Little Sister of the Immaculate Conception

Little Sister of the Immaculate Conception –  Sister Celia Augustinha de Jesús, C.I.I.C.                                                                            “God’s Will Be Done”                                                                                      “May Our Lord be known, loved, and adored by all souls in the whole world.”                         “Be humble.  Trust always in Divine Providence; never never must you let yourself                  be discouraged despite contrary winds.  Trust in God and Mary Immaculate; be faithful                                                                      and forge ahead.”       –   Mother Paulina

Foundress:  Saint Paulina of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus  ( Amabile Lucia Visintainer )                                        ( Paulina Do Coração Agonizante De Jesus, in Portuguese )                                                                                 † Brazil’s first immigrant citizen to be canonized †                                         * Patron saint of the elderly, those suffering from diabetes, and hospice care workers *          Assisted by:  Luigi Rossi, S.J.

Place:  Nova Trento, Brazil

Year:  1890 A.D.

Her Charism:  This Sister travels the highways of the world announcing and witnessing to Christ with her words and with her life.  She is an eloquent sign of the perennial Pentecost of the Church – a manifestation of the Holy Spirit Who is the best Comforter, the soul’s most welcomed guest, and a sweet refreshment here below.  “Being for others” is a guiding motive in her active apostolate.  For this reason, she is affectionately called “nurse.”  The practice of holy charity is a dominant thread throughout her many roles with her willingness to serve the sick, needy, and those who live in situations of great injustice.  This Sister’s passionate love for God and her union with Him sustains her supernatural gaze.  Her unflagging service leads her more deeply into the Suffering Heart of Jesus.  She embraces the Ignatian spirituality, draws strength from devotion to the Eucharist (the love and center of her life), is nourished by a tender and filial devotion to the Immaculate Virgin, and trusts in good St. Joseph.  This Little Sister’s life is one of rigorous prayer and tireless service to the sick, desperately poor and dying, orphans, the displaced and homeless, and all those in special need of Christ’s love.  As a result of her prayer, study, reflection, holiness and apostolic zeal, she has something valuable to say.  She learns agility and to “read the signs of the times” constantly showing that she is able to “pivot” to meet new needs and form new partnerships.  This missionary gives to communities the fullness of life the Gospel promises.  Mother Paulina’s special charism consists in the sensitivity to hear the cry of reality with its needs, and a willingness to serve the most needy with the spirit of poverty, simplicity, humility, compassion, and interior life.  It is a charism which feeds upon a Eucharistic-Marian spirituality.  Her witness leads her to accomplish heroic gestures of self-denial and sacrifice for the good of souls.  This is her “spiritual bouquet.”  She is like a tiny seed planted by the Divine Sower which grows into a leafy tree which spreads throughout the world giving it protection, shade, color, and oxygen to breathe.  This “Little Sister” is happy to live and die as an underling – a cloistered heart who chooses to love Christ in a world that neither knows nor loves Him.  Therefore, her heart becomes a refuge not just for her earthly brothers and sisters, but for Jesus Himself.