PART FOUR : CELEBRATIONS

Ecclesial Note: THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST

Orientation: The expression “Body of Christ”is very familiar to Catholics. The Church is seen not only externally as a structured corporation or organization divided according to dignitaries and jurisdictions but also internally as a mystery founded by Christ. For many, this brings them to discover a new ecclesial dimension. Paul finds that image and applies it to the Christian community. What is important is the unity of the community and of feelings. “As it is, the parts are many, but the body is one.” (1 Cor. 12:20)

Gathered together in the name of the Lord: The communities that meet in private homes know that they constitute the Church, a Greek term which means “those who are called together.” We pray as a Church; prayer gathers together the members of the Church. St. Cyprian points out that the Christian, wherever he is, always prays in plurality. He prays as member of a community, incorporated through baptism in the Body of Christ.

We begin our prayer: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Let creation, magnificent in its splendor, never be silent neither by day nor by night. Let the bright stars, the tallest mountains and the deepest sees shout their praises to God while we sing our hymns: to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Prayers of the first Christians).

We pray to receive the Word: Grant us, Lord, the grace to contemplate you as the Lord and Master of each one of us, of your Church, as we grow and are shaped by your spirit. Prepare our hearts to listen to the words of life which come from your lips.

Word of God: Rom. 12:3-8: Let us take some moments of silence as we prepare to listen to the Word of God.

Personal reading and meditation of the Word proclaimed: Meditate on the Word of God and apply it to your life. “You are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28.) Spirit of the Lord, may your holy words fill and nourish the hearts of the believers who are gathered in your name.

We respond to the Word with prayer: The Word of God has been constituted in Jesus who is among us. He prays for all those gathered here who are united with Him. If the passage is a letter, then we need to read it. Nevertheless, that is not enough. The letter is the Word of God. Thus, I want to pray it with my brothers and sisters.

To deepen in the Word: Explanation of the passage: The body is structured in such a way that different parts carry out specific functions. We, Christians, also constitute one body. No one represents the entire body; but nobody is an extra. Therefore, our Christian existence cannot be limited to our private inner life.

Praise and thanksgiving: “Lord, we give you thanks and praise. We bless you because you not only manifested yourself in the richness and potential of your life and death but you continue to show yourself to us through the mystery of your Church. You live Her, Lord, through Her, you spread your Spirit, in Her you cure and alleviate the sufferings of your people. In Her and through Her, you create a visible boody that is a light for history, a sign and instrument of unity for mankind”. (Cardinal Martin)

Symbolic language: Twelve stars are engraved on the face of the Medal. It is certainly a reference to the Lady in the Book of Revelations, who appears robed with the sun and with a crown of twelve stars. But the twelve stars could also mean the communion of the Church, established on the foundation of the twelve.

Being sent: To become a disciple of a master means acknowledging the authority of another in your life. To become a disciple of Christ entails a radical self-giving, sacrificing one’s life to God. This is how availability begins and grows. As members of the Church, in its capacity as the “body of Christ”, we who are sent acquire an obligation: to be holy and faultless always so that the full body of Christ be wholly and clearly seen (Cf. Ep. 5:27.) “Each one must be careful how he does the building.” (1 Co. 3:10)

Blessing: Fill my mouth with your praises, Lord, and my lips with joy: that we may sing your glory and your power. We bless you, our Savior, Lord of heaven and earth for the abundance of your grace. Fill your Church with your glory so that we may praise you for ages without end.

Missionary Note : WITNESSES OF THE GOSPEL

Orientation: Reading the second chapter of the book of the Acts of the Apostles we discover that the effect of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost is the preaching of the Gospel, This resulted to a massive conversion to those who listened. With the descent of the Holy Spirit and this first preaching, the words of Jesus begins to be fulfilled: “Receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to earth’s remotest end.” (Acts 1:8)

Gathered together in the name of the Lord: Give us your Spirit, Lord, so that your presence fills our hearts. Bring us together in unity. Keep us all in communion of faith and mutual love.

