Formation 2003-2004 - Holiness and Mission

 

 

Pro Sanctity Mission Statement

The Pro Sanctity Movement is a Catholic-based organization dedicated to promoting the universal call to holiness.  It seeks to address the mind with theology, the heart with spirituality, and the hands with ministry.  It is open to all; especially those who wish to deepen their commitment to God and share with others the message of holiness.

 

 

 

Objective of Issue 11:  To provide matter for meditation before and after the reception of Holy Communion, during Eucharistic Adoration, or as a part of our prayer at any time.

 

 

Christological Experience

The Christological Experience aims at helping small groups make a fruitful meditation and review of life in the presence of Christ who alone is capable of giving us light and love for one another.  The ideal place for the experience is before the Blessed Sacrament.  It has three moments: 

(1)   The Past (Memory or anamnosis) – Listen to God’s Word; a complementary reading and a few points of explanation by the facilitator; a very brief question and answer period for a deeper understanding of the scripture message. 

(2)   The Present (Mystery) – A silent encounter with God’s Word during meditative adoration before the Blessed Sacrament; sharing one’s own experience as revealed during the adoration.  This is the core of the Christological Experience.

(3)   The Future (Prophecy or eschaton) – Together make practical and apostolic resolutions to be lived individually or as a group.  Write down the resolutions to serve as a reminder.

The Christological Experience must leave room for a personal encounter with Christ the Lord and for free research and creativity on the part of the facilitator as well as those participating in the experience.

Pro Sanctity Formation Archives

(Sample Outlines of Christological Experience Gatherings are available)

 

 

The Eucharist and Holiness

“The Eucharist is the sacrament of holiness.”

 St. Hilary of Poitiers

Pro Sanctity National Resources

Nov 1^st Binder – Chapter 11 – P 1

 

Like the Eucharistic Presence of Christ,

We Can Be Present to Our Neighbor

“When we are completely receptive to the power of the Eucharist, Christ does with us today what he did with the bread of the Last Supper: he takes us and blesses us; he ‘breaks’ us, and gives us for the sake of others.  Christ gives us to eat of the Eucharist that we might be Eucharists for the life of the world.  Like the Eucharistic presence of Christ that consoles, reassures and nourishes, we can be present to our neighbor – whether next door or halfway around the world – who needs to be consoled, reassured and nourished.  When the grace of the Eucharist truly fills the energies of our minds and hearts, when it truly fills our capacity for Christ-like love of others, then the Eucharist’s potential for giving life is indeed unparalleled.”

Bernard J. Camiré, S.S.S.

Living Bread: Reflections for Eucharistic Prayer –  p 31

 

One Bread – We Who Are Many are One Body

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?   Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”

1 Corinthians 10: 16-17

 

The Encyclical on the Eucharist

• “The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.  This truth does not simply express a daily experience of faith, but recapitulates the heart of the mystery of the Church.”

·        “The Eucharist, as Christ’s saving presence in the community of the faithful and its spiritual food, is the most precious possession which the Church can have in her journey through history.”

• “The Mass makes present the sacrifice of the Cross; it does not add to that sacrifice nor does it multiply it.  The sacrificial nature of the Eucharistic mystery cannot therefore be understood as something separate, independent of the Cross or only indirectly referring to the sacrifice of Calvary.”
• “In the Eucharist the Church is completely united to Christ and his sacrifice, and makes her own the spirit of Mary.  This truth can be understood more deeply by re-reading the Magnificat in a Eucharistic key.  The Eucharist, like the Canticle of Mary, is first and foremost praise and thanksgiving.”
• “The treasure of the Eucharist, which the Lord places before us, impels us towards the goal of full sharing with all our brothers and sisters to whom we are joined by our common Baptism.  But if this treasure is not to be squandered, we need to respect the demands which derive from its being the sacrament of communion in faith and in apostolic succession.”
• In the humble signs of bread and wine, changed into his body and blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey, and he enables us to become for everyone, witnesses of hope.”

Excerpts from the Encyclical of Pope John Paul II

Ecclesia de Eucharistia

 

Eucharistic Transformation

“Let us not forget Eucharistic transformation!  If we would truly succeed at giving ourselves wholeheartedly to God in our Holy Communions, we would gradually be transformed in Jesus.  If, after so many years of daily Communion, we still haven’t reached this transformation, it means our Communions were not vital enough – they are not transforming enough for us.  but a single Communion could make a soul holy.” 

“Eucharistic transformation could be followed by a more profound interior transformation, a mystical transformation, of which St. Paul speaks in regard to himself: ‘...I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.’ (Galatians 2: 20)  And even if there would not be mystical transformation in this world, there will then come about the definitive, final transformation in Christ, through the glory of heaven.”

Bishop Giaquinta – How To Bring About Holiness

 

 

Jesus Is Hungry for Our Love

“The world is hungry for God

And when Jesus came into the world,

He wanted to satisfy that hunger.

He made himself the Bread of Life,

So small, so fragile, so helpless,

And, as if that were not enough,

He made himself the hungry one...hungry for our human love.”

Mother Teresa

 

 

Graces of the Eucharist

“As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.  By giving himself to us, Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church - # 1394

 

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For Reflection:

 

1. What are my experiences of Christ’s presence in the Church through the Eucharist? The priesthood?  The sacraments?  His Word?  The grace and action of the Spirit?

 

2. How do I spend the time (about 15 minutes) immediately after communion when Jesus remains with me and gives me actual graces if I am available to him and dialogue with him?

 

3. When I receive communion, Jesus is transforming me into himself.  If we are all Jesus, we would become a unity of authentic love from which true brotherhood would spring.