlstadt, Germany

Artist: Joseph Bauer, 1991

A gift to the Sisters
from Robert and Walburga Ernst

Freedom . . . is the acquired power of the spirit who lets nothing hinder it from fulfilling the will of God. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2

Trust & Dare, February 8

February 7 - Christians should love to do only the will of God...

São Paulo, Brazil

Wood statue,
Mother Theresa and child
Sculptor: Uilson Serrano.

1977: At the 5^th Latin American conference in São Paulo, Brazil, there were, for the first time, representatives from every Latin American country in which SSNDs worked.

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Join SSNDs around the world in the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking and the World Day of Social Justice. There are many sisters working to end Human Trafficking and to bring about Social Justice.

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Christians should love to do only the will of God; it should be the object of all their thought and effort - in short, their very ambiance. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3

Trust & Dare, February 7

February 5 - Earnestly desiring to love God is striking a spark from flint...

Amberg, Germany 

1836: On orders from the Bishop of Regensburg, Father George Kaes, pastor of Neunburg vorm Wald, visited the cloister there  after accusations of wasteful spending were made by a small group of young women who were not accepted into the congregation. Father found no truth to the accusations.

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Earnestly desiring to love God is striking a spark from flint; doing God’s holy will is feeding the fire. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2
Trust & Dare, February 5

São Paulo, Brazil
Artist: Serio Buzatto, 2002.

I cannot love you, O God, if I do not conform my will to yours, if I do not become again a pure spark of you, a spark aglow with you, because to do your will is to love you. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3

Trust & Dare, February 4

February 2 - 25th World Day for Consecrated Life

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the 25th World Day for Consecrated Life. 

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1576: Alix le Clerc was born at Remiremont in France.  In Forming her congregation she insisted that ministry and community life work together. Formerly if women professed vows they were not to engage in ministry outside of the convent.

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1860: Bishop Csajaghy of Temesvar, who had invited the sisters to Hungary (now Romania), died.

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1964: Generalate community in Rome moved from via Appia Nuova to via della Stazione Aurelia.

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M. Ambrosia Roecklein

General Superior 1956-68

1973: M. Ambrosia Roecklein, 7th General Superior, died.

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I myself confidently cry out with Simeon, “Now, O Lord, let your servant go in peace!” Praise, honor, and thanks to the Triune God and to Mary, the most holy mother of our congregation.

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2912 

Trust & Dare, February 2

February 1 - As God wills!

As God wills!  When he calls, we say with Samuel, “Here I am, Lord!”   

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 1856
Trust & Dare, February 1

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Statue: A smaller version of the statue of Mother Theresa on the bridge in Freising, Germany. Heritage Room, Munich Motherhouse.