The Sisters of the Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist (whom many fondly refer to as Consolatrix sisters) will mar their 15th year in Calbayog this year. I will be giving updates on the celebration as these become available. In the meantime, let me give you a brief history of the Consolatrix sisters in Calbayog. You may read on or click on these links: link1, link2, link3.
… 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.
The presence of the violet is noticed only when it is crushed because of the fragrance it exudes after the blow. However, it does not just die; for as long as it has grown its roots deep into the ground it soon brings forth its new velvety leaves and delicate little flowers. But when it is soaked under water through a storm, will the violet still survive? Will it not rather rot and eventually die?
May 14, 1999 was a day of special graces for the nuns. The owner of the land in San Policarpo paid them a visit saying the special intention she asked the nuns to pray for was granted that now she was willing to donate the land she was formerly selling them! At night there was a knock at the monastery sacristy; to the nuns’ surprise, it was the Bishop! He spent an hour before the Blessed Sacrament then later spoke to them. The Bishop told the community that during their general assembly the priests approved of their relocation but it will not be earlier than the year 2003! Do not make any renovations of the building, was the Bishop’s last word.
Through the Bishop said the transfer will only be in three years time, the community hoped it would be during the Jubilee year 2000 – it is a dream God alone will fulfill!
A nun was scheduled for perpetual vows September 1999. The motherhouse decided that she makes her profession with her group in La Union and the whole community of Calbayog while the Prioress and another nun remained in the Motherhouse for the Congregation’s First General Chapter.
November 8, 1999 was a fateful day for the four nuns. The chaplain for the day was unable to reach the monastery because of the heavy rain. When they saw that the river which was just a few meters from the monastery building was rising fast the nuns decided to leave the monastery for St. Camillus Hospital where they hoped to be “admitted” and be assured of their daily Masses. At about twelve noon, after they consumed the Blessed Sacrament, they left hastily; it seemed to have been a Passover.
They went through the rain not realizing there was a storm. The usual place where it gets flooded was not passable but they made it through. Thinking their difficulty was over they continued on not having any idea as to what their plight would be. Before them were mountains of landslides which they had to cross under a heavy downpour, to decide to return was too late.They reached Oquendo soaked, tired and exhausted at about four in the afternoon, to continue the journey to St. Camillus was impossible. They knocked at the convent of the Missionaries of Charity where they were warmly welcomed. Here they were to be refugees for three weeks. Thus started the nuns’ exodus.
As the road to Mawacat was badly destroyed, going back to the monastery the following day was impossible except by boat. The nuns found the monastery and the Missionaries of Charity helped them clean. Daily they would take turns to travel from Oquendo to Mawacat until the monastery was once more in order.
The Prioress and her companion who were still in the Motherhouse were updated about the fate of the nuns; however, they could not just return to Calbayog because the Chapter was not yet over. The Congregation’s father Protector decided to recall the community of Calbayog back to La Union until the Diocese of Calbayog is ready to properly provide for the new foundation. The Prioress and her companion pleaded with him as the priests of the Diocese were supportive of them. He then had a change of heart when he learned that Mary Consolatrix is now very much a part of the Diocese of Calbayog.The Motherhouse arranged with a former student of their foundress who is now the wife of the governor of Calbayog. She was more than willing to let the small community use the basement of their house in the city since no one was occupying the place.
On November 23, 1999 the Missionaries of Charity brought the nuns to what would be their home for ten months. Their arrival was blessed with the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
The Prioress, her companion and an aspirant arrived on December 1, 1999. The small community was once more complete! On December 12, 1999 in one of an extern nun’s visit to the Bishop’s palace, the Bishop was questioned in her hearing whether he would let Mary Consolatrix return to Mawacat, hi answer was: “diri na” (no more). On another occasion after celebrating the Mass for the nuns, the Bishop said: “With what happened no further argument is needed!”
January 30 to February 2, 2000 were memorable days for the small community; they were priveledged with a visit from their Father Protector, the Bishop of the Diocese of La Union. He went to see Mawacat, talked to the Monsignori and priests. Visiting the new site in San Policarpo was impossible because of another storm. Later, he gathered the whole community and discussed with them his observations. He gave the community three choices; first to go back to La Union, second to go back to Mawacat and third, to stay in the governor’s residence until June and go back to La Union if transferring to San Policarpo by June is impossible. The community opted for the third.
The physical consequences of the “storm” seemed much easier to take than the spiritual but all the same the community remained abandoned in the hands of Our Lady. It was she who carried them through the “storm”.
Little by little the community started clearing the site in San Policarpo. An access road was built through the help of the governor, but a few meters from its bridge to the site remained unfinished. Coconut trenches provided the solution!
From their small savings and with the help of the generous benefactors the community started a building. It was divided into several rooms for their oratory, dormitory and kitchen. When their debts started to mount; they stopped the construction. The building, thanks God, was more or less habitable. They really had not enough money, they but had: “confidence in God!”
September 14, 2000, Feast of the Exaltation of the cross saw the day of the blessing of the monastery grounds and first building. Their dream came true when on October 7, of the Jubilee year of 2000 the community entered their promise land. It was several months after their Father’s Protector’s deadline – it was a bargain with God!
The sign of the cross shines so brightly looking back from where God has brought Mary Consolatrix after the “storm”. One thing is sure: when His little violet was helpless under the “storm” He himself stooped down to pick it up only to plant it where He knew it would thrive and flourish.
The community felt the great blessings that God had indeed granted them, they were awed by God’s mysterious ways that they did not even feel the difficulties they were experiencing in their new living conditions… a building without plaster, ceiling, finished flooring and screens. Several times they were visited by snakes at night. Their oratory was small to accommodate those who attend mass with them and a contemplative community at that, they could not keep their enclosure yet.
A priest who wanted to take pictures of the sisters while gardening realized the poor living conditions of the founding community. Looking back from the garden where he was taking pictures, the priest turned to their unfinished building and said: “you mean that’s the only place you occupy? How do you manage when it rains…?” His questions were endless! The sisters had to answer that during the day they use their beds as tables and at night they clear their beds for them lay their mat on. They also told him of how they cope with their other difficulties. The priest then helped them write to an agency he knew would be of help to the founding community. Another great blessing was then granted them when their application was approved. They were able to build their Novitiate and with it their parlour as their Chapel or Oratory.
There is still much to be done by the founding community and they take one step at a time… they dream of a chapel, a concrete wall… poustinia houses for those who come to ask for retreats… it’s all to be done, they believe, by the Lord and in His time! What the community experienced and witnessed is enough for them to believe that Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist is God’s work and not at all their own.
Mary Consolatrix is God’s violet because Mary Consolatrix belongs to Mary. Mary Consolatrix is Mary’s gift to God. A Mary Consolatrix imitates Mary her model victim-adorer and consoler. Like Mary, Mary Consolatrix wishes to remain, humble, poor, hidden…
… 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.
Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist
San Policarpo, Calbayog City
15 August 2006
