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The Congregation of Our Lady
of the Retreat in the Cenacle

is a Catholic religious congregation of women. It was founded in 1826 in the small French village of Lalouvesc, in contact with a people whose faith had been profoundly shaken by the Revolution.

Since its foundation, the sisters have allowed themselves to be challenged by issues and questions specific to each time and place. They have helped people grow in their faith lives through various forms of spiritual apostolate, including retreats, catechesis, and spiritual accompaniment.

The Congregation shares with many others the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and is thus part of the great Ignatian family.

It recognizes itself in the first assembly of the nascent Church: Jesus’s friends and loved ones, including Mary, liked to get together to share, remember him, and call down upon them the Holy Spirit he had promised. At Pentecost, the power of the Spirit transformed them into bold witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus.

Today, the Congregation is present in 12 countries. Its charism is also shared with different forms of lay groups linked to the Congregation: the Cenacle Family.

Our Communities in the World

RIO DE JANEIRO

Rua Pereira da Silva, 135 – Laranjeiras
CEP 22221-140
Rio de Janeiro-RJ

(+55) 21 2205-0568

cenaculo.brasil@gmail.com

MINAS GERAIS

BELO HORIZONTE

Centre spirituel / Retreat house
Rua Nossa Sra. do Cenáculo, 240
CEP 31620-200 Venda Nova
Belo Horizonte – MG

(+55) 31 3451 5022

cenaculobhnoticias@yahoo.com.br



CONTAGEM

Rua Francisco d’Ávila, 188
CEP 32042-520 Alvorada
Contagem – MG
cenaculocont@gmail.com

SÃO PAULO

TABOÃO DA SERRA

Centre spirituel / Retreat house
Rua Nossa Sra. do Cenáculo, 105
Parque Monte Alegre  CEP 06756-140
Taboão da Serra – SP

irmascenaculots@gmail.com
(+55) 11 3782 0794

SÃO MIGUEL PAULISTA

Rua Camões, 747 – Vila Helena
CEP 08081-420
São Miguel Paulista – SP

(+55) 11 2581 0947
cenaculosmp@yahoo.com.br

FORTALEZA

Rua Alfredo Mamede, 855
Conjunto Esperança
CEP 60763-800Fortaleza – CE

(+55) 85 3025 8480
cenaculofortaleza@gmail.com

MANILLA METRO

 

QUEZON CITY

Centre spirituel / Retreat house
59-60 Nicanor Reyes Street
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
1108 Philippines
(+63) 2 700 592 20
Call/Text/Whatsapp/Viber: +639175703349
cenacle.philippines@gmail.com

&
14 C. Salvador Street
Loyola Heights, Quezon City – 1108 Philippines

(+63) 28990 5228

MARIKINA CITY

81B St Joseph Avenue
Horacio dela Costa Homes
Barangka, Marikina City 1800
(+63) 7 933 7069

CEBU CITY

3886 First Street
Forest Hills Subdivision
Banawa, 8000 Cebu City

(+63) 32 254 6224

MACAU

Hoi Pan Garden, 12-G Bloco 6
267 Avenida do Nordeste
Macau SAR, China

cenacle.macau@gmail.com

SINGAPORE

94 Jalan Angin Laut
Singapore 489289

(+65) 9722 3148
cenaclesing@gmail.com

RÉGION PARISIENNE

 

PARIS – MONTMARTRE
9, rue Lamarck
75018 Paris
(+33) 1 42 23 00 50
ndc.montmartre@free.fr

 

LE KREMLIN-BICÊTRE
21, rue Anatole France
94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
(+33) 09 53 22 34 53
cenacle.kb@yahoo.com

VERSAILLES
Centre spirituel / Retreat house
68, Avenue de Paris
78000 Versailles
(+33) 01 39 50 21 56
secretariat@cenacle78.fr

RÉGION PARISIENNE

 

VERSAILLES
Centre spirituel / Retreat house
68, Avenue de Paris
78000 Versailles
(+33) 01 39 50 21 56
secretariat@cenacle78.fr

 

LE KREMLIN-BICÊTRE
21, rue Anatole France
94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
(+33) 09 53 22 34 53
cenacle.kb@yahoo.com

PARIS – MONTMARTRE
9, rue Lamarck
75018 Paris
(+33) 1 42 23 00 50
ndc.montmartre@free.fr

RÉGION PARISIENNE

 

LE KREMLIN-BICÊTRE
21, rue Anatole France
94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
(+33) 09 53 22 34 53
cenacle.kb@yahoo.com

