1. Praying in the Spirit of Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon
The Marianist Sisters of the Dayton (Ohio) community offer this prayer service and set
of resources as suggestions that you might use to pray in the spirit of Venerable Adele
de Batz de Trenquelleon, our foundress. Adele reached out to her neighbors in the
surrounding countryside of Agen, with bread for their bodies and the hope of the Word
of God for their souls. Her life continues to inspire our prayer and outreach for the
needs of our world today. As Marianist sisters in North America we are stewards of
Adele’s special gifts to the Church and the Marianist Family and are committed to share
her spirit and continue her work in our day and time.
The Anniversary of Adele’s death (January 10th
) falls just after the Church’s celebration of the Feast of the
Baptism of the Lord. Adele saw her commitment to Jesus and Marianist life as a deepening of her baptismal
commitment and an outpouring of her love in faith. In her voluminous correspondence with her associates,
sisters and William Joseph Chaminade, she conveyed her passionate vision. In this season we celebrate our
Founders and the Mission entrusted to us. This prayer service includes some of our own favorite quotes,
prayers and songs that we think best capture her spirit. She was creative and passionate, so take liberty in
how you design the prayer for your own community. During this season of remembering our Marianist
founders, we invite you individually and in your communities to unite in Adele’s spirit that we all may deepen
as signs of God’s love outpoured for our world.
Who is Adele? (June 10, 1789 – January 10, 1828)
The outstanding gifts of Adele de Trenquelleon, founder of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate
(Marianists) are her faith to be open to God and her passionate outreach to al God’s people especially the
young, women, and the poor.
Adele de Trenquelleon was born into a wealthy and aristocratic family, but also suffered exile when
her father opposed the French revolution. Her family, especially her mother, taught her to live a life of faith.
Adele could have enjoyed the “good life”, but chose instead to cast her lot with the poor, identifying with
those most marginalized in her day.
By the time Adele was 15 years old, she and a good friend had formed an association that grew to
several hundred young women dedicated to prayer, support and good works. In 1816, a number of these
women joined with Adele to form the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, a new congregation. Called their ‘cher
project’, their cherished endeavor with a mission to continue the rhythm of prayer and work of the
Associates. Adele’s life and gifts continue in the church and world today through the Marianist Sisters, the
Larger Marianist Family and people like you.
Recommended Resources
Available from North American Center for Marianist Studies
www.nacms.org 937 / 429-2521 nacms@notes.udayton.edu
Adele, Aristocrat for the Poor – Joseph Stefanelli, SM (a short biography)
Adele – Joseph Stefanelli, SM (a comprehensive biography)
Walking with Adele – Joelle Bec, FMI - (spiritual reflections)
My Dear Friend – Joyce Detzel, nFMI
A Spiritual Companioning and Faith-Sharing Series based on the Letters of Adele
A retreat with Adele – Sr. Eileen Cehyra, FMI - a 7-day personal retreat with Adele & Mary
Letters of Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon – Joseph Stefanelli, SM editor, 2 volumes.
(Adele’s correspondence that has survived to this day - 737 letters)
Marianist Sisters 30 Sawmill Road, Dayton, OH 45409-2522 937/224.5896 www.marianistsisters.org
Christmas Season 2004

2. Praying in the Spirit of
Venerable Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon
Song Suggestions:
Adele’s invitation to know our loving God, and be that love for others
All Things New – Rory Cooney, c. 1993 GIA (GC # 427)
God is Love – David Haas c. 1987GIA (GC # 629)
If the Lord does Not Build – Dan Schutte c. 1975 NALR- St. Louis Jesuits (Earthen Vessels)
I Have Loved You – Michael Joncas c. 1979 New Dawn Music (GC # 504)
I Will Be with You – James Moore c. 1983 GIA (GC # 455)
My God and My All – David Haas c. 1983 GIA (We Have Been Told collection)
Adele’s call to justice and service-discipleship, sharing with those in need
At Evening – text Fred Pratt Green c. 1974, tune, David Haas, c.1985, GIA (GC # 759)
Bread for the World – c. 1990 Bernadette Farrell, OCP (GC # 827)
The Summons – John Bell, Iona Community c. 1987, GIA (GC # 700)
We Are Called – David Haas, c. 1988 GIA (GC # 718)
Magnificat: Canticle of the Turning – Rory Cooney, c.1990 GIA (GC # 556)
Call to Prayer (acte that Adele used following Epiphany):
You are the God of my heart and will be my eternal treasure and inheritance.
Antiphons for Psalms & Canticle
Antiphon 1: Our Society did not come to be by itself; an invisible hand has united us for
purposes that are still unknown to us (Letter of Adele 85.5)
Antiphon 2: We shall not be working alone. The Lord will be working with us; and with
him . . . what can we not do? (Letter of Adele 273.5)
Antiphon 3: Nothing can separate us from Jesus Christ. No matter what, we must place our
hope in God who strengthens us and Mary who protects us. (Letter of Adele 88, July 16, 1807).
Gospel Canticle Antiphon: Hosanna to the Son of David ! How beautiful are the feet
of the one who brings good news, who heralds peace whose words bring joy,
who brings salvation, the promise of our God.
Readings:
Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-
control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way,
it will show you that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and
meaningful. (2 Pet 1: 5-9)
Come dear friend, let us more than ever be united in heart and mind so as to accomplish in us the
work which God asks of us, to toil constantly at the destruction of our evil inclinations, to make
them veer from their natural bent and to form ourselves into entirely new creatures modeled on
our Lord Jesus Christ. (Letter 213.6)
Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your
actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. /…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by
action, is dead. (James 2:14, 17)

