Reflections Guide for October 2025
It is October. To us, the immediate association of “October” is Divine Heart (October 20, 1672), Arrival of First RGS Missionaries to the Philippines (October 4, 1912), Mission (World Mission Sunday), Rosary. Constants in our Life and Mission. They inspire us, support us, guide us, comfort us in “Today’s Context and Complexities.” This is a take-off from our Zoom Conversation in the Spirit led by our own Sr. Edith Olaguer a few days ago.
CONTEXT
Let us find our place in our world today, as “it faces geopolitical and socio-economic turmoil, where everything seems to be falling apart and the center won’t hold, where threat of a nuclear war is as real as a climate crisis.” We bring to our mind and heart the children in Gaza who are being starved to death and their mothers who are trafficked in their effort to obtain food for their children. Our Sisters and their mission in Myanmar in the worsening political situation there. Right here at home, the reality of widescale and intentional practice of Corruption! The consequences especially for the poorest, the weakest, the most vulnerable.
REFLECTION
Sr. Edith shared the story of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ when he saw the effect of the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima: scene of smoke and ash, smell of burning flesh and tortured cries. He went down to the chapel, and in a moment that felt like eternity, prayed and asked God what he could do. This experience of being part of hurting humanity would be a foundational aspect for Fr. Arrupe. Figuring out what it meant, what its place was in God’s plan, influenced him all his life.
OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE
From the Prologue to the RGS Constitutions and Statutes
“The spirituality of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd is centered on the person of Christ. Devotion to the Heart of Jesus and Mary, love of God’s will and zeal for the salvation of souls are distinguishing characteristics derived from the doctrine of St. John Eudes. In contemplating the Heart of Jesus, Sister Mary Euphrasia experienced the compassion and solicitude of the Good Shepherd. She recognized the image of God in each person, instilling in her sisters respect for the dignity of all persons.”
“The Heart that is Given to Us.”
In an enthusiastic letter dated July 29, 1672, John Eudes announced to his “dear and beloved Brothers” that the first celebration of the Feast of the Heart of Jesus would take place in all the houses of the Congregation on October 20, with the approval of the Bishops concerned. To speak of the Heart of Jesus is to celebrate the Love of God in the astounding mystery of the Incarnation. “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son.” (John 3:16) And it is this humanity of God that is manifested to us in Jesus.
St. John Eudes shows us how we can practice charity in everyday life by seeing Christ in others. “When you render a service to someone, you can lift up your heart to Jesus to love and help him in that person.” “If you have been offended, don’t wait for the person to come to you. Remember the word of Our Lord: if your sister has something against you, go at once and make peace with your sister.” “If you harbour envy or resentment against someone, pray Jesus to put charity in your heart. Talk to the person. Be charitable in her regard. Pray until the aversion goes away.” Pray particularly for the Lord to imprint in your heart charity and tender compassion for the poor, strangers, widows and orphans.” In community life, John Eudes considered Charity to be of prime importance.
Hard to do? John Eudes claims it is not since it consists first and foremost in loving. And to enable us to love, God himself has given us his own Heart. With this Heart which he made “available” to each one of us, we have the ability to love God and our brothers and sisters “corde magno et animo volenti” (2 Mac. 1:3) without reservation or limitation. (Marie Francoise le Brizaut, OLC, “Life, to me, is Christ.”)
“DO YOU HAVE THE HEART OF A SHEPHERD?”
What does it mean for us today to celebrate the Divine Heart of God, the fount of all mercy? In the midst of hatred, violence and war; a sense of betrayal, hopelessness and loss of respect for authority, how can we mediate compassion and justice? Let us go nearer to God and implore his mercy for those who are suffering and whose hearts have grown hard and cold, for those who have caused miseries to others, and for all people of good will who desire transformation and reconciliation. May we find HOPE and LIGHT in a personal friendship with Jesus. May we learn from Him to be, in our own small ways, God’s tenderness and compassion, love and justice in our world with all of life’s COMPLEXITIES and SACREDNESS today!
LIVE JESUS AND MARY!
