"...for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Isaiah 56:7

"O Lord,...you have been pleased to bless this house of your servant, so that it will always remain. It is you, O Lord, who blessed it, and it will be blessed forever." 1 Chr 17: 26-27

Sr. Marie De Mandat-Grancey Foundation
P.O.Box 275
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA

" I am not a priest and cannot bless them, but all that the heart of a mother can ask of God for her children, I ask of Him and will never cease to ask Him." ~ Sister Marie

“The grace of our Lord be with us forever.” ~ Sr. Marie

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Power of the Pen

Our letters are having an effect! It's time to redouble our efforts. Please, please, please write letters and have your friends write letters. On the left tool bar of this page is a link to a "how to" letter writing helper that includes the addresses of the Archbishops of Izmir and Dijon as well as the General Superior of the Vincentians and the Mother Superioress of the Daughters of Charity. With this tool you can work for the cause of peace and help Sister Marie in her important mission by showing the power of the pen!

This is the year of St. Paul, a prolific writer for Christ, who spent the remainder of his life after his conversion travelling, writing, and spreading the Good News of our Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's a perfect year to dedicate to writing our own letters telling the good news of Sister Marie's intercession in our lives and expressing our solidarity with her mission to intercede for us to bring hope for peace between Muslims and Christians. This will help support what Our Holy Father spoke of recently when he was expressing some of his hopes for his upcoming trip to America including Ground Zero. He said, "I earnestly hope that my presence among you will be seen as a fraternal gesture towards every ecclesial community and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men and women of good will." Pope Benedict XVI is trying to “open the door to Christian-Muslim dialogue."

Just like St. Paul who spent three days in darkness after seeing our glorious and resurrected Lord, we too have lived a time in darkness and fear after the tragedy of 9/11. But when St. Paul regained his sight, his hope was restored, and he set himself to the mission of bringing the Good News of Christ to every person he could reach. We, too, now have reason to hope! We have a special intercessor for hope in these times. It is Sister Marie! Right now she needs our prayers and our letters. Like St. Paul, let us in all hope set ourselves with great determination to this mission of peace. Like him, let us write, and spread the good news of hope for peace through the intercession of Sister Marie! This is the time, the year of St. Paul. Especially now when we learn of all our Holy Father hopes to accomplish with his visit. He needs our prayers. Sister Marie, help us pray and work well by writing our letters so we may assist Our Holy Father as he courageously spreads the Good News of Christ to the world. In his recent video message he says: "Together with your bishops, I have chosen as the theme of my journey three simple but essential words: "Christ Our Hope." Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to United States of America as pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition."

The theme of hope cannot be denied. Sister Marie, Foundress of Mary's House, wants to intercede for us with Our Lady who in Mary's House is referred to as Mother of Holy Hope! God our Father ordained that Sister Marie be the one to save this treasure, Mary's House, for us... for now!...for hope! God chose Sister Marie for this purpose then and the purpose, or mission, is still unfolding. We can be a part of this by praying and writing. We needed Sister Marie then and we need her now; She gave us Mary's House then, and more than ever we need Mary's House, a common ground of hope for peace, now!

The pen is mightier than the sword. It is the time for letter writing. Be an apostle of peace and hope. Please make your letters personal and heart felt but above all before writing your letters, please say a prayer to Sister Marie and also to St. Paul asking to be blessed with their guidance and inspiration. And during the Pope's upcoming visit let's together ask Sister Marie to protect, guide, and pray for him, Our Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ Our Hope!

God bless you!