Margaret Phelan rscj

“Last Events” at the Trinità dei Monti:

This last year of the Society’s presence at the Trinità has been marked by a variety of programs and events, culminating the weekend of Trinity Sunday, 9-11 June, with a Colloquium, Eucharist and reception at the French Embassy to the Holy See.

The Colloquium included a number of 25-minute presentations in French and Italian, by RSCJs, political, Church and art historians, a musician, a diplomat… on various aspects of the history and life of the Trinità. For me, a highlight of that event was a spontaneous encounter with three sisters of the Monastic Communities of Jerusalem, future members of the Trinità community, who had come from the congregation’s monastery in Florence where they are living while studying Italian. During the coffee break on Saturday, I greeted them and asked if they knew Mater. Two of the three had not yet visited her, so the four of us went up the stairs to the Mater chapel. There, much to my surprise and delight was Padre Paolo, the sole Minim to attend the Colloquium. The five of us stood in silence before Mater, Padre Paolo on one end and I on the other. After some moments one of the Sisters of Jerusalem said “Do you think we could say the ‘Hail Mary’ together?” So we did… then a few more moments of silence before going back to join the many who had come for the Colloquium. It struck me that symbolically we represented over 500 years of religious life at the Trinità, as well as the seed of a future yet to unfold as the Jerusalem Community continues that presence according to its own charism.

One of the sisters said to me “We will take good care of Mater. She is here for you at any time…” and I heard later that they had gone out of their way to say the same to RSCJs and some Alumnae who were present at the Colloquium. They are young, lovely, and seemed a bit in awe of what lies before them. Several weeks before, I had received a letter from Père Pierre-Marie Delfieux, Prior General and Sister Marie, Prioress General, regretting that they would not be able to be in Rome that weekend but that a small delegation of sisters would represent them and that they would be very much united with us in the celebration of the feast of the Trinity. The letter concluded: “Be sure to tell your sisters and your alumnae that they will always be welcome in this church and in this place which will always hold their memory! For we are the same Church and we serve the same Lord.”

The Mass of the feast of the Trinity, whose principal celebrant was Cardinal Ruini, Vicar of Rome, was an opportunity to both thank God for this rich history and to welcome those to whom we will “pass the torch”. At the reception at the French Embassy to the Holy See, Ambassador Bernard Kessedjian gave a discourse of gratitude and farewell, to which I responded in the name of the Society.

In another article, Toya Castejón has described the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart which united all the communities of Rome and a number of RSCJs who were in Rome for the profession ceremony two days later.

All of these events were marked by a sense of vitality, realism, hope and many marks of affection. As we turn this significant page of the Society’s history, my heart is full of gratitude for God’s faithful love throughout our long presence at the Trinità. From its beginnings, this 178-year old branch of the “Society’s vine” has experienced sunlight and shadow, gentle rains and violent winds, pruning of various kinds, and through it all has borne much fruit. Among the Communion of Saints with whom we were united as we renewed our vows together on the Feast of the Sacred Heart were the over 850 Religious of the Sacred Heart of many nationalities who lived part of their religious life at the Trinità. Some of their names are well-known to us; others labored in more hidden ways. All contributed to the common effort to communicate the love of the Heart of Jesus. Now the eleven members of the present community of the Trinità who have been just as committed as the first to arrive, are preparing their departure – for communities in Italy, France, Japan and Spain. Together with them we say Amen! Alleluia!