 

VERSAILLES
Centre spirituel / Retreat house
68, Avenue de Paris
78000 Versailles
(+33) 01 39 50 21 56
secretariat@cenacle78.fr

 

PARIS – MONTMARTRE
9, rue Lamarck
75018 Paris
(+33) 1 42 23 00 50
ndc.montmartre@free.fr

LYON

3, Place de Fourvière
69005 Lyon

 (+33) 4 78 25 13 16
cenaclyon@outlook.com

MARSEILLE

26, rue Raphaël-Ponson
13008 Marseille

(+33) 4 91 43 30 38
cenacle.marseille@laposte.net

 

TOULOUSE

5, Rue Lucien Cassagne
31500 Toulouse – France

(+33) 05 61 54 29 02
cenacletoulouse@orange.fr

 

IRELAND

 

KILLINEY (DUBLIN)

Loreto Abbey
Dalkey – Co Dublin A96YC81
(+353) 01 280 43 31

Our Lady’s Manor Bulloch Castle
Dalkey, Co. Dublin

CORK
19 St Francis Gardens
Blackpool
Cork T23 HW32
(+353) 08 72 89 15 45

LIVERPOOL

Tithebarn Grove        
Lance Lane
Liverpool L15 6TW

(+44) 0151 722 22 71
cenacle.liverpool@gmail.com

 

LONDON

35 Holmewood Gardens       
Brixton
London SW2 3NA

(+44) 020 86 78 13 29
cenacle.london@btinternet.com

 

ROMA

Piazza Madonna del Cenacolo, 15
00136 Roma

Centre spirituel / Retreat house
(+39) 06 35 42 00 51/52
romamadonnadelcenacolo@gmail.com

Maison généralice / Generalate
(+39) 06 35 42 00 54
info@cenacle-gen.org

TORINO

Piazza Guido Gozzano, 4
10132 Torino

(+39) 011 819 5445
casa.spiritualita@suoredelcenacolo.it

VOGAN (VO-PEDAKONDJI)

Pedakondji
BP 38 Vogan

(+228) 90 36 53 64
(WhatsApp): (+228) 91 10 87 23
cenacle.vogan@live.fr

ANTANANARIVO

 

AMPARIBE
33, Lalana Dr Razafindratandra
Amparibe 101 – ANTANANARIVO
(+261) 20 22 256 71
maisonterme@gmail.com

 

AMBOHIPO
Centre spirituel / Retreat house
Lot VT 18 – Maison Sacré Cœur
Ampahateza – Ambohipo – 101 – ANTANANARIVO
(+261) 20 22 242 54
sacrecoeurambohipo@gmail.com

SOAVIMBAHOAKA
II A 118 MA Bis
Nanisana – Iadiambola
ANTANANARIVO 101
(+261) 20 22 413 45
soambahoaka14@gmail.com

ANTANANARIVO


 

AMPARIBE
33, Lalana Dr Razafindratandra
Amparibe 101 – ANTANANARIVO
(+261) 20 22 256 71
maisonterme@gmail.com


 

AMBOHIPO
Centre spirituel / Retreat house
Lot VT 18 – Maison Sacré Cœur
Ampahateza – Ambohipo – 101 – ANTANANARIVO
(+261) 20 22 242 54
sacrecoeurambohipo@gmail.com

SOAVIMBAHOAKA
II A 118 MA Bis
Nanisana – Iadiambola
ANTANANARIVO 101
(+261) 20 22 413 45
soambahoaka14@gmail.com

ANTANANARIVO


 

AMPARIBE
33, Lalana Dr Razafindratandra
Amparibe 101 – ANTANANARIVO
(+261) 20 22 256 71
maisonterme@gmail.com


 

AMBOHIPO
Centre spirituel / Retreat house
Lot VT 18 – Maison Sacré Cœur
Ampahateza – Ambohipo – 101 – ANTANANARIVO
(+261) 20 22 242 54
sacrecoeurambohipo@gmail.com

SOAVIMBAHOAKA
II A 118 MA Bis
Nanisana – Iadiambola
ANTANANARIVO 101
(+261) 20 22 413 45
soambahoaka14@gmail.com

ANTSIRABE

Centre spirituel / Retreat house
Mahazoarivo
110 – ANTSIRABE

(+261) 034 87 224 94
rcantsirabe@yahoo.fr


 

BETAFO

Maison Notre Dame du Cénacle
B.P. 23  ECAR Sahafohy
113 – Betafo

(+261) 20 44 930 25


 

