It is with great thanks to Blessed James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family, who lead me to my vocation where I found my heart's true love, Jesus Christ, The Divine Master, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
I would like to acknowledge our Blessed Founder, Fr.James Alberione who was a great man of God and of sanctity. He was a powerhouse of prayer and a mystic. He had a deep communion with God and great charity towards humanity. His spiritual journey was "configuration with Christ". He would say, "All people have the calling and the grace to reach spiritual espousal which is the real "Christ lives in me".(Gal.2:20)
According to Fr. Alberione the spiritual journey should produce in us:
A) Growth in the spirit of faith, the basic virtue, for the just person lives by faith
B) Growth in hope so that we hope for heaven and the grace to arrive at it through good works which we must and we want to do: seek first the kingdom of heaven(Mt 6:33)
C) Growth in love for God, union of the whole mind, the whole will and the whole heart with God-and the love for neighbor;love like Jesus Christ.
Fr. Alberione left us a great prayer life that by grace we can find union with God. The Way-Will, The Mind-Truth, The Life-Love, this is how we put on Christ. Alberione wanted his spiritual children to always remember the way of prayer to transforming union with God. He requested these Words that, Jesus spoke to him, to be written in every Pauline Chapel. "Be sorry for sin"-meaning the purgative way, "From here I want to Enlighten"-the illuminative way, "I am with you always"-the unitive way, the three stages of prayer to transforming union with God.
Fr. Alberione experienced this in his life, he lived the mystical life. He lived it and passes it on to us. Fr. Alberione's life was a transformation in Christ which left him with Love. Fr. Alberione experienced God, Who is Love, and gave Him to the world. That was Fr. Alberione's life, Love of God and love for souls.
This is what Fr. Alberione has left for me and all the Pauline Family, our Pauline spirituality. I am indebted to him for bringing me to Christ, my Love and my All. God has blessed me as Fr. Alberione would say with, "The Abundant Riches of His Grace"
(Eph. 2:7)
Fr. Alberione told his spiritual children, that the Pauline Family was "born of the Host". Our spirituality is Eucharistic. The word "Eucharist" means "thanksgiving". That is all that I have for my Lord, great thanks, for having Fr. Alberione lead me to the Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation and calling me to my vocation where I found, Love, The "Spouse of my soul", Jesus Christ.
So, it is my Pauline prayer, that all people be enlightened by the Gospel and may the whole world come to know, Love, who is Jesus Christ, The Way, The Truth and The Life.
In thanksgiving,
Marlene
Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation