ST. MAGDALENE OF CANOSSA: AN APOSTLE OF LOVE
St. Magdalene
St. Magdalene Gabriel of Canossa, the Foundress of the Canossian Daughters and Sons of Charity is an apostle of love as it is evident from her writing. In the Preface to the Holy Rules of the Daughters of Charity, she indicated the Principal aim of the Institute as the fulfilment of the two great precepts of Charity: to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Magdalene was on fire with the love of God and she reached a stage when she is immersed in his presence and experienced the divine light in which she is bathed in and experienced him in the center of her soul.
Love for people especially for the poorest, is at the heart of Magdalene vocation: a love that is simple, based on the Gospel and creative. It consists of being present, of respect, kindliness and dedication. If we want the Gospel to be accepted, we must begin by loving as Christ loved, and make him known and loved.
Magdalene is a woman thirsting for love and love is the first value in her relationship with God. Her desire to be united to God, that God alone be everything in her life here on earth is so great that she cries out like the Psalmist “Like the deer that yearns”. She mentions in her Memoirs, once again I was pained at the idea of being separated from Paradise and faring my life would be prolonged”. Yet, in this life itself she experienced her all who made Himself one with her. In her spiritual talk to the sisters on the true love of God she said: My daughter , it is a serious mistake to rely on interior consolation; it is God alone and not His comforts. If He fills us with sensible joys, let us thank him for them and never abuse them.
One could say that Magdalene was consumed by charity like a fever. Charity towards God, driven to the heights of mystical experience; charity towards her neighbor carried to the furthest consequences of self-giving to others. Charity was the spring of her interior life, the name Daughters of Charity chosen for herself and for every of her daughters. She loved God immeasurably.
Magdalene was transformed to a gentle dove of love through her intimate union with her bridegroom. Her beloved Divine Spouse adorned her with the fruit of the works of charity which is balancing wing of love in her flight to the divine. No soul, can attain perfect union with God without true and heroic love for her neighbor. Her love was proved by her literary works. Her pen became the means to communicate the incomprehensible divine love that burnt in her heart, through her spiritual diary, the rules of the institutes she founded and many of her writing.
As an apostle of love, she demanded the observance of the most fraternal charity from her sisters. She instructed in the rules: The daughters of charity are bound to observe strictly the most perfect fraternal charity. It would be something very hideous for those who have the objective of imitating Christ Crucified and neglect to observe the precept which he called His own and even died on the cross to carry it out. They are to understand that there is no other institute from which the Lord demand more strict union and mutual charity than this. The name charity that they bear and the exercise of charity toward neighbor demand of them a more perfect exercise of charity among themselves.
Magdalene wrote in her treaties of charity; the sisters must not only understand but also rather carry out the command of Jesus Christ. They are to have heartfelt mutual compassion without interpretation more conformed to charity. Magdalene was always happy when she receives news from individuals and houses that charity reigns in the community. She wrote to one of her daughters, you can easily understand my consolation in hearing the good behavior of my beloved flock. I implore copious blessings of the Lord over them. You cannot believe how much consolation I felt hearing the union of hearts and peace you have among yourselves.
Magdalene is a great example for all those who have made the service of their neigbour in need the purpose of their lives. Thus, with John of the cross Magdalene would sing: My soul is occupied, and all my substance in his service ; now I guard no flock nor have I any other employment; My sole occupation is love. Her genuine love of God expressed itself in charity. The proof of the abiding presence of God in us is fraternal charity. St. John writes, No one has even seen God, if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us”( 1Jn 4:12). Love fulfils the law and love of Christ urges us to be charitable. Magdalene whose soul was aflame with love of God, loved her neighbor with the same passion with which she loved God.
Her heart was softened with love and she protest that she wants HIM alone, her own sanctification and fully abandon herself into his hands. Magdalene’s love for the Lord was so intense that it dissolves every fear of sacrifice. She once said “Even after I have displeased the lord with trifles , as often as I do, I am filled with great tenderness of affection, conscious of the fact that he alone is the only object of my love and thus I am prepared for anything…”
It is love that motivated her actions and attitude and gradually she could accept everything from him with holy indifference or joy. Magdalene is really an apostle of love which is witnessed through the ministries of charity, the way she loved her sisters and insisted that they must love each without distinction.
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