Sisters of Providence Traditions

The Meaning of Providence

Providence describes God’s relationship with the world. In the Sisters of Providence mission, they are called to “proclaim Providence as the loving presence of God, watchful over the created universe, attentive to the needs of all.”

Devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows

The devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows is one of the defining traditions of the Sisters of Providence, born of the grief experienced by Emilie Gamelin upon the death of her sons and husband. After these tragic losses a priest gave Emilie a picture of Mary at the foot of the cross of her son Jesus. He invited her to pray and reflect. Emilie asserted: “I only found consolation in prayer and the contemplation of the Sorrows of Mary.”

In her journey, Emilie Gamelin understood that praying to Our Mother of Sorrows was, and still is, a way to lead us to Jesus by accepting our own suffering. Emilie resisted the temptation of self-pity; she chose instead to join her sorrows with those of Jesus. She reached out to help others and was nourished by her devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows to find the strength to work toward alleviating all sorts of human misery. This is where the charism of the Sisters of Providence takes its source: in “the manifestation of the mysteries of the Providence of God and Our Mother of Sorrows in compassionate love and creative prophetic solidarity with the poor.”

The Seven Sorrows of Mary:

• The Prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2: 34-35)
• The Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt (Matthew 2: 13-21)
• The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2: 41-51)
• Jesus Meets Mary Carrying His Cross (Luke 23: 27-31)
• Mary at the foot of the Cross of Jesus (John 19: 25-27)
• Descent from the Cross (Matthew 27: 57-59)
• The Burial of Jesus (John 19: 40-42)

The Rosary of our Mother of Sorrows, the Stabat Mater and the Via Matris are all expressions of the devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows.

Patron Saints of Sisters of Providence

• St. Vincent de Paul, primary patron of Sisters of Providence
• St. Joseph, protector and provider for the sisters
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patron of elderly women and people who are sick
• St. Genevieve, patron of orphans

Prayer to Providence

Providence of God, I believe in you.
Providence of God, I hope in you.
Providence of God, I love you with all my heart.
Providence of God, I thank you for all.

Blessed Emilie Gamelin Novena

Daily Prayer (said every day of the novena): Providence of God, you who gave to Emilie a compassionate charity for all those who are suffering, remember her faith, brighten with your light the road to those imploring you by her intercession, and glorify very soon your faithful servant the Blessed Emilie Gamelin. Amen.

Day One: Providence God, you whom Emilie came to know early in her life, open our eyes to the light of your presence and, following her example, may the poor always have a place in our lives. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession (your prayer request here)… if it is your Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Two: Provident God, you whom Emilie learned to discover in daily events: the joys, sufferings, grief and loneliness, let us learn, following her example, how to meet you and understand your love towards us, whatever happens. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Three: Provident God, you whom Emilie learned to serve in complete loyalty in the duties of Christian and family life and in a heroic acceptance of the trials inherent in the human condition, let us learn to accept in faith, following her example, whatever makes up our lives. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is your Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Four: Provident God, you whom Emilie discovered in the poor and marginalized and whom she wanted to serve in being providence to them, following her example, let us always be available to help others with their problems. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Five: Provident, God, you whom Emilie loved, prayed to and praised as the author of all gifts, following her example, help us to love, to pray and to praise you. May all our requests find in you the accomplishment of your greatest glory. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Six: Provident God, you whom Emilie wanted to serve and love in the holy state of marriage and of religious life, following her example, allow us to live intensely our lives as baptized persons wherever we find ourselves. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Seven: Provident God, you whom Emilie recognized in the orphan, in the young unemployed person, in the couple experiencing problems, in the loneliness of the sick, in the poor without shelter, in the elderly without friends, let us comfort and give our time to serve you through them, following her example. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Eight: Provident God, you whom Emilie wanted to love more every day, and also wanted to love in words and in act, in the person of all her brothers and sisters, following her example, let us learn how to forget all that causes pain and to forgive in complete serenity. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)

Day Nine: Provident God, you whom Emilie was happy to know, to love and to serve on earth, following her example, let us walk with you in this life to find and glorify you eternally. Allow us to obtain the favor we are soliciting by her intercession… if it is you Holy Will. (recite daily prayer)