March 31 - Those who suffer patiently...

1950: Tenth General Chapter opened in Munich.

Image: Artist Alojzy Fòjcik
created a number of small
statues of Mother Theresa
for the Polish Province.
Many have found homes
around the world

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Those who suffer patiently and in a Christian manner glorify God, for they reveal God’s power in themselves.  Blessed Mother Theresa Gerhardinger, 3    Trust & Dare, March 31

March 30 - For the Christian who suffers...

For the Christian who suffers, the suffering is extremely fruitful. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3

Trust & Dare, March 30

Crucifix, Generalate chapel

March 29 - Let us rejoice ...

See description of this image below.

Let us rejoice if the Lord judges us worthy to suffer persecution for his name’s sake, because he has promised a great reward in heaven to those who do. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 4760

Trust & Dare, March 29

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Image: Wood statue of Mother Theresa, located in the Generalate Chapel, Rome

Sculptor: Anna Edbauer.  (A sister of a School Sister of Notre Dame.)  

Delivered by Bavarian Sisters traveling to Rome for the 1974 General Chapter.  It was a gift from the Bavarian Province as an expression of its unity with the Generalate.

March 28 - The Lord loves us...

This detail from a painting
celebrating the 25th anniversary
of the SSND congregation
depicts Mother Theresa
teaching German girls
and an African girl.

1882: During the week people around the world remember the  more than 15 million men, women and children who were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade. We also remember those who are still the victims of trafficking.  In 1882 Helene (Adelaide) Vanda, "Black Helene", died of a prolonged lung disease at the age of 34.

In 1855, Mother Theresa accepted the invitation of a missionary priest in Cairo, who was attempting to save girls from a life of slavery by "purchasing" them and transporting them to Germany and asking women religious to care for and educate them.

Unfortunately many of these African girls died from tuberculosis. One young woman, Helene (Adelaide) Vanda, survived to adulthood and stayed with the SSNDs for the rest of her life. She was skilled in fine needlework, helped with the boarders, took care of the front door and soon became well-known in Munich as Black Helene.

***

The Lord loves us, because he afflicts us with suffering on all sides and plants his precious cross in our houses. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 408

Trust & Dare, March 28

The entire painting commemorating the 25th anniversary
of the congregation.

March 27 - We are committed to profess...

We are committed to profess our Jesus, and there is no better way than through patient suffering. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3
Trust & Dare, March 27

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Birkenstein, Germany

Wood statue of Mother Theresa, 

with the model of Neunburg vorm Wald.

Artist: Anna Edbauer,1993.

March 26 -As it was necessary...

1834: Bishop Francis Schwäbl approved the religious association in Neunburg vorm Wald and confirmed Caroline Gerhardinger as superior.

 

Sculpture of Mother Theresa in the garden in Amberg Germany, created by Peter Kuschell  1988

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As it was necessary that Christ suffer so much in order to enter into his glory, it is also necessary that those who follow him . . . enter into eternal glory in the same way. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 5325

Trust & Dare, March 26

March 25 - As a devout daughter of the Blessed Virgin Mary...

The Annunciation,
by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)
[public domain]

On this feast of the Annunciation SSNDs remember Mary's Yes and respond with their Yes to God's call.   

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Today you find the SSNDs in many parts of the world.

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As a devout daughter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I do not want to dominate, but to serve the Lord and to remain with Mary at the crib and under the cross.  

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 29
Trust & Dare, March 25

March 24 - To suffer in silence ...

Opole, Poland
Alojzy Fòjcik, 1987 

1848: The second SSND missionary group arrived in Baltimore from Germany.

***

To suffer in silence and to pray strikes all our foes dumb, because God does not let anyone be put to shame who places trust in him.

Blessed Mother Theresa Gerhardinger, 2067

Trust & Dare, March 24

March 23 - Only in suffering ...

Father Francis Sebastian Job,

Bishop Wittmann's dear friend 

and confessor to the 

Empress Caroline, of Vienna

1834: At an audience with King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Caroline Gerhardinger received the document approving the foundation at Neunburg and thereby freeing the money which Father Job had promised to the community.

***

Only in suffering does one treasure and feel what a great comfort it is to have found a good friend. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 2607
Trust & Dare, March 23

 

March 22 - ... show through this trial by fire ...

 Today SSNDs around the world join in celebrating  the World Water Day. They work to raise awareness of the global water crisis  and to support the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for All by 2010.

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Christians who suffer patiently for the sake of Jesus show through this trial by fire their faith, hope, and love for him. 

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3
Trust & Dare, March 22

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In the Freistadt convent Mother Theresa wrote a letter to a young woman. It contains Mother Theresa's well known words: All the works of God proceed slowly and in pain, but then, their roots are the sturdier and their flowering the lovelier’.  The signature reads, “the grateful poor School Sister Maria Theresia á Jesu”.

March 21 - Alle werke Gottes gehen ...

March 21 is recognized as International  Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  Sisters around the world look for ways to heal the wounds of racism in their daily lives and through participation as NGO in  the United Nations.

The Lord inflicts wounds and heals them again.  He sends suffering and the cross to those he loves, so that he may reward them more abundantly in the next world.   

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 3634
Trust & Dare, March 21

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Illustration of Mother Theresa by S. Barbara Sutorius, SSND, in the book Mother Theresa—Woman of Vision.

March 20 - All of us have sufficient reason...

Slightly imperfect roses, Generalate gardens. 

1880: Pope Leo XIII approved the establishment of the Commissariat for North America. The Congregation continues to look for ways to to insure that the sisters are engaged in the governing process.

***

All of us have sufficient reason to humble ourselves because of our past sins and imperfections.

Blessed M. Theresa Gerhardinger, 714
Trust & Dare, March 20