FIANARANTSOA

Talatamaty –  B.P 1440 – Ambozontany
301 – Fianarantsoa

Mob: (+261) 034 39 228 09
cenafianar@gmail.com

FARAFANGANA

Notre Dame du Cénacle – BP 24
“Centre Diocésain”- Impitiny
309 – Farafangana

(+261) 034 19 710 78
faraface18@gmail.com


 

FORT-DAUPHIN – TOLAGNARO

Ampasimazava –  B.P. 47
614 – Tolagnaro

(+261) 20 92 90 413
ndampasimazava@yahoo.fr

MORONDAVA

Antandrokosy

rctandrokosy@gmail.com
(+261) 034 39 710 47

TAMATAVE

Tanamakoa, 7
B.P. 401
501 – Toamasina

cenacletamatave@gmail.com
(+261) 034 03 661 07

WELLINGTON – WAIKANAE

2 Olliver Grove
Waikanae Beach 5036
New Zealand

(+64) 4 905 7213
office@cenacle.org.nz

BELMONT

3 / 337 Daly Street, Belmont
Western Australia 6104

 

CHICAGO

3800 W. Petterson Avenue
Chicago, IL  60659-3116
(+1 773) 528-6300
ministry@cenaclesisters.org

607 West Wrightwood Avenue, #406
Chicago, IL 60614
(+631) 942-5305

Ascension Living Resurrection Village
726200 W. Peterson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659-3116

Ascension Living Resurrection Life Center
7370 West Talcott Avenue
Chicago, IL 60631

DES PLAINES
Ascension Living Nazarethville Place

FLOWERY BRANCH

  1705 Tree Park Circle
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
(+1 ) 678-828-8595

MADISON

15, Wilmer Street Apt. 9
Madison NJ, NJ 07940

(+1 862) 242-8131

NEW-YORK

Hope Residence, Building 4
1725 Brentwood Road
Brentwood, NY 11717

Villa St Joseph
984 North Village Avenue
Rockville Centre, NY 11570

HOUSTON

1415 Eldridge Parkway, #1614
Houston, TX 77077

(+1 713) 301-3189

CAMBRIDGE

Neville Center at Fresh Pond
640 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02143

APPLETON

Riverwalk Place
431 E. Eagle Flats Parkway, Apt 403
Appleton, WI 54915-9208

The General Government Team

With the exception of one of the councilors, the General Government team lives in Rome. It is responsible for animating the Congregation. In particular, it ensures fidelity to the intuitions of our founders and the implementation of the orientations discerned by the General Chapter of 2022. Its main mission is to foster the spiritual growth and unity of the Congregation.

Left to right: Sr Kathryn – Sr Hanitra – Sr Véronique – Sr Helena – Sr Beth – Sr Susay

Superior General:

Sr Véronique Fabre, French

Secretary General:

Sr Susana Carina (Susay) Valdez, Filipina

General Treasurer:

Elisabeth (Beth) Cruz, Filipina

General Councilors :

• Sr Kathryn Madden, American
• Sr Silvia Helena Bezerra do Nascimento, Brazilian
• Sr Gisèle Marie Viviane (Hanitra) Rahanitririvoniandrianiony, Malgache
• Sr Susana Carina (Susay) Valdez, Filipina

Risen, bearing his wounds, Christ walks our paths putting his footsteps in ours so that we in turn can put ours in his. He calls us to follow him and has made us understand that he needs us. Hand in hand, heart to heart, like pilgrims walking together, the Risen One leads us to meet all kinds of people, freely, and to take time with them in order to appreciate how each of our lives, every life in its humanity, is holy ground.
Acts of the General Chapter 2022

Becoming a Cenacle Sister

Testimonies

Previous
Next
Our Foundress

congregation

Of Our Lady
of the Cenacle

Contact us

info@cenacle-gen.org
Piazza Madonna del Cenacolo, 15
00136 Rome
+39 06 35 42 00 51

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©2025 Sisters of the Cenacle

Made by Studio Epiphania

« Le Seigneur a fait pour moi des merveilles »

Sr Rufine

L’expérience internationale a ouvert mon cœur et mon esprit à vivre la diversité et l’interculturalité. Cette expérience est un cadeau de Dieu pour moi afin que je puisse goûter profondément la richesse culturelle. Je suis restée 11 jours à Rome, le temps s’est passé très vite. J’ai vécu cette expérience avec liberté et j’ai découvert que Rome est riche de l’histoire chrétienne comme celle de Pierre et Paul, des martyrs, de Saint Ignace, ainsi que des différents monuments romains.

