First Companions - Part 3
Sunday, May 2, 1858. First Vows of the First Companions.
All the sisters from Paris who had gone to Strasbourg to pronounce vows returned to Paris on April 30th at 11pm.
Bishop Raess celebrated the 7am Mass. He had received the first Reparatrix sisters in his dioceses a little over a year earlier. By all we read, he really cared about them often visiting the community bringing visiting priests and friends.
The bishop blessed the blue veils, the hearts, and the crucifixes, handing them to each one. They withdrew for a few minutes to change their white veils for the blue and to attach the hearts to the scapulars. They entered the chapel again holding the crucifixes in their hands. The Mass began in recollection, peace, silence, and joy. Before communion all the sisters knelt at the communion rail. The bishop stood in front of each one, holding the host, then starting with Emilie each pronounced the formula of vows. The Mass slowly continued as if they wanted it to last forever.
The public had not been admitted. We do not know for how long this custom remained. By the time we entered the community our families and friends proudly attended to share in our happiness.
After lunch as they were having recreation in the garden there was a conversation about “the future missions of the Society.” Father Petit S.J who was present, encouraged them while Emilie “was frightened” by the thought.
On the 4th the sisters from the Paris community returned by train.
It is interesting to note that at the end of August Julia Bell writes in the Journal of the House: “The group is rather universal, English, French, German, Belgian, Irish and Creole are associated in our house.” To this day our Congregation is diverse. It is always wonderful to meet sisters we had never encountered before and experience the deep connection and love that binds us together.
Concepción González Cánovas, smr
conce_gonzalez@comcast.net
Sources:
Présentation Historique de la Société de Marie Réparatrice (1818-1953). Henri de Gensac, SJ. Rome, 1992.
The Beginnings of the Society of Mary Reparatrix (1855-1858). Journal of the beginnings of the Society, house of Paris, house of Strasbourg. Introduction and notes by Anne Marie Bertaud, smr. Translated into English by Emma Gravlin, smr.