3. Psalm 63:
O God, you are my God, I long for you;
My soul thirsts for you;
My body seeks for you
As in a dry and weary land without water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary
Beholding your power and your glory.
For your constant love is better than life
My lips will sing your praises
So I will bless you as long as I live
I will lift up my hands and call upon your name.
My soul feasts on you and my mouth praises you
As I think of you upon my bed
And meditate on you in the watches of the night.
For you have been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul lings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Glory to you, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and
Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will be
forever, Amen.
Psalm 27:
O God, you are my light and my help.
Whom shall I fear?
You are the stronghold of my life;
Before whom shall I be afraid ?
Though an army encamp against me
My heart shall not fear.
Though war break out against me
Yet will I trust.
One thing I have asked of you, for this I seek
That I may dwell in your holy house
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of your countenance
And the holiness of your temple
In your shelter you will hide me
In the day of trouble You
Hear my voice when I cry aloud,
Be gracious to me and give answer!
You say to me, seek my face,
Seek the face of your God.
Your face I do seek,
Hide not your face from me.
Teach me your way, O God;
Lead me on a level path.
I believe I shall see your goodness
In the land of the living.
Hope in God, be strong and take heart.
Hope in God, the Most High !
Glory to you, Source of all Being, Eternal Word
and Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will
be forever, Amen.
Canticle: Ephesians 3: 14-19
For this reason I kneel before God, from whom
every family in heaven and on earth is named, That
you may be granted in accord with the riches of
God’s glory to be strengthened with power through
his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may
have strength to comprehend
with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length
and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses
knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the
fullness of God.
Now to God who is able to accomplish far more
than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work
within us, to God be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.

4. Response to Readings: Jesus, our hearts are small
Chant in Adele’s Words (based on Letter 325 – May 14, 1818)
Sung to the tune of Jesus, Remember Me (Taize) - (lyrics adapted by Leanne M. Jablonski FMI
Jesus, our hearts are small
So we would make you to be loved by all
Jesus, increase our love
That through us all may come to know you
.
Litany of Intentions ( composed by Laura M. Leming FMI)
Adele, share with us your spirit of enthusiasm
That we might enter wholeheartedly into the journey of our lives.
Adele, share with us your risk-taking spirit,
That we might be willing to try new things in the service of the Gospel.
Adele, share with us your love for the poor,
That we might see the opportunities in our own lives to ease their burden.
Adele, share with us your ability to bring people together,
That we might contribute to the strengthening of the body of Christ in our midst
Adele, share with us your gift for cultivating friendship
That we might experience in a deeper way that God is love.
Adele, share with us the insight of the preciousness and fragileness of life
That we might not neglect the good we can do today.
Adele, share with us your love for the Church
That we might work for it to be the light to the nations that it aspires to be.
Adele, share with us your passion for building communities of faith
That we might share the gifts we receive in community
with those who are seeking.
ALL: Adele, you are sister and friend and foremother in faith to us.
Be present in the Family of Mary to foster your gifts
and encourage us to carry on the mission you loved.
Let us pray: O God, source of life and holiness, we thank you for filling the heart
of your servant Adele de Trenquelleon with an ardent missionary spirit
and a deep filial love for the Virgin Mary.
We thank you for the enthusiasm with which she tried, during her short life, to
spread faith and love for Christ and his Mother, especially among the young and
those most in need. Lord, help us to follow her in being a sign of your love
for our sisters and brothers, in order that she may be glorified by your Church,
we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(from Prayer for the beatification of Venerable Adele).
Sending Forth: Oh my God, grant that charity would be so intimate in this community,
That all our souls are but one soul, and all our hearts, but one heart