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Charism
In 1854, Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC, our spiritual founder, was inspired by God's personal unconditional love for us as revealed by Jesus. In the Heart of Jesus he found the answers to the deep questions about life's meaning. As Jesus was sent to reveal God's love, so we MSC sisters as a congregation are on fire to let the whole world know how much we are loved by God.
Through our founder, Fr. Hubert Linckens, MSC we as a Congregation received and proclaim the same charism: Being graced by the love of Christ, we the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart are called to respond to His Love and to make His Love present to everyone!
We are called to respond to the evils of the times and seek to identify their causes. In the light of the Gospel, we respond to the needs of our day and assume the risks of this challenge. This vision of God is our charism….our gift....our mission.
Spirituality of the Heart
The Spirituality of the Heart for the MSC sister draws its inspiration from the experience of the MSC Founders and their life centeredness on the Heart of Christ. Inspired by the Founders, the MSC sisters strive to make the sentiments of the Heart of Jesus their own. God’s love is the center of the Spirituality of the Heart; namely, the love of the Father for all humanity as revealed in the Heart of Christ, the Incarnate Word of the Father: “The heart of Jesus is God’s love, God himself Incarnate. God is love.” The pierced heart of Christ on the cross (Jn 19:34, 37) reveals to us how much God loves us (1 Jn 4:9, 10).
Missionary Spirituality
From its very beginning the MSC Congregation has been motivated by a missionary spirit. It was based on Fr. Chevalier’s personal experience of God’s love for humankind as fully revealed in the Heart of Christ. This is articulated in the Constitutions which state that: “We are called and sent into the world to make known the love and kindness of God our Father, revealed in Jesus Christ, and to give our lives in service to His people.” The MSCs are called to manifest the Heart of God on earth.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
The MSC sisters honour Mary in a very special way as they look to Mary as “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,” a title which comes from Fr. Chevalier’s meditation on the role of Mary in salvation history. From the beginning he thought of Mary’s heart having a special connection with Heart of Christ. In reflecting on a title for Mary, however, he went well beyond a connection between her and a Congregation dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Around the year1857, he worked to have Mary acknowledged and honoured under the title of ‘Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.’
Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, the great things, the Lord has done for you.
He chose you for his mother. He wanted you close to his cross.
He gives you a share in his glory. He listens to your prayer.
Offer him our prayers of praise and thanksgiving; present our petitions to him.
Let us live like you in the love of your Son, that his kingdom may come.
Lead all people to the source of living water that flows from his Heart,
spreading over the world hope and salvation, justice and peace.
See our trust in you; answer our prayer.
Show yourself always our mother.
