Our spirituality is centered on the redemptive mystery of Christ and his merciful love for all people.
“It is not only a question of looking, even with compassion, at moral, bodily or material evil. It is a question of giving love its creative force which gives value back, elevates, brings good from evil, and renders to man his true freedom.” (Divine Mercy nº6 – Rule of Life nº9)
After the example of Christ who did not come to judge or condemn, but to save all people and who does not wish the death of the sinner but that he/she might live.
(cf. Ezekiel 18, 32)
We, too, want to be witnesses of his merciful Love for every person victim of evil or wounded by life and rejected by society.
“Our action tries to help our wounded brothers stand up again and find their place again in society and in the Church.” (Rule of Life, number 78)
An Intuition Was Born
We must return to the beginning of the 19th century, in two towns of France.
Bordeaux: Marie Thérèse de LAMOUROUS felt called to help young prostitutes wishing to change their life. She showed respect, esteem and friendship in an atmosphere of family life and freedom.
Lyons: Anne-Marie QUINON joined a group of women, the “Charlottes”; “they devoted themselves to the service of prisoners in order to better their conditions of life and to bring to each one the consolations he needed,” in order to live Mercy.
Today
With the same ardor, we follow this intuition the Lord has so providentially manifested to our foundresses:
Words To Live By
Mère de Lamourous :
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given you besides.” (Mt 6, 33)
Mère Saint-Augustin :
“I was in prison and you visited me.” (Mt 25, 36)
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