GUIDES FOR CELEBRATIONS

MARIAN

"I want to say yes"

Theme: The Annunciation

Introduction: Mary is the woman chosen by God in order to realize through her the work of salvation. And this required a YES. Without her free and total cooperation nothing would have happened…

Bible Reading: Lk. 1:26-38

Points for reflection:

Mary, model of self-giving and generosity. Mary’s “yes” is the foundation of our response of faith to God.
Like Mary, God invites us – he never imposes – to respond freely to His love. Once we accept his invitation a bond of love is created between God and us - a bond He will never betray.

Questions :

God also wants to tell you something... He speaks to you now… do you listen to Him?
What yes is God asking from us today?
Are we willing to sacrifice our own self in order to make God’s plan a reality in us?

Closing Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith. You invite us to live the experience of God in our lives. JMV draws us nearer to the Mystery of Salvation. Amen.

"My Life… a Song of Praise"

Theme: The Magníficat

Introduction: Mary is grateful because God has looked on her and has done great things in her. The Magnificat is the song of thanksgiving that bursts forth from Mary’s heart when her cousin Elizabeth feels the child inside her womb leap with joy because God made man has entered her house. It manifests trust in God’s faithful love.

Bible Reading: Lk. 1:46-55

Points for reflection:

Gratitude is having an open heart; a listening heart; a heart full of faith. Everyday, God manifests His great love for us – He gives us life; He gives us a new surprise; He grants us a favor. In the same manner, we are invited to show our gratitude, a simple “thank you, Lord” for listening to us.

Questions:

As a young JMV, what does the Magnificat tell you?
What are the challenges it presents? What hopes do you discover in it?

Closing Prayer: Mary, through the Magnificat, you give us a preview of the Kingdom that your Son proclaimed. As the first Chrisitan, you show us the ideal way of our lives.

"Mary gathers us together"

Theme: Mary, Mother of the Youth

Introduction: The Church is the people of God. It is the people consecrated by Christ by virtue of His death and resurrection. The Church is the fruit of the gift of the Spirit of Jesus. It is the communion of faith and love among all believers. Thus, aalvation reaches us at a personal level, but not at an individual level.

Bible Reading: Jn. 19:25-27

Points for reflection:

Jesus gives us Mary to be the Mother of the Church. She gathers us together and teaches us to live in solidarity, a solidarity that permits us to share and contribute to the good of all.
Young people are called, together with the ministers of the Church, to be leading agents in the building of a “Civilization of love” by living out the spirituality, dynamism, joy, critical reflection and values proper to the youth.
The youth can be a great influence in our modern society. This growing influence in society demands an active apotolate. Young people possess drive and enthusiasm. They have great imagination and spontaneity. If all of these are driven by the spirit of Christ, then we can be sure it will bear much fruit. The youth are the first and direct apostles of other youth. We are called to be active members in solidarity with the Church.

Questions :

When I am with other young people, am I an instrument of goodness? Or do I lead them along bad paths?
What concrete contribution do I give to my local Church?

Closing Prayer: Lord, grant that we may contemplate the cross with eyes full of faith, and remain faithful to you, just like Mary, our Mother.

"The Right Moment"

Theme : The Wedding Feast at Cana

Introduction: Mary is perfect. However, she is not far from us; she belongs to our family, intimately rooted in our daily life, never isolated or inaccessible but very near. As a believer, Mary asks for the first miracle to be done… She is the mediatrix of the early faith of the apostles and she continues to be for all humanity, always mindful of its needs.

Bible Reading: Jn. 2:1-12

Points for reflection:

To be certain of God’s plan in our life normally requires a combination of patience, prayer, reflection on our experiences as well as good personal accompaniment and guidance.
Our time is a precious and valuable gift. Service to others should also be freely given. Like Mary we have to live God’s will through the events of our daily life.

Questions:

Meditate on an important event of your life. Ask yourself: how did God act in this event? Were you aware that you wanted to do God’s will?
It is said that each one of us has a great moment in life…What has been your great moment as a Christian? What did your action consist of?

Closing Prayer: Let us strive to transform the dullness of our lives into abundant wine. We place in God’s hands all our needs and that of our families and friends.

"Your life matters to me"

Theme: The Visitation

Introduction: God visited Mary and, at once, she felt the need to visit others and share her joy with them. Truly, the Virgin is favored from generation to generation because the Lord has done great things for her. She believed in the promise of the Lord.

Bible Reading: Lk. 1:39-45

Points for reflection:

Mary’s availability - a woman capable of bearing the difficulties and risks of life.
A woman focused on God and attentive to the needs of others. She brings them the Good News – Jesus.
Mary, a woman captivated by the love of God that becomes love-service for others. Love was always the driving force in Mary’s life – an unbounded love that brought her to be present for others and accompany them.

Questions:

How do I follow Mary’s example? How do I make myself present in the life of others?

Imagine that Mary is in your house … something is worrying you; a feeling of anxiety bothers you. Mary tells you: “It seems you need to talk…” What would you tell her? Open your heart and mind to her. Remember that she loves you…

Closing Prayer: Mary of the visitation, today as in the past, you continue to visit your children by making yourself present in their lives and showing your love for each one of them. Through your intercession, we ask you to obtain from your Son the grace to live as you lived, allowing God to visit us and bringing His presence to others.

viNcenTian

St. Vincent, man of Christ

Theme: Learn to give by giving one’s self

Introduction: In his Passion, Jesus lives the great moment of truth, the moment when the link between his word and his actions will be submitted to the test of contradictions. Two roads open up before Him: to remain firm in the direction of His life or to ababndon His mission. But Jesus remains firm to the word. His attitude gives meaning to His death; to live for His Father and for his brothers was His way of life; it would also be His way of death.

