Sick and Elderly Sisters
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1 June 1984
Madrid, Spain

My dear Sisters,

Whenever I have the privilege of visiting one of our infirmaries, I always come away feeling a little more humble and, at the same time, a little stronger in my vocation. I come away feeling a little more humble because in our infirmaries I meet living biographies of great people: of Sisters and Confreres who have been serving the poor for years, who have been preaching the Gospel to the poor for years, and who have been devoted to the Community all their lives. I see them as people who over decades have been trying to be genuine disciples of Jesus Christ Who came, not to be served but to serve.

In our infirmaries I meet Sisters and Confreres who have devoted years, and often in very difficult circumstances, to serving Christ and the poor, and now they find themselves in a situation where they feel almost imprisoned and often in a condition of being served. For when we grow old or are sick, we are obliged to allow others to do things for us which formerly we did for ourselves. That experience can be for some people a very painful one. In our infirmaries I see people who are experiencing the pain of diminishment which comes from weakness and age. Visits to our infirmaries make me feel a little more humble because I see lives, that have been much richer in work and in suffering for Christ than mine has been.

I always go away from our infirmaries feeling also a little stronger in my vocation. Our infirmaries are the hearts and the capitals of our Provinces. From our infirmaries there ascends to the throne of God, like fragrant incense, a great volume of prayer and suffering, and there is no doubt that there then descends upon our Provinces a wealth of graces for those who hold authority and for each member of St. Vincent's two Communities.

One day St. Vincent went to comfort a Brother of his Community who was very sick. He reminded the Brother that one of the greatest honors that we can render to God is to hope in the goodness of His heart and to take courage from the fact that God builds His throne of mercy on our weakness. It was also on that occasion that St. Vincent used the celebrated phrase: "Love is inventive to the point of infinity." (Coste XI, Fr. ed., p. 146). May you find it consoling in your weakness that God all the time is seeking ways to express His love for you. "Love is inventive to the point of infinity" even in old age and sickness.

St. Louise for her part thought and wrote much about the care that we must give to our old and sick. In regard to a sick Sister she wrote: "...look upon her as the first among your patients and as the dear companion God has given you to help you grow in holiness. Do not scruple to omit one or other of your exercises either to assist your Sister or for the service of the poor. You do this for the love of God and this what He asks of you. Remember that the thing that we must have most at heart, and the greatest honor that we can receive, is to satisfy the wishes of our Divine Master." (Spiritual Writings of Louise de Marillac, ltr. 547B, p. 526).

Living here, you must often feel impelled to use the words of the Gospel: "Master, do you not care that we are perishing?" (Mk 4:38). My prayer for you is that you may hear the voice of Jesus Christ Who says to us all in our moments of agitation what He said to the winds of the sea: "Silence, be calm, and the wind ceased and all was again calm." (Mk 4:39). May the grace, peace and serenity of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and forever.

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