April Reflection

Nano Nagle’s tomb in South Presentation, Cork

When Nano died on 26th April 1784 the Hiberian Chronicle of the day carried this obituary: Last Wednesday the indisposition of Miss Nagle was announced in the sorrowing countenances of the poor of this city to whom she was the best of benefactors and patronesses. She died this day about noon and truly indescribable is the universal lamentation for the departure of a lady possessed of all that merit which for many years rendered her the object of unexampled admiration and acquired her the most unlimited esteem of all ranks of people.

Her last words to her little community as she was dying: “Love one another as you have hitherto done.”

April’s reflection based on the saying above:

“Love one another as you have hitherto done”. Nano experienced the POWER of love. It moved her to be compassionate, especially to the poor. She realised the importance of living this out with her sisters and helpers, and when she was dying she requested them to love one another as they were already doing. Because of this great love in Nano she surrendered herself to God, and this is what gave her the strength to continue on her journey inspite of the many obstacles.

Likewise we are called to surrender to this love which is different each new day and which helps us to SERVE.

“Love one another as you have hitherto done”. These last words of Nano always speak powerfully to me of the love that must have existed in that early community. Was Nano seeing among these early Sisters a love that replicated the love that Jesus spoke about when he encouraged us to ”love one another as I have loved you”. A love that made God’s presence real among them as it does for us. A love that urged them to go out and care for the poor, seek justice, and spend themselves selflessly for those in need. And I ask myself “have I kept that kind of love alive among those with whom I live or minister to today?”