The Nuns Who Pray for Journalists

Pauline Family’s Pious Disciples Mark 80th Year

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ROME, FEB. 20, 2004 (Zenit.org).- For 80 years, a congregation of women religious has prayed for those working in the media.

They are the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, founded on Feb. 10, 1924, by now-Blessed James Alberione.

The Italian priest, beatified last April, «wanted the birth of a congregation of retired life, dedicated to adoration and the priestly and liturgical apostolate — entirely belonging to Jesus the Divine Master, present in the Eucharistic mystery,» a congregation source told ZENIT.

In addition to praying, especially for Catholic initiatives in the media, these sisters evangelize through art, liturgy and catechesis.

Father Alberione appointed young Sister Maria Scholastica Rivata as head of the congregation that arose in Alba, Italy. She later died a holy death at age 90. He also chose eight women religious «to be silent, silent, silent» and repair for the sins that are committed especially with the media.

The community is the contemplative branch of the Pauline Family founded by Father Alberione, made up of five religious congregations and five secular Institutes, each with a special mission related to evangelization through the media.

The contemplative religious are considered «the root of that great tree, precisely because of their mission of prayer and reparation in favor of today’s apostles, namely, journalists,» the source said.

The Pauline Family has some 18,000 members in 62 nations. They make up 673 communities, which administer 610 apostolate centers — bookstores, liturgical apostolate, vocational and didactical animation of the media.

See www.alberione.org and www.pddm.org.

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ZENIT Staff

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