We pray to receive the Word: The Church in the cenacle only asked for one thing: the Spirit. Let us ask for the Spirit as the gift that contains all other gifts, in particular, the gift of prayer. The Apostle reminds us: “you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Rom. 8:15)

Word of God: Acts 2:1-13: Let us take some moments of silence as we prepare to listen to the Word of God.

Personal reading and meditation of the Word proclaimed: Read, listen, feel it burn in our hearts. We speak of your Word, Lord, “and all about this new life.” (Acts 5:20)

We respond to the Word with Prayer: You entrust us, Lord to give testimony to the Gospel, to be witnesses and servants of the Word. Fill us with your Spirit and may your Spirit really play the leading role in the mission. (Silent prayer)

Symbolic language: In the absence of its own face, the Spirit has been portrayed in different ways. Let us see how sacred scriptures and the Holy Fathers describe their appreciation for Him: Spirit Creator, Spirit of the Father, Paraclete, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Gift of God, Blessed Light, Spirit of Life, Fire, Love, Finger of God, Sweet Refreshment, Father of the poor… Define your mission as that of Christ’s: proclaim the Good News to the poor, driven by the Spirit, Father of the poor.

Blessing: Lord, may your divine spirit make us servants of others. May it give us wisdom to receive your word, put it to practice and proclaim it. Oh God, bless each one of us by showering upon us the “fruit” of the spirit: Love, kindness…

Marian Note: MARY OF NAZARETH, ACTIVE LISTENER OF THE WORD

Orientation: The Word of God is in the heart of every believer (Rom. 10:8). His/her whole life can now be transformed into “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” Jesus’ words then can be fulfilled: “Your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:16) The attitude of Mary before the Word is the most appropriate one. She is the true listener who knew how to listen and receive the Word simply and fully. Let us discover our own condition as we listen and pray here and now.

Gathered together in the name of the Lord: The Lord is with us. We are very familiar with the liturgical greeting: “The Lord be with you.” With this, we affirm the presence among us of him who “lives forever and ever.” In the same way that the Angel recognizes the presence of the Lord in Mary, may we too recognize here and now within ourselves the tabernacle of the Lord.

We begin our prayer: We use the sign of the cross. With such, we indicate that we are united in prayer in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

We pray to receive the Word: Grant us, Lord, the grace to understand your Word and perceive it as light that radiates the mystery of Mary. We entrust to you, Mary, our prayers and requests for JMV in the whole world. We pray, looking up to you, our Mediatrix.

Word of God: Lk. 1: 26-38: Let us take some moments of silence as we prepare to listen to the Word of God: let us ask for “a disciple’s listening ear”.

Personal reading and meditation of the Word proclaimed: Try to repeat the Gospel passage slowly, committing it to memory and keeping it in yor heart.

We respond to the Word with Prayer: Prayer is now the response that the Word of the Lord stirs up within us. When we read the Scriptures, we listen to God, and when we pray, we respond to Him. Therefore, prayer is absolutely necessary so that there will be a dialogue between the believer and God. The Word of God is always asking for our response.

To deepen in the Word: Explanation of the passage: Luke shares to us here the most marvelous encounter that we can imagine between God and any human being. After a good reflection, only Mary would be the appropriate person to transmit something of what really happened. The feelings, attitudes and reactions of Mary are reflected in verses 29, 34 and 38. “She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean.” (v.29) Mary said to the angel, “But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?” (v.34) Mary said, “ You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said” (V.38).

Mary feels confused with the greeting. The words are simply too deep for a young woman with a simple heart. But the angel confirms the truthfulness of the greeting and clears the confusion. The dialogue highlights the simplicity of this young woman as well as her reasoning ability: "How can this be?" Listen attentively to the Word - this is the most important and most definite thing to do: "Let it be done to me according to your Word."

