On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Msgr. William Shomali, Patriarchal General Vicar, presided over a Mass at the Church of the Rosary Sisters' Monastery in Jerusalem, marking the feast of St. Marie Alphonsine, the founder of the Rosary Sisters Congregation. Concelebrating the Mass was Msgr. Bolous-Marcuzzo, bishop emeritus, a number of priests, in the presence of Sr. Sophie Hattar, the General Superior of the Rosary Sisters, several Rosary Sisters, and the faithful.
In his homily, Msgr. Shomali highlighted the humility of St. Marie-Alphonsine, pointing out that in today's world, which is filled with the noise of pride and ongoing conflicts, we are in dire need of living the virtue of humility. It helps open the door of one’s heart to hear God's voice calling us to live according to his wisdom and goodness, granting us the ability to live in inner peace, away from division and conflict.
At the end of Mass, the faithful raised their prayers, asking for the intercession of their homeland's saint, in granting strength and wisdom for the Church of Jerusalem, so that it may be faithful to fulfill God's will. They also implored God to put an end to all evil that undermines human dignity.
Short Biography
Named Sultana at birth, St. Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas, was born in Jerusalem in 1843. She joined the Order of St. Joseph of the Apparition at the age of seventeen and made her perpetual vows in 1863.
Later, she moved to serve in Bethlehem, where the Virgin Mary appeared to her, asking her to found a new congregation, the "Holy Rosary Sisters," which happened in 1883 with the approval of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Mother Marie-Alphonsine worked in various cities, including Nazareth and Salt (Jordan), before settling in Ein Karem, where she passed away after establishing an orphanage.
She was known for her humility, love, and silence. She kept a profound secret in her heart for 53 years without revealing it to anyone. Had it not been for divine intervention through her spiritual director, Fr. Joseph Tannous of the Latin Patriarchate, much of her extraordinary spiritual experience and the true foundation of the Rosary Congregation might have remained unknown. He instructed her to write down all she saw and heard in the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, leaving us with two manuscripts filled with spiritual richness.
The first manuscript contains 64 pages detailing the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to the saint between 1874 and 1880. It was at risk of being lost due to a fire, however, the Virgin Mary watched over the completion of this God-ordained project by inspiring one of the sisters to copy the manuscripts.
The second manuscript, consisting of 17 pages, narrates the first missions by the saint and the foundation period of the Order. It highlights the struggles of poverty and adversity she endured, all while maintaining a joyful and surrendered spirit. It also includes stories of healings and miracles attributed to the Rosary prayer and how the devotion to the Rosary and the veneration of the Virgin Mary spread through these miracles.
She was beatified on November 22, 2009, and was canonized on May 17, 2015.
