Poems About Mother Mary Lange, OSP

About the Book

Mother Mary Lange, the founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1829, was a woman before her time. She reminds me of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 1:8). Jeremiah was a prophet who was called by God at a young age. However, the part that struck me most about Jeremiah’s talk with God was that section where God tells Jeremiah that he will be sent to speak to some people who may not want to hear what he had to say. God told Jeremiah this, “Go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I the Lord have spoken.” Mother Mary Lange came to Baltimore, Maryland, somewhere around 1812. Slavery was flourishing here at that time, so this was not an easy task for this young woman. She encountered all sorts of obstacles, but heeding the voice of God, she carried on. Thus, now in the year of the Lord, the congregation she founded is over 188 years old. How about that for putting your trust in God? These poems are just another way of honoring this great woman of God who did not allow any obstacle to get in her way, be it clergy, the KKK, politicians, racism, or even slavery. The mark of a Christian, even a martyr, is not deterred by naysayers. Mother Lange and the early Sisters endured a lot from the society where they found themselves. However, they knew that God was with them, and so they had no fear. Mary Lange followed the advice of God to the prophet Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid, I will be with you to protect you.” Mother Lange knew that she had a mission to accomplish and so took her task seriously and made her mark in history.

About the Author

Sister Magdala Marie Gilbert, OSP is an Oblate Sister of Providence. She resides at the Oblate Sisters of Providence Motherhouse in Catonsville, Maryland. She is the Director of the Cause of the Canonization of their founder, Mother Mary Lange, OSP. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Springhill College in Mobile, Alabama, a Master’s Degree from Towson University, Towson, Maryland. She is a Notary Public, has a Professional Catechetical Certificate from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a Professional Catechist Certificate from the Imani Program from the Institute of Black Catholic Studies, Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a member of the National Black Sisters Conference’ (NBSC) and an active member of National Religious Vocation Conference Black Standing Committee (NRVCBSC); she is the past Chair of NRVCBSC. Sister is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Peter Claver: Mother Elizabeth Lange Court # 323. She is the former Director of Religious Education at Historic St. Francis Xavier Parish and presently the Chair of the Father Albert McKnight, C.SS. P Award Committee. Sister Magdala Marie taught many years on the Elementary School and High School level and has been Vocation and Formation Director for her Congregation. Sister is a writer for the Na’imah Program, a Catechetical Workshop sponsored by the Office of Black Catholics each year in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, whose aim is to promote Catechesis from the Black Perspective. Each year a Booklet is published by the group. This year marks the 27th year of the Catechetical Program.