Expression of the Love for Neighbor

Before the foundation of the Congregation, the Servant of God was a member of the Third-Order of St. Francis and a member of the Sacred-Heart Association. Father Reichard had organized groups to visit the sick. Elizabeth Eppinger participated it actively during the time when her health permitted it.

From her early days, she was concerned about the sanctification of her neighbor, all those in her surroundings: her parents, brothers and sisters, domestics, her schoolmates, and her friends. Her constant concern is to make them avoid sin and love God, to be virtuous and this in spite of all mockery and insults.
The love for our neighbor in the Servant of God first of all wanted the salvation of her neighbor. She untiringly prayed for sinners and worked for their conversion. She said: “I feel an intense tenderness for the sinners. I see in them God’s creatures and the objects of His love.”
Father Reichard said: “She constantly feels irresistibly attracted towards God, her Savior; always and with just as much strength she wishes to be able to lead all sinners to Him.” Continue reading →

Concern that God’s Love may Be Spread

She had the constant concern to incite not only the people in her immediate surroundings and the many visitors to praise God through the words she said to them, but also all people through the intensive prayer to God for all. “My kind Jesus, have mercy on this parish. May all the parishioners recognize the grace which You have granted them. Have mercy especially on the parents, oh Jesus, enlighten them so that they all take better care of their children’s souls. Have mercy on the Youth. Give them a greater love of virtue and piety; enkindle Your love in them.” “My constant desire and all my wishes are that our Lord’s name may be honored by all and that this name may be better known.” Continue reading →

Love for Jesus Christ

A distinguishing characteristic of Elizabeth Eppinger was her love for Jesus Christ. Already in her early childhood, she gave a privileged place to Jesus. She discovered Him step by step through the accounts of the Passion, which she attentively listened to. In her autobiography, she narrated that at the age of four, she was so moved by a conversation about the Passion of Christ that she had to cry at the thought of how Jesus had to suffer. The attraction for the crucified Jesus never left her again, and when she herself suffered most, she held a little crucifix in her hand. The teachings of the catechism have a great impact on her; the frequent meditations on the sufferings of the crucified Jesus gave rise to a more personal appropriation. One also has to admit that this parishioner eager to attend Divine service nourished her piety in this regard from ceremonies of the Holy Week or from devotions like the Stations of the Cross or the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
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Acceptation of Suffering

The love which consumed the Servant of God was nourished through her devotion to the Passion of Our Lord. From the age of five onwards, one can say that this was her constant meditation, the deep and vital need of her soul. Like this she tried to increase her love by understanding better and better the greatness of the love which Jesus has for us; this made her avoid sin at any cost and mortified herself with “holy violence”. After going through hard trials, she reached a stage of wanting sufferings as a grace of choice and she could not live any more without suffering. According to heavenly inspiration she obliged her Daughters to meditate every day on the Passion of our Lord. She told them again and again that well endured suffering is the safest means to advance in holiness. “We will never lose sight of the crucified Jesus”, she said.
“O, how sweet and pleasant is it to live and to die in the wounds of the crucified Jesus!”