The 30th of November 2024, the eve of the Feast of Blessed Maria Clara of the Child Jesus, this year, marked the 125th anniversary of her eternal Easter. If 125 years ago Lisbon woke up sad and nostalgic for someone who had departed for heaven as one of the greatest figures of that time, today Lisbon woke up serene and joyful because into its midst was born someone whose holiness had been recognized.
There were almost four hundred people at the Mother House in Linda-a-Pastora: Sisters, members of the Secular Family and Laity, friends of Blessed Maria Clara. They carried within them the joy of experiencing another day of sharing, joy, formation and togetherness that would fill their souls.
During the first moment of the day, the Superior General, Sister Shirley Ninfa Fernandes, as a mother, welcomed everyone to the Mother House. Her words included: ‘My greeting is not only to all of you gathered here, but also to all those who know and love Blessed Maria Clara, wherever they may be. […] . Blessed Maria Clara’s life bore witness to the power of love. With her heart firmly fixed on Jesus Christ, she embraced the challenges of the world, overcame barriers, endured suffering and carried her cross with quiet dignity and deep faith. Her path was not easy, but like Christ, she knew how to transform pain into compassion and suffering into service. […] Her spirit lives on, her light continues to shine, and her legacy remains a beacon of hope, especially for the poor and marginalized whom she loved so much. […] Of extraordinary humanity, Blessed Maria Clara was fruitful in her boundless love for the poor, and for them she was brilliant in her heroic virtues of humility, prayer and sacrifice. She lived what she preached, offered her life in the service of those most in need, and embodied the Gospel in her actions. Her love was practical, tangible and deeply personal. […] As we celebrate her life today, we relive the timelessness of the values that Sister Maria Clara lived. Her compassion, selflessness and unwavering faith call us to reflect on our own lives and how to continue her mission. […] May this celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Easter of Blessed Maria Clara be more than a remembrance of the past; rather, may it be a challenge for each of us to live her legacy in the present. Today, once again, let us renew our commitment to ‘Lucere et Fovere’, to be lights in the world, bringing warmth and hope to everyone.
This was followed by a musical moment in which the moment of Mother Clara’s Easter was represented through art. It was undoubtedly a milestone that filled our eyes and penetrated our hearts with enormous meaning – reliving that moment 125 years ago. Then everyone was invited to go to the Crypt, where the mortal remains of Blessed Maria Clara now rest.
We then headed to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Amparo de Benfica, where the little girl Libânia do Carmo Galvão Mexia de Moura Telles e Albuquerque, Maria Clara do Menino Jesus, was baptized on 2 September 1843. We were all challenged to move from Easter to Baptism, and to help us, there was nothing better than a marvelous and touching musical moment with hymns that are part of the Congregational heritage and are part of the history of the Franciscan Hospitaller Charism. This charism is always timely and relevant, as put across by Dr João César da Neves, who urged everyone to live it in a warm and radiant manner – ‘to love God is to shine and to love one’s neighbour is to warm’, Lucere et Fovere.
This was followed by a fraternal lunch at the Parish Church of St. Michael, Queijas.
Finally, and solemnly, as an ecclesial community, the Eucharist was celebrated. It was a great moment of thanksgiving to the Lord for all the Good that had been done. The Eucharist was lived and celebrated integrating cultures from the four corners of the world with the participation of everyone, everyone, everyone.
In the words of Blessed Maria Clara of the Child Jesus, we too say, “How good God is, blessed be God”.
