October 20 is the feast of St. Magdalene of Nagasaki, a Japanese martyr who left us a profound testimony of faith, service and courage. She is also the patroness of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity. In a letter addressed on the occasion of this feast, the Prior General, Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez, emphasized the importance of daily holiness and service in small things, presenting the life of St. Magdalene as a guide for the laity. You can read the complete letter HERE.
Magdalena was born in Japan in the 17th century, a time of intense Christian persecution. She witnessed the martyrdom of her parents and several Augustinian Recollect religious. However, instead of renouncing her faith, she decided to follow in the footsteps of Christ to the point of martyrdom. He lived humbly and his life was marked by small acts of love and service to others, becoming a catechist, interpreter and consolation for the persecuted Christian community.
“Living with holiness through daily love and service.”
For Maricela Valles Villalobos, president of the FSAR in Spain, the life of St. Magdalena is a reminder of how small actions can build a life of great holiness: “I think her life is inspiring. It is a courageous life and, for us in the secular fraternity, it is a model to follow. She is a model of prayer, perseverance, constancy and great faith. A faith that is reflected in small moments and gestures, but that in the end becomes a great life, a great experience, a great testimony. We are very happy that she is our patroness”. In this line, she emphasizes that this year’s motto, ‘You aspire to great things, begin with small things’, reflects her legacy: “Her life teaches us that, even if we do not do great deeds, we can live with holiness through love and daily service”.
St. Magdalene’s life is a reminder of how small actions can build a life of great holiness.
The celebration of the feast of St. Magdalene has been a moment of joy and reflection for the members of the Secular Fraternity around the world. Leopoldo Duarte, of the Secular Fraternity of Venezuela, explained how the community continues to be a fundamental pillar in his spiritual life: “For me, the fraternity has meant that space where the Lord called me to live a life in fullness and holiness together with a community of friends and brothers who help me to rehabilitate my heart”. According to Leopoldo, the fraternity is a place where faith is built in community, and efforts are united to serve others and heal the soul.
Challenges of the laity: emotional and spiritual crises
Leopoldo, president of the FSAR of Venezuela, also highlighted the challenges faced by the laity in the 21st century, emphasizing the need to respond to the multiple emotional and spiritual crises that afflict human beings today: “We have different challenges in the 21st century.
The witness of St. Magdalene and her life of service in small gestures is a guide to “face these challenges with love and dedication”.
One of them is to know how to read the signs of the times and prepare ourselves more and better to respond to the multiple needs of human beings on the emotional and spiritual level, in the midst of so much existential crisis. We must also walk in synodality, as Pope Francis asks us to do, together with our religious brothers and sisters, to build together the kingdom of God”. For him, the testimony of St. Magdalene and her life of service in small gestures is a guide to “face these challenges with love and dedication”.
Mutual accompaniment and continuous formation are central themes in the life of the fraternity. Maricela, with more than 15 years of service to the fraternity, shared the many joys she has experienced in her service as president: “Since the first day I started this journey, I have received many joys, many blessings, and that is why I never tire of repeating that I am reaping fruits”. For her, the current achievements of the Fraternity are the result of the efforts of past generations: “I think that at this moment the National Council is gathering fruits from the seeds that many brothers before us have sown, and thanks to them we are seeing a wonderful result and fruit”.
The fraternity’s current achievements are the result of the efforts of past generations.
“May we keep that Augustinian spirit alive.”
Leopoldo Duarte called on the religious to continue strengthening collaboration with the laity, opening more spaces for formation and spiritual accompaniment: “We would like to ask the Order to continue cultivating this openness and trust.
May each day help us to be better formed to be able to respond to our temporal realities”. He stressed the importance of accompaniment in the process of vocational discernment of the members of the fraternity, who seek to find their place within the mission of the Kingdom of God: “Accompaniment is key, and we want you to continue helping us to clarify our particular call to live fully as Secular Augustinian Recollects.
“My message to the friars is that we keep that Augustinian spirit alive, that charism in every little moment.”
Maricela also sent a message to her fellow fraternity members, encouraging them to live the Augustinian charism in all aspects of their daily lives: “My message to the friars is that we should keep alive this Augustinian spirit, this charism in every little moment: personally, in the family, in marriage, in the community of friends and neighbors. We must be true witnesses of this charism that surrounds us and offers us the opportunity to live the Augustinian pillars: interiority, community and apostolate”. He added the importance of living with enthusiasm and dedication: “The message is to live with enthusiasm, with passion, with desire, putting 100% of our restless heart at the service of humanity, of all the people we can help, but always with joy, respect and great passion”. Finally, he stressed that the true mission is to accompany and serve both the brothers of the fraternity and the Church in general, remembering that “out there there is a whole world waiting for people who can listen, welcome, serve and accompany”.