My Beloved Mother Butlers,

May the Peace of Christ control our hearts.

Today, Ash Wednesday, begins a beautiful season for the MBG. A season wherein we can walk with Jesus, the Servant-God we follow, obey and serve, re-living and sharing in his walk to the Cross. I read somewhere that Ash Wednesday is like New Year. In the sense that on these days, we all make resolutions to better ourselves and our lives. Resolutions like… for New Year I will exercise daily, I will clean my closets and remove unnecessary items… for Ash Wednesday (Lent)
I will not drink Coke or soda for 40 days, I will not order anything online throughout Lent. Resolutions that as one Jesuit said are inward directed, towards myself. Why not for a change direct our resolutions outward, towards others.

As Mother Butlers who are servant-handmaids following Jesus, let us look at HIM who never did things to look better nor to feel better. Jesus always did and said things to make others be better, feel better… feel loved. He never ceased doing good, throwing out demons, healing the sick and brokenhearted, raising the dead to life… yet never never to attract attention to himself. In fact, after performing miracles, he would always give strict orders not to tell these to others.

So let us try for Lent to make and keep resolutions like… the money I will save from not drinking Coke or soda for 40 days I will use to buy rice to give to a beggar near our street, I will not click on Lazada or Shopee throughout Lent instead I will visit and talk to a sick relative or friend.

The three acts for Lent pleasing to God are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Following the Ash Wednesday Gospel according to St. Matthew, let us pray fervently, repentantly in the solitude of our room and not for others to see us, “and the Father who sees in secret will repay you (us)”.

Let us fast not just from food but also from attachments… but let us do so not looking so gloomy and deprived so that others may see and think we are virtuous for observing fasting, “and the Father who sees what is hidden will repay you (us)”. Let us practice more diligently during Lent almsgiving, like giving to our Talita Kumi Inengs, but not announcing this loudly for others to notice our generosity… “and God who alone searches the heart…” will repay you (us).

Mother Marie Joseph Butler in her teachings reminds us… “There is nothing that can give glory to God or that is more profitable to ourselves than to produce frequent acts of this noble virtue (love)’ “Copying Him (Our Saviour), in adding each day some act of virtue as a mark of resemblance between our souls and that of our Divine Saviour is living up to our sublime calling.”

St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians calls us all to be ambassadors for Christ… ambassadors who appeal to everyone through our words and witness to return to Our Lord, to be reconciled to God… to repent and believe.

O my cherished Mother Butlers, Lent is a favorable time for us to make Jesus known… to make Jesus loved.

Love you all … my prayers accompany each and all Mother Butlers.

Sincerely,
Amb. HENRIETTA T. DE VILLA
National President