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Marianists at the University of Dayton
 
Wishing one and all a restorative and faith-filled summer break.
 

A Reflection

Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI

"O my God, my heart is too small to love You. But I will see to it that You are loved by so many hearts that their love will make up for the littleness of mine."
                                                                      -Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon (1789-1828)

With these words, the Foundress of the Marianist Sisters conveyed her unity with the spirit of Mary. She saw herself as part of Mary's ongoing mission to bear Christ to the world and invited others to share in this mission. Adele's relationship with Mary was familial. While a teenager, she founded petite societe among her young women-friends. They met to support each other in their faith journeys and reach beyond themselves by doing catechesis, education, and other service works for the poor children of their region in southern France. The group was founded under the protection of Mary, as Adele had a keen awareness of Mary as a model for all Christians and as protectress of those taking risks to fulfill God's will. She relished the title, Daughters of Mary, which was founded with Father Chaminade when she was 27. It expresses Mary's nurturing love and continuance in the feminine spiritual inheritance.

Mary's reception of the angel's word in the Annunciation (Luke 1:25 ff.) and the sharing of God's mighty deeds in the visitation to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39 ff.) were two of Adele's favorite texts. She exemplified the purity, humility, and obedience of Mary, that she could be a true vessel of Christ's presence.

She so resonated with Mary's response to God's word that she often said, "I am the servant of the Lord." This service was always that of an active missionary, and her words inspire us to continue outreaching in love and care for others wherever God calls us to be.

"Let us imitate the love of our heavenly Mother and like her, let us cheerfully render to all our brothers and sisters all the services we can, both for the body and for the soul."

-Adele, 1810

Sister Leanne is a biology lab instructor at the University of Dayton, works with the UD Sodality, and is involved in the music preparation for the campus Eucharists. She is working on her Ph.D. in biology at McGill University in Montreal.

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