Quand je suis entrée au Vatican, dans la basilique Saint-Pierre, j’ai vu de nombreux autels et chaque autel avait une messe ; cela me rappelle le « se livrer » de sainte Thérèse Couderc : elle a entendu le son de la cloche et a vu plusieurs autels où le sang de l’agneau coulait sur chaque autel. J’ai aussi participé à la messe dans la chapelle où on voit clairement le trône de Saint-Pierre. J’ai vécu cela avec une grande joie intérieure et une foi profonde. Tout cela me pousse à rendre grâce à Dieu.

Aux Trois Fontaines où Saint Paul a été martyrisé, la tête de Saint Paul a rebondi trois fois sur le sol. Ce Saint a beaucoup souffert mais n’a pas eu peur, il était prêt à mourir dans la foi. Je suis très touchée par cette attitude de Saint Paul et cela m’a fait penser qu’il y a de la souffrance à endurer dans la vie et après la souffrance, c’est la vraie vie. Le martyr Saint Paul m’a aidé à m’attacher au Christ et a renforcé ma foi.

En ce qui concerne saint Ignace de Loyola, j’ai visité sa chambre, l’endroit où il a écrit les Exercices Spirituels. Ce qui m’a beaucoup touché, c’est que sa chambre est très étroite, simple, ce qui signifie qu’en le voyant, je me suis dit que c’est un signe de sa sincérité de vie et de son détachement total des richesses terrestres. Pour toutes ces découvertes, je ne cesse pas de rendre grâce à Dieu qui m’a montré ses merveilles.

À Versailles, j’ai vécu avec la communauté durant 1 mois. Cela est un don de Dieu. Ce qui m’a touché c’est qu’il y a beaucoup de types d’animation spirituelle dans ce Centre. Je suis très heureuse parce que la communauté m’a permis d’assister à quelques animations comme celle de « goûter et partager la parole de Dieu », « Matinée Spirituelle », « Week-end spirituel » et « lectio Divina ». Dans tout cela, j’ai ouvert mon cœur, mon âme et mon esprit pour accueillir des fruits.

L’organisation communautaire qui donne place à la prière ensemble a ancré mon cœur dans le Christ ; le partage profond avec foi et confiance de chacune pendant la prière partagée tout le dimanche m’a permis de vivre l’expérience de la communauté des disciples avec Jésus. J’ai participé aussi à la vie courante. J’ai reçu beaucoup de choses qui m’aident à vivre ma vocation dans la vie à Versailles.

À Lyon, lieu historique de notre Congrégation, j’ai reçu beaucoup de grâce. Ce qui m’a touchée c’est la chambre de Sainte Thérèse Couderc qui m’a fait comprendre son humilité, son silence, son « se livrer », sa simplicité. Dans sa chambre j’ai vu les objets qu’elle a utilisé : aiguille, ciseau, linge, bout de papier avec des paroles de Dieu … je suis convaincue que c’est dans la vie quotidienne qu’on trouve la vraie vie, le vrai bonheur qui donnent la vie éternelle.

A Lalouvesc, quand je suis entrée à la basilique Saint Régis, je sens que le corps de Mère Thérèse accueille toutes les personnes qui viennent dans cette basilique. Je suis touchée quand j’ai vu la Bonté sur le visage de sainte Thérèse Couderc, son amour infini, sa simplicité, son cœur grand comme le monde…

J’ai confirmé mon offrande avec Mère Thérèse à Notre Dame D’Ay.

C’est un cadeau aussi que j’ai pu visiter la maison natale de Mère Thérèse au Mas. J’ai pu y rester quelques jours. C’est un miracle pour moi que cette maison est encore là. J’ai pu imaginer les qualités de la famille de Mère Thérèse : sociable, chrétienne et solidaire.

Je te rends grâce mon Dieu de m’avoir appelée et choisie. Je suis également reconnaissante à toute la Congrégation qui m’a permis de vivre cette expérience,

J’ai reçu beaucoup de merveilles qui marquent ma vie.

À la basilique Saint Paul à Rome

Je garde beaucoup de choses sur la vie de Mère Thérèse, mais je veux dire tout simplement que mon contact avec elle ravive en moi le désir de vivre davantage la simplicité de notre fondatrice et de son amour de prière. Que cela m’aide à aimer chacune de mes sœurs quelques soient leur limite, à aimer également toutes personnes, spécialement celles que je rencontre dans la mission que la Congrégation me confie.

