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Queen Esther would have made a fine religious sister! This heroine of the Hebrew people exemplifies what it means to be completely dependent upon God. She asks for courage, persuasive words in her mouth and the wherewithal to overpower Haman, the Agagite, vizier to King Xerxes of Persia, to whom Esther is bethrothed. Since Xerxes makes Esther his Queen, and her uncle, Mordecai, refused to offer homage to Haman, the latter sets out on a plot to obtain from the King a decree of extermination against all the Jews living in the Persian Empire.
Then, Esther comes the foreground as a genuinely pious woman, a God-fearing Jew who receives what she asks for in prayer: courage, prudence and wisdom. These weapons of diplomacy are such that Esther is able to turn the tables on Haman and have the decree of extermination apply now to the enemies of the Jews, including Haman.
It’s obvious during the 10 short chapters of this Book of the Bible that Esther is a selfless individual whose major concern is the welfare of her Jewish subjects. This book was intended as a consolation for Israel, a reminder that God’s providence prevails — that God loves those who serve him faithfully. Esther is one just person!
On September 10, the Religious Sisters Filippini celebrated the 350th anniversary of the birth of their foundress, St. Lucy Filippini. I had the pleasure of ministering with these sisters when I was pastor of Good Shepherd Parish (then Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish) in Hopelawn. Once or twice a month, I would go to the convent on Barclay Street, Perth Amboy, to celebrate Mass and followed by dinner with the sisters. Their hospitality was always fabulous, their piety was genuine and their ministry in both pastoral ministry and especially education was awe-inspiring.
Sadly, the sisters’ 75-year mission in Perth Amboy came to a close a few years ago. I’m sure it was not easy to leave because what they were doing in this city by the bay was exactly what Mother Foundress would have wanted: educate the poor in the faith. Prepare them for the world. And these sisters were faithful to this mandate of St. Lucy Filippini.
Would that we could all possess the courage of Esther — the prayerfulness of Esther — the ingenuity of Esther! Imagine, if we felt for the Filippini Sisters what Esther felt for her beloved Jews. We would then be watching out for each other. We would be praying for each other. There would be not only solidarity among the daughters of St. Lucy, there would be a genuine love for each other, based not on how one is treated by a particular sister (an attitude which would issue from self-centeredness) but an altruistic love which seeks nothing. Sisters would rally together for the welfare of children entrusted to their care and the success of their didactic mission.
With the indulgence of our readers, may I offer a word of counsel to our religious sisters on the occasion of their Foundress’ birthday. “My beloved sisters, you’re all called to be Queen Esther! You are called to be strong! You are called to be prayerful! You are called to set an example for others! You are called to be other-centered! Even if you occupy a leadership position, as did Queen Esther, you are called to be servants to your fellow sisters, as Esther was to her Jewish brothers and sisters. You are all called to love God with the fervor and trust of Queen Esther. How do you do this? Loving God accrues from taking the quest of ongoing formation seriously! To look within, to reflect on which areas are in need of change, to reach out to your fellow sisters in community — to pray for their success and God’s continued blessing on your noble apostolate of education — whether you are a teacher, administrator, a pastoral assistant, a pastoral catechetical leader — God has a plan for creation and redemption. We call that plan “Providence.” And just as Esther and the Jewish people have their place in God’s plan, so do each of you have an important role to play in Providence. Sisters, never underestimate the power of God — if he can save an entire faith from extermination, just imagine what he can do for our faith and the future of the Religious Teachers Filippini! Never forget what he did for your foundress, St. Lucy Filippini.”
Father Comandini is managing editor of “The Catholic Spirit.”
