My dear friends,
I am often asked, “Sister, what must we do to become a disciple of
Christ?” The answer is always the same – the opportunity is available
now, we can be disciples for the Lord today. It is how we live our
lives, it is how we treat each other, and it is how we care for the gifts
that the Lord has given us that reflect our deep, personal relationship
with God.
Everything we do here at Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer
Center, the works and teachings, are in union with our Pope, our
magisterium, our Bishops and our priests. When Our Lord chose his
disciples, who did He call to Himself? It was men of the community,
men of the land – not pious and not the most spiritual of men. He
chose people like you and me. In coming to live among us as Our
Savior, he became one with us. He chose you – each and every one of
you – to continue spreading the Good News of His deep concern and
love for everyone. We are a household of faith and you are a member
of that household.
So, what can you do? What opportunities are available to help
you become a disciple of Christ? Look around you. It can also be
referred to as Acts of Mercy. If you see someone in need, do you help?
Do you offer whatever assistance is available to you? Do you assist
in your parish in teaching our young adults and children more about
their faith? Do you stand-up for your faith when issues of morality
are questioned? You need not look far to see ways to live out your
faith – you just have to find the courage to do it.
In acting on your faith, it’s like the seed that fell on rich soil,
just as Jesus told us in Matthew 13:5, “the seed that fell on rich soil,
produced fruit, a hundred, or sixty, or thirtyfold.” Think of yourself
as that seed. You are planted (you ask the Lord to guide you in your
daily life activities), you are watered & fertilized (you study - slowly
growing and becoming more knowledgeable in your faith), you grow
and sprout seed (you share your faith with others), the seed falls and
the cycle begins again. You become the instrument in bringing more
and more disciples for the Lord.
At Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center, many programs
are available to teach and prepare us to become disciples of Christ.
The Lord is using the people of the Prayer Center to spread His
word – to plant His seeds. Yes, some who visit the Prayer Center
are healed physically from their diseases but nearly all who visit the
Prayer Center are healed spiritually. They leave the Prayer Center
knowing that God loves them and continually walks with them on
their journey through life. Catholics return to the sacraments and
other Christians gain a renewed understanding of God’s undeniable
love. It is through having a deeper understanding of our faith and
from these personal experiences, and the sharing of these experiences,
that we become a people prepared for action. Our spiritual growth
leads us to our inheritance and through our Church and this Prayer
Center - the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center - the tools
are available to lead us on that journey.
If you are interested in attending any of our retreats, bible studies,
spirituality classes or events, please check our
website at
org for updates and schedules. We would
love to have you!
In the Service of the Lord,
Sister Dulce Maria
SUMMER 2012
17560
George O’Neal Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70817 • (225) 752-8480
E-mail:
•
The Sister Dulce Foundation, Inc.
Supporting the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center
Do you answer the call to be “a disciple of Christ?”
We all know what faith is and that we should have it. Faith is
a gift from God, pure grace to enable us to believe all that God has
revealed to us through the Holy Scriptures and through His Holy
Bride, the Church. We all know people who have faith - some a great
deal, and some, not so much. Yet an important question remains: how
do we really live out our Catholic faith?
Many of us have full-time jobs or run our own businesses. How
does one live out one’s faith at work? By not gossiping, by showing
kindness, even to those who are not kind to you, by being joyful (even
when you don’t feel it), by not being afraid to admit you are Catholic
and to be willing to engage someone in conversation (charitably!)
about the faith should the opportunity arise. You don’t need to be
preachy. In fact, the most powerful witness we can give is usually not
spoken. We are observed by our co-workers, our friends and relatives,
our neighbors, and especially our children. It is how we live our lives
daily that provides the most powerful witness.
Of course, the most important thing we must do as Catholics
to live out our faith is to go to Mass every Sunday and holy day of
obligation. The Mass is the most important act of worship we can
offer God. At the end of Mass, we are commanded to “go forth to
love and serve the Lord.” What does that mean? Once we leave the
church building, we must performWorks of Mercy - works of love and
sacrifice for the sake of others for the purpose of drawing them (and
ourselves) closer to Christ. It can be something as simple as a phone
call, a visit to an elderly neighbor or, a meal cooked for someone in
distress. Donating money is good, because money is necessary to buy
supplies and to pay the bills to run these charities. What people need
most, however, is a caring smile, a friendly touch, and the knowledge
that someone actually cares about them. Do you have a passion
for children? You can volunteer at a school to read to the students,
volunteer at a hospital to hold and comfort infants who need attention
