French Religious Community Welcomes Girls with Down Syndrome

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | Monday March 29, 2010 | Thaddeus M. Baklinski

[Salvation]

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French Religious Community Welcomes Girls with Down Syndrome

Monday March 29, 2010

 

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

LE BLANC, France, March 29, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb are a contemplative religious community in France that enables girls with Down syndrome to respond to a religious vocation.

The tiny community, founded in 1985 and based in Le Blanc, in the diocese of Bourges, is made up of seven sisters, five of whom have Down syndrome.

In a world where up to 90 percent of Down syndrome children are aborted, the Prioress of the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb says the order exists, "To allow those who have the ‘last place’ in the world, to hold in the Church the exceptional place of spouses of Jesus Christ. To allow those who depend on others for their everyday life to take in charge, in their prayer, the intentions that are entrusted to them. To allow those whose life is held in contempt to the extent of being in danger from a culture of death, to witness by their consecration to the Gospel of Life."

The possibility of young women with Down syndrome being enabled to realize their religious vocation depends on the support of sisters without the disability, who have responded to a call to consecrate themselves to God with their disabled sisters and to form one community with them.

A leaflet produced by the community describes the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb as an order "Guided by the wisdom of St Benedict," and "following every day the ‘little way’ taught by Saint Therese" that "teaches our little disabled sisters the manual labour necessary for their development. We live poverty in putting ourselves at their disposal. With them, we share the work of everyday life."

"The office, adoration and the praying of the rosary are adapted to their rhythm and their capacities. In a spirit of silence, our prayer feeds every day on the Eucharist and on the meditation of the Gospel."

"Today, more girls with Down Syndrome are knocking at our door. To respond to their request, our family needs new vocations. Vocations to share a contemplative life with 'the smallest in the Kingdom'."

The order's vocation leaflet encourages "young girls touched by the spirit of poverty and dedication, ready to offer a whole existence to the service of Christ in the person of their sisters with Down Syndrome," to visit the priory, which is close to the abbey of Fontgombault, for a period of vocational discernment.

A short YouTube clip taken from a 26-minute documentary on the community, produced by the French pro-life group Exaltavit, is available here.

Information on the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb is available from the Foundation of Monasteries, 83 rue Dutot, 75015 Paris, France.

[Salvation]

Prayers for these precious girls answering a call to a vocation in the religious life. They will be blessed abundantly.

[Salvation]

**In a world where up to 90 percent of Down syndrome children are aborted, the Prioress of the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb says the order exists, “To allow those who have the ‘last place’ in the world, to hold in the Church the exceptional place of spouses of Jesus Christ. To allow those who depend on others for their everyday life to take in charge, in their prayer, the intentions that are entrusted to them. To allow those whose life is held in contempt to the extent of being in danger from a culture of death, to witness by their consecration to the Gospel of Life.”**

Tears running down my face — thinking of my Down Syndrome grandson.

Catholic Ping!

[trisham]

Pro-life bump!

[wagglebee]

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[Bahbah]

In the midst of all this awfulness, I feel my heart being warmed.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping

[metmom]

True Christ-likeness displayed there.

What a contrast to the *nuns* in the other thread who are out supporting abortion.

[Salvation]

Absolutely!

[Salvation]

Thanks for the tip.

[Salvation]

**What a contrast to the *nuns* in the other thread who are out supporting abortion.**

Glad you emphasized the word “nuns” thus — I would daresay these girls are much holier.

Love the part about the prayers being simplified for them.

Most Down Syndrome children love music. I can almost hear them singing their prayers.

(Yes, I’m choked up again.)

[pepsi_junkie]

The tiny community, founded in 1985 and based in Le Blanc, in the diocese of Bourges, is made up of seven sisters, five of whom have Down syndrome.

What a magnificent dedication these women have made, not only to dedicate their lives to Christ, but to give an opportunity to others who might otherwise never know him a chance to do so in a loving community. But only two sisters to shepherd the others! Prayers that others find the devotion and compassion to join this cause, that it may endure.

[proudofthesouth]

God bless these Nuns and their Little Sisters.

[Salvation]

Amen to your prayers.

[Steelfish]

Very sad to hear of this. He will be in my prayers especially this Holy Week.

[little jeremiah]

Tears for me too, Salvation.

Physically or mentally disabled doesn’t mean the soul - who is untouched by those infirmities - cannot glorify and serve God.

So beautiful. I am glad that such goodness and love exists in this world.

[mware]

I wish EWTN would do a segment on this Religious Community.

Truly showing the dignity of our most innocent.

[arthurus]

I wish EWTN would do a segment on this Religious Community.

Don't wish it, pray for it and write to EWTN.

[Salvation]

Mt grandson is now four years old and thriving in a pre-school class.

[Salvation]

I second that — there are contacts listed on their website.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Bless you for this post