Mon expérience interculturelle

Sr Lucie

La première chose qui m’a frappé c’est l’accueil chaleureux des sœurs, avec tous les gestes d’amour exprimé partout même dans la chambre. Cela m’a donné beaucoup de joies.

Cette expérience m’a fait sentir que je suis précieuse aux yeux de Dieu et que je dois toujours être heureuse de la grâce qu’il me donne chaque jour.

A Rome, ma visite des tombeaux des martyrs m’a touché. J’étais spécialement frappée par l’histoire de Pierre.  J’ai senti que Pierre était une personne simple qui n’avait pas beaucoup de connaissances intellectuelles, mais il est devenu Saint. Je suis convaincue que je ne dois pas attendre pour devenir un grand expert pour pouvoir faire ma mission. C’est ma capacité d’utiliser ce que Dieu me donne qui est la plus importante.

En France, les moments les plus forts pour moi ce sont nos jours à Lalouvesc, là où j’ai vu directement la corp de Mère Thérèse dans la basilique de Saint Jean François Régis. J’étais également très heureuse de découvrir l’ancienne place de la châsse dans notre maison source. Les nombreux souvenirs laissés par Mère Thérèse et Père Terme, François Régis sont précieux pour moi. Les objets spirituels m’ont fait comprendre leur manière d’aider les autres et leur bon esprit en aimant tout le monde.

J’étais touchée par le lien entre St François Régis et Mère Thérèse. J’ai trouvé de bons souvenir de Mère Thérèse dans le Musé de Saint François Régis.

À la basilique Saint Paul à Rome

Je garde beaucoup de choses sur la vie de Mère Thérèse, mais je veux dire tout simplement que mon contact avec elle ravive en moi le désir de vivre davantage la simplicité de notre fondatrice et de son amour de prière. Que cela m’aide à aimer chacune de mes sœurs quelques soient leur limite, à aimer également toutes personnes, spécialement celles que je rencontre dans la mission que la Congrégation me confie.

Un mois avec la communauté de Toulouse

Marie Claudine

J’ai..

À chaque prière communautaire, celles qui ne peuvent pas être présentes à cause de leur engagement apostolique ou autres raisons ne sont pas oubliées. J’ai senti une vraie communion de cœur dans notre prière. J’ai également goûté les temps de prière avec les jeunes « Céna club », ainsi que la prière partagée chaque mercredi.

Ilna

I discovered the Cenacle in January 2023 at Noémie’s invitation.

Indeed, it was a period when I was very depressed and had no taste for parties or anything. So, at my dear husband’s insistence, we went. God is simply wonderful. He gave me back strength, hope and a taste for fraternal life thanks to Sister Lydia’s guidance.

On occasion, my husband and I had discovered the Cenacle Fraternity and we integrated it with joy. This joy never ceases to grow and, above all, with our commitment.

Thanks be to Almighty God.

May it fill the lives of the Cenacle sisters.

Michèle

I met sisters Laurence and Simone in Zinvié (Benin) at the Clarisse sisters house, where I had come for a 3-day retreat in February 2019.

During Sunday mass, the priest publicly thanked them for the work they had done in accompanying the community’s novices. On the way out, I hurried to catch up with them to find out more about accompaniment, and so I received the Vogan Cenacle leaflets.

A few months later I scheduled my 1st retreat at the Cenacle and I loved the accompaniment. Every year, I come to the Cenacle for various retreats and I come away ever more invigorated by the Ignatian spirituality.

I discovered the FAS training program (Formation to spiritual direction) and signed up for it, while following the Theological and Pastoral Initiation program in Cotonou (EITP). There I met Narcisse, who had already been there a year earlier. During an 8-day retreat in Vogan, I bumped into Narcisse again and the idea of doing something in Cotonou began to grow on me. I called Narcisse and told him about my idea. He then informed me that the idea was already underway with friends who had already made the journey and who wanted to see the fruits of that journey continue. And so began a series of meetings, often in Vogan or at the EITP, and afterwards with members of the nascent Fraternity. I was amazed to discover people who shared the same values of sharing, and I decided to commit myself even more to living the values of the Cenacle. This commitment came to fruition at Pentecost 2024. Thank you Lord for your wonders.

Act of Oblation

Lord Jesus, I unite myself to your perpetual, unceasing, universal sacrifice. I offer myself to you every day of my life and every moment of every day according to your most holy and adorable will.

