 1919:
M. Christine : Origins of the Branch
Arriving at Paris (in 1919), I was given encouragement,
but still had to spend seven more years at Grandbourg. Throughout
this time my life was, of course, wholly orientated towards
my desire. […] In Grandbourg, as in Costa Rica, I did
not breathe a word about what I wanted.We began our new life
just at the time when the Church inaugurated the feast of
Christ the King; we had waited seventeen years.
1926 - M. Christine : Notice on the
beginning
“From 2 November, you may no longer go to the
community recreation. Sr Désirée may do the
mending in your quarters and continue to do her work at the
priest’s house. It is all to be done little by little,
slowly, quietly and simply; not as if it were a new foundation,
but simply as Sisters of Sion following the directions of
the Constitutions, which provide for a new branch, having
the same aim, and the same spirit, but replacing active work
by more prayer, a more austere enclosure, the canonical hours,
and more mortification.
It is not another tree planted beside the tree of Sion, it
is a fruit which is ripening on it.”
It was with these words that our beloved
Mother General kindly allowed us to begin the new life, which
Sr Marie and Sr Désirée aspired to, those two
chosen stones that Providence had given to the contemplative
Sion, to build it up.
By reminding us that our branch has the same
aim, the same spirit as Sion, Our Mother expressed exactly
what we ourselves think; that is just what the three little
“novices” want, coming together to contribute
to the salvation of Israel.
The Constitutions say that our work consists
in a more confined enclosure, a stricter silence and the recitation
of the hours of the Roman office. But it seems that Our Lord
also wants perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as
soon as we have a sufficient number of sisters.[…]
From 1910, these were the main lines that
were fixed, and that we wanted; as for questions of detail,
and precisions regarding the timetable, we will learn from
experience, and as always, it is for our Mothers to decide.
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Sunday 31 October 1926
Feast of Christ the King. The three ‘elect’ renew
their vows together with the intention of offering themselves
for the future contemplative Sion.
1 November
Feast of All Saints: farewells to the house, as simply and
briefly as possible, our Mother Evangelista having said that
we were going to make a long retreat.
2 November
Separation; we are living in the 3 cells (those nearest to
the choir-loft of the actual chapel) where Our Lord has so
often come to visit the sick.
5 November
First Friday of the month. Noviciate on the Sacred Heart;
we think it is a good day for the monthly retreat.
7 November
The timetable is slightly modified for Sundays. At 5.30 in
the evening we had a little talk about the practical side
of our life, with which we are delighted; we reflected about
what we could improve on. Each of us took a look at her own
small possessions; we will keep as little as possible for
personal use; the rest will be “for the community”.
8 November
In between two downpours, we tend the grave of Notre Père,
a filial duty before the feast of St Theodore.
18 November
We have been wondering how to honour St Francis of Assisi,
during the diocesan triduum; we are learning his “Canticle”,
and feel it is doing our souls good. It is an insight: the
“serious” aspect of our life must not exclude
the explosion of life, poetry and art, that is; but all supernatural.
It is doing us good, from the double aspect of divine love
and fraternal charity.
20 November
For the first time, the chapel door was closed at 11pm. We
came back and made our hour of adoration in my room, which
is the community room.
21 November
We read the chapter on the “little way” in St
Teresa of the Child Jesus. It is really the same as the doctrine
that Mlle Humann cultivated, and that she taught Fr Theodore,
we are so pleased to see that, and it is an invitation to
walk in this way.
6 December
We can see that the copy of Fr Theodore’s letters is
a great grace; for us too, like him, the whole edifice will
always be founded on Charity.
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