Caracas (Venezuela), Sr. Nícida Díaz Leal, October 2024 .- In religious life, we sisters owe it to ourselves to take care of each other, where we live, move and exist, namely in our community, in our mission. Paraphrasing the quote from John's Gospel we can say, take care of one another as I have taken care of you so that you may have life by taking care of each other (cf. Jn 13:34-36.10:10).

Therefore, we need to promote care among ourselves, to care for one another in God's way; it is the step to make the community a safe space, a place where we feel accompanied, loved and sustained in fraternal charity. A theological place where our way of being, being and acting leaves the good smell of Christ, because we have listened to his Word that invites us to live weaving love among one another, expressed in care as a sign of God's tenderness, because, “Every person becomes a sign of God's tenderness every time he listens to the needs of others and welcomes with love their frailties, as the Lord did with us, embracing our humanity”[1].

Marie Poussepin proposes to us to make our communities the tent of mutual care.

The proposal made to us by our foundress Marie Poussepin, in her General Rules, is a clear and concrete exercise of care; it is a spiritual human rule that integrates personal community life and the mission of the community of sisters. It is a rule that gives priority to care because taking care of ourselves in all aspects is good for us.

To take care of our way of being, being and acting before God and before our sisters and other people; to work for our sanctification and “for the salvation of others in the manner that befits you, that is by teaching, works of charity, and good example”[2]

Marie Poussepin shows us in a very simple way how to take care of ourselves, because taking care of ourselves does us good in order to do good. Let us evoke her General Rules with a grateful heart.

With regard to God, fidelity in intellectual, spiritual and human discipline, letting ourselves be inhabited by Him:

“Be constantly faithful, without respite, to all the usual exercises of piety: prayers, readings, meditations, silence (...) Keep the presence of God in all your actions” (...).

With regard to the sisters, she encourages us to grow in relationships that are fraternal, simple, free, constitutive, human and humanizing:

“Be gentle in conversation, simple in speech, modest in your answers, prompt in your obedience, and joyful when you assist them. (...) Be full of charity for them; never think ill of them and say nothing but good about them. (...) Pray assiduously for thems."[3].

With regard to children, to maintain a humanizing and merciful relationship with them. “Be filled with tenderness toward the children that you teach:  Be gentle without being weak, firm without being harsh, serious without being haughty.”[4].

With regard to outsiders, having above all else the charity that embraces everything: “Act with much prudence and patience, with great kindness and modesty toward outsiders. Serve the sick with great charity, and without showing any sign of distaste.”[5].

With regard to yourself a great humility to recognize that we are vulnerable and a capacity for discernment for conversion, never in a bad mood:

“Work above all at acquiring a deep humility, much diffidence and purity of intention in all that you do. (…) Examine yourself frequently and attentively on the faults (…), make a firm resolution to be more vigilant (…) If, God forbid, you should commit a serious fault, never remain with your guilt; but, without discouragement, rise immediately. Humbly place yourself before God (…) ask Him fervently and trustingly to give you the strength to begin anew and to keep you from falling again”[6].

Marie Poussepin was concerned about the care we owe to one another, but also about the care in our relationship with God, with others and with ourselves. A care that integrates the life of everyone and in everything. This care is also a path of prevention so as not to fall into that which dehumanizes, de-divinizes and fractures our relationships. Everything we do must be moved by Charity, the soul of the community.

Marie Poussepin widens her tent for others and creates safe spaces in and for the mission. Through Marie Poussepin we can clearly see her readiness to care for the young girls of her time; this was her first step in the exercise of care, a pastoral care: “She has taken with her young country girls without either shelter or resources" to "raise them in the fear of God, and to teach them to work and earn a living," so that "they might avoid... the disorders to which destitution and ignorance tend to lead”[7]

She dedicated herself to the care of the most vulnerable, those girls who were at risk, because misery and ignorance were so great, to say the least, in a village devastated by war, hunger and misery: “Care only arises when someone's existence is important to me. I then dedicate myself to him, to participate in his destiny, his quests, his sufferings and his successes, in short, in his life.”[8].

Caring for each other in the community opens the way to the pastoral care and protection in the mission. There we commit ourselves to the care of our sisters and brothers, especially children, young people, the elderly and every person in a vulnerable situation who needs us not only to be concerned, but to take care of them by welcoming Life and accompanying life in every reality.

We are called as consecrated women to care for the hope of our brothers and sisters and not to let anyone or anything steal it from us. To care for and accompany with the tenderness of God who, loving us, gives us life in abundance and makes God's dream come true for our Congregation today: “To live Consecration, Communion and Mission in Synodality.”[9].

To care is to love: “Love one another as I have loved you... so that you may have life and life in abundance” (Jn 13:34-36.10:10).

[1] “Embracing Vulnerability to Witness God's Tenderness,” UISG (International Union of Superiors General) Bulletin, No. 177 (April 2022).

[2] Constitutions and Ordenations, p. 130-132.

[3] Constitutions and Ordenations, p. 130-132.

[4] Constitutions and Ordenations, p. 130-132.

[5] CConstitutions and Ordenations, p. 130-132.

[6] Constitutions and Ordenations, p. 130-132.

[7] Constitutions and Ordenations, p. 14

[8] “Cuidarnos para cuidar”, p. 2

[9] XXI EGC Tours 2023, p 4.