You have been the victim of my salvation; I wish to be the victim of your love.

Accept my desire, take my offering, graciously hear my prayer. Let me live for love of you; let me die for love of you, let my last heartbeat be an act of perfect love.

Amen.

Goodness

I had, a few days ago, an insight which consoled me very much.

It was during my thanksgiving, when I was making a few reflections upon the goodness of God, and how should one not think of this at such a time, of that infinite goodness, uncreated goodness, the source of all goodness! And without this there would be no goodness whatsoever, whether in man or in other creatures. I was extremely touched by these reflections when I saw written as in letters of gold this word Goodness which I repeated for a long time with an indescribable sweetness. I beheld it, I say, written upon all creatures, animate and inanimate, rational or not, all bore this name of goodness, I saw it even upon the chair that served as a prie-dieu. I understood then that all that these creatures have of good and all the services and assistance that we receive from each of them is a benefit which we owe to the goodness of our God who has communicated to them something of His infinite goodness so that we may meet it in everything and everywhere.

Yet all that I am here describing is nothing; if I could but tell you something of what I experienced in that moment, what a joy it would be, but it is impossible to describe it, that which is Divine cannot be described. Only I am no longer surprised that the saints were enraptured at the sight of the goodness of which so many souls know so little; this impression stayed with me for several days during which I could find no pleasure in anything save only in what I had seen and experienced

Letter from Mother Thérèse Couderc to Mother de Larochenégly, Superior General, August 10, 1866 (extract)

Self-Surender

Sunday, June 26 [1864]
“Our Lord has often made me understand how helpful it is for a soul desirous of making progress in the spiritual life to surrender herself – to give herself – unreservedly to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But this morning it pleased his divine goodness to give me a very special perception of it. l was preparing to begin my meditation, when l heard the pealing of the church bells summoning the faithful to assist at the divine mysteries. At that moment the desire came over me to unite myself with all the Masses that were being said, and to that end l directed my intention so that l might participate in them. Thereupon there came to me a general view of the whole Catholic world and of a vast number of altars upon which at one and the same time the adorable Victim was being immolated. The blood of the Lamb without stain was flowing in abundance over every one of these altars, which seemed to be surrounded by a light cloud of smoke ascending towards heaven. My soul was seized and penetrated with a feeling of love and gratitude on beholding this most abundant satisfaction that Our Lord was offering for us. But l was also greatly astonished that the whole world was not sanctified by it. l asked how it was when the Sacrifice of the Cross offered only once was sufficient to redeem all souls, that now being renewed so many times, it did not avail to sanctify them all. This is the answer I thought I heard: “The sacrifice is undoubtedly sufficient by itself and the blood of Jesus more than sufficient for the sanctification of a thousand worlds, but souls do not correspond; they are not generous enough.” Now the great means whereby one may enter the way of perfection and sanctity is to surrender oneself to our good God.

But what does it mean to surrender oneself? I understand the full extent of the meaning of the word, self-surrender; but l cannot explain it.
I only know it is very vast; that it embraces both the present and the future.

To surrender oneself is something more than to devote oneself, more than to give oneself ; it is even something more than to abandon oneself to God.
To surrender oneself is to die to everything and to self, to be no longer concerned with self except to keep it continually turned towards God.
Self-surrender is no longer to seek self-satisfaction in anything but solely God’s good pleasure.

It should be added that self-surrender is to follow that complete spirit of detachment which holds to nothing; neither to persons nor to things, neither to time nor place. lt means to accept everything, to submit to everything.
But perhaps you will think this is a very difficult thing. Do not let yourself be deceived; there is nothing so easy to do, nothing so sweet to put into practice. The whole thing consists in making a generous act at the very beginning, by saying with all sincerity: “My God, I wish to be entirely thine; deign to accept my offering” – that is all. But you must be careful to keep yourself in this attitude of soul, and do not shrink from any of the little sacrifices which can help you advance in virtue; you must always remember you have surrendered yourself.

I pray our Lord to give an understanding of this word to all souls eager to please him, and to inspire them to take advantage of so easy a means of sanctification. Oh! If beforehand they did but understand the sweetness and peace experienced by those who hold nothing back from the good God. How closely he unites himself to the soul that seeks him sincerely in total self-surrender! Once you have tried this you will see that therein lies the true happiness you are vainly seeking elsewhere.

The self-surrendered soul has found heaven on earth since she enjoys that sweet peace which is part of the happiness of the elect.”

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