At the heart of prayer

"We will also be in Milan, although ‘invisibly’, and we will accompany the Holy Father, so that everything may be done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and bear abundant fruits". This is what Sister Maria Graziosa, on behalf of the Sisters of the "Gesù Maria" (Jesus and Mary) Monastery in Bologna, wrote to Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, in response to a letter he had sent to a large number of cloistered monasteries, calling for a "participatory and intense prayer" all those taking part in the 7th World Meeting of the Families in Milan (May 30-June 3, 2012). The journey of preparation for the event, therefore, passes not only through the efforts of catechesis meetings and the commitment of the national and diocesan offices of pastoral care of the family, but also through the silent – but very "real" – intercession of the cloistered communities. These have responded enthusiastically to the solicitation and through their letters they showed that, although they are not "in" the world, they are perfectly aware of the problems that affect it and, indeed, very often, they become the very physical and spiritual place which receives the difficulties and suffering of many families.

The offering of prayers and sufferings. Sister Chiara Amata, from the "Buon Gesù" (Good Jesus) Monastery in Orvieto, writes: "Many families use to come knocking at our door: families in dire straits, families who are struggling in the natural conflicts between generations, families seeking to grow in faith, families returning shamefacedly to the faith…". The Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Vicenza explicitly say they know the situation "through the confidences and tears of so many families torn apart by divisions and disagreements", and that they are committed to offering "prayers and sacrifices" in the aim that "more and more parents may understand the value of their role within the family and the friendly exchange of experiences, and learn not only to involve their children, but also to create ties with other families in view of a mutual encouragement". The Discalced Carmelites of the Verona community add that "in the last few years, as a community, we have been consecrating the 5th of every month as a day of prayer and offering for the family, and also our sick sisters offer their suffering for this intention. We have taken this decision because there are so many requests for prayers for family situations". In fact, "We take upon us all the difficulties that the families must deal with – say the Dominican Sisters of Sorrento (Naples) – and to this end we offer a weekly hour of adoration".

"In tune" on a radio broadcast too. These requests for prayers also opened the way to some new initiatives: the Benedictine Sisters of "Santa Maria del Fiore" of Lapo (Florence) say they have decided "to consecrate every Tuesday to this intention" in the hope that the event of Milan may be "an opportunity to spread a new culture of the family". The Capuchin Poor Clares of the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of Brescia (near Milan), promised that from May 30 to June 3, their prayer will be "even more intensified, asking the Spirit to make the miracle of unity and harmony". Sister Paola of Jesus Crucified says that for the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Ragusa (Sicily), "the family, with all its problems is the focus of our daily prayer". Some women religious, like the Perpetual Worshippers of the Blessed Sacrament in Monza (near Milan), already for a long time "have been aware of" and "have accompanied" with "intense prayer" this great event: "Since last September – they declared – the worship-centered broadcast that every 1st Thursday of the month we wave on the air at Radio Mater are focused on the theme of the Meeting, thus involving a great number of listeners". There are also those who, like the Carmelite Sisters of Sant’Agata Li Battiati (Catania, Sicily), to be "in tune" with the theme of work and feast, have decided to offer not only their prayer, "but also our daily work and our feasts – the Sunday feast and the feast of living together – so that many families may find again these basic dimensions, and enjoy the benefits of a decent job".

"In our poverty". Finally, we would like to emphasize that the invitation of the Cardinal has aroused a feeling of unanimous gratitude in all the monasteries, which felt "involved" in the process of preparation. "I was moved for having been consulted, despite of our smallness and poverty," writes Sister Maura Cleofe, Convent of the Hermit Sisters of Bernaga di Perego (Lecco, near Switzerland), while the Sisters of the Monastery of Saint Veronica Giuliani in Città di Castello (Perugia) thank "heartedly" the Cardinal for "calling us to work according to our way of life". "We are very pleased to offer our prayerful collaboration, however small and ‘silent’," said the Poor Sisters of St. Clare of Camerino (Macerata), while the Passionist Sisters of Loreto stressed that "as the Fathers of the Church used to say, prayer is ‘Opus Dei’, work of God".

(30 April 2012)