Message of the Prior General to the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity on the occasion of the feast of St. Magdalene of Nagasaki

May the God of hope fill our hearts with joy and peace.

 

Dear Brothers of the Secular Fraternity:

In a few days we will celebrate the feast of St. Magdalene of Nagasaki, patroness of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity. As every year, I am sending you these letters to encourage you to live with fidelity and renewed enthusiasm the vocation to which the Lord has called you. It is important to remember that the Secular Fraternity is, precisely, a vocation to live the baptism in the ecclesial community.

This year, the Order reflected on the value of small things. The motto that has presided over our houses has been a phrase of St. Augustine: “If you aspire to great things, begin with small things”. Sometimes, when we look at the lives of the saints, we feel that they are so immense and grandiose that they are unreachable. This can lead us to think that holiness is not for us. However, we forget that holiness is forged piece by piece, granite by granite, gesture by gesture, with the grace of God. Holiness is made up of small things done with much love. Remember that even the cup of water given in the name of Christ will not go unrewarded.

Holiness does not depend so much on what we do, but on how we do it, on the love we put into every action we take.

Holiness does not depend so much on what we do, but on how we do it, on the love we put into every action we perform. That is why we have saints who were fishermen, farmers, shepherds, merchants, teachers, housewives, porters, kings or princes.

Holiness cannot be bought, it is acquired by loving, and for this reason it is within everyone’s reach.

Holiness is not the exclusive property of the wise or of great orators, which is why there are illiterate saints and many people who are simple and humble of heart.

Holiness is not the exclusive patrimony of those who abandon everything to follow Jesus in the religious or priestly life, but of those who do not abandon God from their lives.

Holiness is not reserved for those who speak with rhetoric and elegance, but for those who love and speak from the heart, forgetting themselves in order to help their neighbor.

Holiness has nothing to do with the state of life, so we have married, single, widowed and consecrated saints.

Holiness has no age restriction, for there are saints as children, adolescents, young people, adults and the elderly.

Nor is sanctity conditioned by social position; it dwells in the suburbs and in the center of the city, in the countryside and in the city, in the mountains and by the sea.

Holiness has no ideology or sides. It does not harm health, so it can be practiced without risk by young people seeking strong emotions, or by those waiting for love in a hospital bed.

Holiness does not consist in working miracles, nor in surrendering the body to the flames, nor in speaking with the tongue of angels, but in LOVE.

St. Magdalene of Nagasaki is an inspiring example of how small acts can have a profound impact on people’s lives and on history.

As you look at the life of our dear Magdalene of Nagasaki, do not be tempted to turn away when contemplating her admirable and exalted existence. Her life, like that of all of us, was built day by day, with small gestures. The martyrdom of Magdalene was the culmination of a life lived with simplicity, fidelity and generous dedication. Today’s fidelity, today’s struggle against temptations, prepares us for tomorrow’s victory.

St. Magdalene of Nagasaki is an inspiring example of how small acts can have a profound impact on people’s lives and on history. Born in times of great adversity, she stood out for her courage and dedication to others. At a time of persecution of the Christian faith in Japan, she and other martyrs demonstrated that even the smallest gestures of love and compassion can be beacons of hope.

Magdalena witnessed the martyrdom of her parents and the Recollect friars. She could have chosen to apostatize or flee to avoid the same fate, but she preferred to hide in the mountains with other brothers in the faith. In those mountains, Magdalene consoled the afflicted, strengthened the discouraged, catechized hearts, served as an interpreter for the Augustinian Recollects, and prayed with the persecuted community, keeping alive the flame of faith. He did not perform great deeds or seek recognition, but his heart, filled with love, overflowed in small acts of kindness. And these small acts of love are within the reach of all of us, who are made of the same clay as Magdalene: the clay of fragility, poverty, fear, doubt and discouragement. We are mud, but we are also capable of loving, and therein lies the miracle, for with that love we can transform everything. We are capable of living with passion and joy, of longing, dreaming and transforming things, of turning our weakness into strength through that love that transforms everything. We are clay, yes, but we can be a reflection of the potter who makes each one of us a unique and magnificent piece. We are clay, yes, but we are clay in love. ….

The story of St. Magdalene reminds us that every small gesture counts.

In our daily lives, we often feel overwhelmed by the big problems around us; however, the story of St. Magdalene reminds us that every small gesture counts. A smile, a kind word, a phone call, a visit to the sick or elderly, or simply being present in the life of someone who needs us, are actions that can transform another person’s day. Like Magdalena, we can aspire to great things by starting with the small things we have within our reach.

As they renew the promises they once made, may they understand that the Lord calls us, in our present state and condition, to live the holiness of the little things. Happy Feast of St. Magdalene!

CDMX, October 16, 2024.

Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández, OAR