Medical Missionaries of Mary get great energy from the Gospel story of Mary’s journey into the hill country to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary had been told by the Angel Gabriel that she was to become the mother of a son, the Son of God. Her cousin, much older than Mary, was also pregnant.
After a long journey on foot, Mary reached Elizabeth’s house. It was an amazing encounter, in which Mary spoke her ‘Magnificat’, a prayer of praise and a call that inspires us to action on behalf of those who are on the margins of society. Since 1937, the story – known in the Gospels as ‘The Visitation’ – has energized MMM Sisters to go to places of great need. In addition to many other areas of healthcare we put particular emphasis on the care of women before, during and after birth and on the care of children.
If you ask any MMM Sister where she draws the motivation for the work she does, she will think for a moment and surely reply, ‘It comes from prayer’.
Although we come from different cultural backgrounds, we are interconnected and the common source of the ministry we offer comes from our personal relationship with God, nurtured through prayer. There is a wholeness and seamless quality to our lives. Our daily prayer energizes our work and the human needs and suffering of the world draws us into prayer. Neither aspect would be authentic without the other. We see ourselves as contemplatives, but active in the world. The spirituality of MMM is deeply rooted in the Christian Gospel, especially the mysteries of the Incarnation, Visitation and Nativity, all told in the Gospel of Luke. It is also closely linked to the tradition of Saint Benedict. Saint Benedict is noted for the values of tolerance, balance, hospitality and the promotion of peace.
We are religious sisters set forth to heal the world and relieve suffering in areas of the greatest need. Desiring to share Christ’s healing love, our Sisters come from 19 countries to bring health services to people all around the world.
