Spirituality

The Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions was founded by Euphrasie Barbier (1829-1893), a native of Normandy, France. In religion she was called Marie du Couer de Jesus. The Congregation dates its beginnings to 1861 in Lyon, France. Its work was the education of women and children, especially in "foreign missions".

Euphrasie felt the call to go to far away lands to bring the Good News of the Gospel to those who had never heard it. At the same time she felt herself drawn to contemplation of the Trinity and the divine missions flowing therefrom for the salvation of all.

In her first constitutions Euphrasie explains the name of the Congregation: "By placing themselves under the title of Our Lady of the Missions, the Sisters wish to honour in a very special way the divine missions which were the sole object of Mary's deepest orientation." When requesting the approval of the Constitutions in 1890, Euphrasie was required to explain the term "divine missions" used in the constitutions. She writes, "Regarding the expression 'divine missions', we do not have in mind our own poor missions but solely the mission of the Incarnate Word, sent by the Father to redeem the human race, and the mission of the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son to bring about the sanctification of Christ's Church. This is the raison d'etre of the Institute and its special character both interior and exterior."

Euphrasie explained to the novices in Lyon, that it is according to our capacity to receive within ourselves the outpouring of love flowing from the Trinity that we in our turn can become "instruments of the divine missions". More important than the works we undertake, mission is essentially the witness of a soul that lives in God.

Because she centered her missionary spirituality on the divine missions, Euphrasie understood that mission is everywhere. The Gospel is proclaimed in the first place by life witness
- the personal witness of each missionary.

Mary occupies a central place in the spirituality of the Congregation. Two episodes in Mary's life and mission attracted Euphrasie, the Visitation and Pentecost. These she chose as the patron feasts of the Congregation.

Mary, the Virgin of the Visitation, a messenger of joy carrying out a humble, hidden service is an instrument of the divine missions. Mary is the model of every missionary.

Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza notes that "in Luke's account of the Visitation, the unwed pregnant Mary does not remain alone with her anxieties but seeks support from another woman, Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit who exalts the violated and makes the fruit of illegitimacy holy, the two women rejoice in God's liberating action. In the Magnificat, the pregnant Mary enunciates God's salvation and well being to the humiliated and downtrodden. The future of God's well-being for all without exception is not to be awaited passively. It is being born among us today, from our flesh and blood, from our commitments and struggles for justice. It becomes born as the hope for those who are without hope."

Similarly, in the upper rooom, Mary is there with the other disciples when the untamed, unpredictable spirit of God comes upon them all. In this moment of wind and fire they are filled with courage and power which enables them to lay aside their fears and confusion. Even more, the outpouring of God's gracious love inspires boldness and facility in preaching the gospel, and working together for the transformation of the world. It is this mission, rooted in God and embracing the struggle for liberation and justice, that Euphrasie asks her sisters to undertake.