The explanation of this passage raises new responses and questions:

Praise: “Blessed are you, Mary, who upon receiving the message of the angel, have become the Mother of the Word of God. Blessed are you, who meditating in silence the words from heaven, have become a disciple of the Lord“ (Marian Antiphon).

Thanksgiving: “It is right and necessary to give thanks to you, Lord, Holy Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, through Christ our Lord. Because the Virgin believed the message of the ange: that Christ, by the working of the Holy Spirit, would be born to save mankind” (Preface of the Blessed Virgin mary, Disciple of the Word Incarnate).

Symbolic language: The Miraculous Medal shows to us the heart of Mary at the foot of the cross, in an attitude of acceptance, meditation and living out the obedience of faith. What the heart of Mary at the cross suggests to us here is the attitude that she always had of welcoming the will of the Father and of meditating the Word of God in her heart.

Being sent: Mary, disciple of Christ, intercedes for us before the Lord so that we will live our apostolate following the way of the Gospel. Filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, she asks that we, who are sent into the world, be the “light of the people”.

Blessing: Lord, may my whole being overflow with blessings and praises. May your praise be always in my mouth. Amen.

Vincentian Note : ST. VINCENT, MAN OF CHRIST AND OF THE POOR

Orientation: The Gospel is a Good news, a message of liberation, of light and of love. It speaks of love, especially for those who are oppressed, for sinners and for the sick. Let us also contemplate and welcome this Good News of liberation, light and charity. "It is not enough to love God if my neighbor does not love Him”. If we want to be with Christ, like St. Vincent de Paul, we have to have a more open heart. Being open universally means that we accept spreading the Gospel to more and more places and peoples.

Gathered together in the name of the Lord: We pray the way the first Christians taught us. “Direct our eyes towards you, Lord. Grant your pardon and mercy to all of us gathered here. Have pity on us and grant us the grace to be good, wise and pure. Send us your power so that your people may be known as holy and immaculate.” (Prayer of the first Christians)

We begin our prayer: Jesus spoke during His time and continues to do so now. His words have not lost their strength or meaning. Praise and give thanks to God because He reveals himself to men. Who can doubt that the Word of God penetrated into the depths of St. Vincent's heart?

Word of God: Lk. 10: 25-37: Let us take some moments of silence as we prepare to listen to the Word of God.

Personal reading and meditation of the Word proclaimed: Focus your attention on each of the characters of the parable. The lawyer receives at the end of the parable, the command: "Go, and do the same yourself." This lawyer did not seem to have any problem in matters relating to God. But here comes the part which worried him a bit. Jesus tells him a story so that he might set out for a new way. This message led St. Vincent to the world of the poor. I have felt your call, Lord, to meditate on your words "Go and do the same yourself."

We respond to the Word with Prayer: "Go and do the same yourself." The Word of the Lord asks for a response. Here I am Lord, I am ready to follow the way of the good Samaritan. I recognize you in the good Samaritan, in each of his healing and welcoming gestures. Like Vincent de Paul, make me live this parable in my life.

To deepen in the Word: God is revealed in my neighbors. Therefore, I must also love them with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with all my mind.

Being sent: "Go, and do the same yourself." You are also sent by St. Vincent de Paul: "I have been sent not only to love God but also to make men love Him.”

Glossary of Terms

Praise: Praise fills the entire human being. To praise God does not mean limiting it to an occasional act but it should be our lifetime occupation. It has to be the profession of man during his journey on earth.

Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is the echo of God, the external manifestation of what is experienced in the soul.

Body: Christians are united with Christ, the Head, through His body, and each one carries out the function granted to him/her by the Spirit in favor of others. Thus, they have the same unity as with the human body when they carry out their different functions harmoniously with the other parts of the human body (1Co.12: 14-26).

Symbols: All prayers have a symbolic dimension since man senses God and enters in contact with Him by means of symbols.