Month: January 2023

As we end Mary Ward Week 2023 we reflect today on a letter that Mary Ward sent to Fr. John Tomson SJ Liège, April 1619. ‘…She [Sister Praxedes] may likewise know, what I had from God touching this, if that be thought fit, or would further her: which was as follows (understood as it is

Seeking confirmation … ‘…now to my coming to you, having begun with his holiness and that he should stir in the matter, and I absent things would not so well, besides if that should be, [if the Pope were to act quickly] I should be forced of necessity to return presently [immediately] back to Rome,

Discernment: A journey into the unknown ‘…great instance was made by diverse spiritual, and learned men, that we would take upon us some Rule already confirmed; several rules were procured by our friends, both from Italy and France, and we earnestly urged to make choice of some of them; they seemed not that which God

Reflection on Mary Ward letter to Mary Poyntz, December 1632 Resilience, determination and friendship emerge from the letter composed by Mary Ward to ‘My dearest’ Mary Poyntz, at the close of 1632. Mary was in Rome, her Institute suppressed but freed from the accusation of heresy and living in common life with her remaining companions,

‘I am in a Cloister I trow [believe], and closed up we are in one little pretty store on the first floor joining on the Grot where they bury, and the deceased Saints lie. Our habitation is the place of the despaired of the sick; we did as it seems displace one that is every

An invitation to greater inclusiveness as one Reverend my dear Mother,My ill health and several business [various duties] makes me forbear to show you how your proceedings comfort me, particularly your pains in advancing [developing] the place where you are, and care of those under your charge, but beyond all this, and above what I

Mary Ward, faithful disciple of obedience and fulfilment of God’s will. My dear Win,Your entire resignation and full dependence upon the will of God and Superiors I far more esteem than if you had the grace of working miracles and wanted [lacked] this. Go forward as you now proceed, and rest assured God will do,

“My Win,I have indeed diverse very good ones of yours; it comforts me very [much] to read those passages, and the manner of your proceedings with so true an united will to superiors, what you did concerning your happily deceased superior pleased me so much as not any one passage touching your managing of matters