Wednesday, 26 October 2005
Conclusion of Plenary Session sharing apostolates and possible improvements
Time: 12:30 to 13:30; set conclusion for 13:15

The History and Diversity of the AMM Apostolates

Whenever I hear a discussion about the apostolate of the AMM, I always want to take a moment and praise God. We are all doing such good work for God and for his Church. Yet what we are doing around the world is so different. Even when it has the same name, like “Domiciliary Visit,” it is different in different countries and cultures. Yes, it is different, and it is all good.

Why Mary Chose St. Vincent

Seven or eight years ago I examined the question: Why did Mary choose the communities of Saint Vincent de Paul for her Miraculous Medal? What did she see in us that led her to entrust this particular mission to us?

I believe the answer is the poor: we who follow Saint Vincent are dedicated to serving the poor. We see the face of Christ in every poor person. What Mary taught us through when she came to Saint Catherine Labouré is that the poor are her children. They are Mary's most especially beloved children because they need her motherly care and love most of all.

Our Lady came to Saint Catherine because the whole world, and especially France , was abandoning her Son. She wanted to call her dear children back to her son and to her family that is the Church. She saw that those who were suffering the most from the wars and political upheaval were her poorest children. Mary knows that we who are dedicated to the poor are most willing and able to be her instruments. So she gave her Medal to a Daughter of Charity, and she commissioned the Congregation of the Mission to promote this devotion—for the sake of her needy children. She knew we would be willing to go to those who are abandoned and bring them the Father's love and her motherly care.

The Unity of Our Apostolate

Whatever we do as the Association of the Miraculous Medal, we do it because we see that in some way it is a mission from Mary. We are serving Mary's children, especially her poorest children.

What we do as our particular apostolate in the AMM is not as important as the manner in which we do it. We know that Mary is sending us to her children. We represent her. We bring her motherly love and care into the world of the 21st century. We bring her love to where it is most needed. We bring it at a time when it is most needed. Every apostolate of the AMM everywhere in the world shares this common quality: we serve the children of Mary for her. We are her helping hands reaching out and her embracing arms around her troubled children.

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