Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist (part 1)

Today the nuns of Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist celebrate their 10th year in Calbayog City. Let me share with you a brief history of this religious institution. The following information was provided by Mother Francis:

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A Brief History
of
Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist
Calbayog City

Part 1

… Our congregation will remain on the ground like the creepers. Look at the violet it just creeps, nobody knows it is the there until it is crushed.* (*from an instruction with Mother Alexis, Feb. 13, 1990)

The feast of St. Scholastica, February 10, 1997, marks the day of arrival of five (5) Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist nuns in the Diocese of Calbayog.

Upon entry into the monastery that was built for them, their Prioress was greeted with: “Can you teach catechism?” The question seemed to have been out of place. Arrangements and correspondence prior to the contract that was drawn would have clarified the monastic character and charism of the Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist.

February 11, 1997, Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes, was the date set for the installation; perhaps it was too soon after the Diocese’s formal invitation that there was too little time to consider the conditions that the founding community would find themselves in.

There had been expectations of them contrary to their charism. The location of the monastery was not at all ideal. Their greatest trial, however, was the difficulty of getting priests who would minister to their spiritual needs.

No matter how difficult things may have seemed the nuns remained confident for they knew this was the positive sign needed for god’s work – the sign of the cross. They abandoned everything into the hands of Our Lady and soon some priests came to realize their condition and spoke of it to the new Bishop of the Diocese.

The work of founding has not been easy but the nuns came to understand the purpose for which God has brought them to their new place of obedience and this became their source of encouragement, more and more they came to realize the need for victim-adorers and consolers who would offer themselves and carry at the foot of the Blessed Sacrament the perpetual mission of prayer and supplication for priests and religious especially of the Diocese.

Where there has been difficulty in keeping some of their monastic observances beyond their control they made up by intensifying their life in the observances where they can.

…Our congregation will remain on the ground like the creepers. Look at the violet it just creeps, nobody knows it is there until it is crushed.

Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist
Mawacat, Calbayog City
July 16, 1996