Final Excerpt: Als Antwort Auf Gottes Ruf

As part of our ongoing observance of the 200th birthday of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, we have been posting excerpts of Als Antwort auf Gottes Ruf (Bonifatius, 2016), the history of the Sisters of Christian Charity since 1881, by Sister Anna Schwanz, SCC, translated by Sister Mary Perpetua Rehle, SCC. This is the last excerpt we will post.  We hope that you have become informed and edified by reading these portions of our history and the you have been motivated to read the entire book.  Thank you for reading along!

"In retrospect, it is with wonder and gratitude that we remember the path that the Congregation has traveled since the death of its Founder, Pauline von Mallinckrodt, sometimes full of joy and trustful certainty, sometimes with hesitation and uncertain steps, but always with trust in God's guidance.  For the individual Sister, this looking back also includes a part of her own personal memories along the way that she has traveled with the Congregation, as well as hope and trust in the awareness that all live from the same source.  For the many who in any way have or have had connections to the Community, the view expands and the whole can be seen from the perspective of the individual person and the specific place.  It becomes clear that, despite all the ups and downs, new life has been generated.

"Our history is the foundation upon which we stand today and minister, which permeates our life in the here and now; the history which we are "writing" with our lives in the present is, in turn, the foundation for future generations.  May it not be written just for the Archives!

"From remembrance, hope can grow that even in the present time of upheaval, the possibility is present to go on courageously 'in view of the promises' and to carry the founding spirit into the future.

"'That is our life: To have faith and to be on our way.'"