Charism of the Missionaries of the Eternal Word
by Mother Angelica

“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk 16.15).  With this command, Jesus, the Eternal Word, commissioned His followers to be missionaries of “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn. 14.6).  This commission extends to “the whole Church . . . and the work of evangelization is a basic duty of the People of God” (Ad Gentes, 35).  Of prime importance, though not preeminent or exclusive, this commission is entrusted to religious, as being a most effective means for evangelization (Evangelii Nutuandi, 63.).  Pope Paul VI comments further that religious “embody the Church in her desire to give herself completely to the radical demands of the beatitudes.  By their lives they are a sign of total availability to God, the Church and the brethren.” 

The Missionaries of the Eternal Word, by the grace of God and with the assistance of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi, will generously respond to Our Lord’s command.  The Community will primarily fulfill this commission by evangelizing Catholics who have left the Church.  Pope Paul again comments:  “Today there is a very large number of baptized persons who . . . have not formally renounced their Baptism but who are entirely indifferent to it and not living in accord with it (EvangeliiNutuandi, 56.)  Missionaries of the Eternal Word will strive to defend and explain the beauty and truth of the Catholic Faith to those who have left the “harbor of Truth” for whatever reason.

Such a mission requires support or pillars.  Our two pillars are the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the mantle of the Magisterium of the Church.  From the Eucharist we will draw from the fountain our strength, perseverance, and inspiration.  We will lead others back to Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, for He alone can lead us to the Father.  Our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Eternal Word, is the surest and safest means to Jesus.  She is the cause of our salvation.  She, who brought the Truth into our world, longs to do so again into the hearts of men, especially in those who have wandered from “the pillar and bulwark of the Truth” (I Tim 3.15).

With these pillars and the continual assistance of St. Francis, we pray that we will bring countless souls back to Jesus, our Lord and God!