Bible Reading: Ph.2: 6-8

Vincentian Text: "We live in Jesus Christ through the death of Jesus Christ and we must die in Jesus Christ through the life of Jesus Christ, and our life must be hidden in Jesus Christ and filled with Jesus Christ, and in order to die as Jesus Christ, we must live as Jesus Christ."(S.V.P. I, 294 - 295: ES I, 320)

Points for reflection:

Baptism is the sacrament of Christian identity that makes us share in the resurrection of Christ. It is a grace and a task at the same time. It is grace because it sets us free from our sins and makes us adopted children of the Father and brothers and sisters of the Son. It is a task because we have to live according to the freedom as children of God. We need to empty ourselves in order to be filled with Jesus Christ.
All Christians are called to be like Jesus Christ in life and in death. To follow Jesus requires that we renounce ourselves and eventually this leads us to lose our own life. The disciple Paul says it best… “ I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me.”(Gal. 2:20)

Questions:

How did St. Vincent live his option for Christ?
What direction will you give to your life? Do you feel questioned by Jesus Christ?

Closing Prayer: The death of Jesus on the cross teaches us to love by taking on the cross as a sign of solidarity so we may never be overcome by the difficulties of life.

“My witnessing here and now”

Theme: The Layperson, a means of evangelization

Introduction: Let us try to analyze our present reality, what we know of our surroundings in order to see it as the best field of action. It is important to reflect on the image we have of humanity and the responses that society gives, putting special emphasis on our response as Vincentians. Our motivation should be similar to that of Jesus who feels a special preferance for the least, opts to be on their side and is near to the suffering of the poor.

Bible Reading: Mt. 25:31-46

Vincentian Text: "I have been sent not only to love God but also to make men love Him. It is not enough to love God if my neighbor does not love Him.” ( S.V.P. XII, 262 - 263: ES XI, 553 - 554)

Points for reflection:

Laypersons are normally involved in the world of their time. It is in the core of this living in community with others that they give witness of their faith through their words and lifestyle.
God’s main objective is to manifest Himself to us, to give Himself personally to us for the purpose of establishing a bond with us. This offering made by God leads to the most absolute participation on our part.

Questions:

How do we share the love we receive from God?
Is it better that our actions speak louder than our words? Why?

Closing Prayer: Lord, you truly love me and this realization has changed me. The love you have for me, you, who loved me first, is repaid with love. Help me to share it with others.

“See the poor...and act”

Theme: The Good Samaritan

Introduction: Jesus invites us to live the faith through a life of commitment. We must not remain neutral before those we find wounded along the way. Jesus will tell us: “Go and do the same.”

Bible Reading: Lk. 10:25-37

Vincentian Text: "To serve the poor is to serve Jesus Christ. You serve Jesus Christ in the person of the poor. This is as true as we are here today. A sister will go ten times a day to visit the sick and ten times a day she will find God in them. (SVP. IX, 252, ES IX, 240)

Points for reflection:

Discover the meaning of the invitation of Jesus to see Him in the poor and to follow His example. Christ does not only want us to see Him in the poor but he also wants us to act, to do something. The Good Samaritan saw someone in need and he hurried to help. St. Vincent always helped those who were in his reach: the orphans, the elderly, the sick… he searched for solutions and means. And he never made excuses by saying that his problems were many and maybe his efforts would be in vain.
Being a Christian requires that we be good Samaritans. It is not enough to be avoid sin or keep the commandments. We have to take a positive attitude by doing good works and bringing the brotherhood of all to a reality. Being a neighbor demands that we forget our differences and help others.
Charity or love is the greatest commandment. Charity is being sensitive to the needs of others. That is how we will be judged: by the times we have been sensitive to the needs of our neighbor.

Questions:

St. Vincent dedicated himself entirely to the poor by seeking all the means necessary for their service and evangelization. How about you? What do you do for them?
I feel the Lord is inviting me to be of service… In what manner has Jesus’ example helped you define your attitude towards the poor? In what way does your attitude towards the poor define your life with Jesus?

Closing Prayer: Let us address to the Lord our concerns… He alone can give us the strength to opt for Him, opening our hearts to the needs of others, especially to the poorest of the poor. Fill us with your grace and help us to remember that every time we serve, we are responding to your love and fidelity. May our service be concrete and effective.

“It is never too late”

Theme: The call

Introduction: We shall be able to find the right place and service by listening to God. He continues to call us up to the end of our lives.

Bible Reading: Lk. 17:7-10

Vincentian Text: "We cannot better make certain of our eternal happiness than by living and dying in the arms of Providence, in the genuine renouncement of ourselves, in the following of Jesus Christ.” (S.V.III, 359)

Points for reflection:

God’s call is always a surprise and knows neither time nor age but it asks a response. Whoever puts himself in the hands of God instead of relying on his own possessions will find life. This gives him the capacity to dedicate his time and effort in the building of the Kingdom of God, taking on the attitude of a faithful servant.
Service to the poor reminds us of the mystical but real presence of Christ. God comes to our meeting and we can find Him if we let ourselves be found. Following the example of Jesus, we find in service the reason of our life…. and let us always remember that through service we are bringing to completion God’s gift that acts in us.

Questions:

Are you searching for your place and call? … listen and find out…
How can you follow God’s way of life?

Closing Prayer: Now that I have found out how much I can do for others, grant me, Lord, the courage so as not to be afraid to respond generously to your call.

“The Vincentian Style”

Theme: The Holy Spirit sends us

Introduction: Prayer, mission and community are the three guiding pillars of our life. Jesus Christ is our model. To be missionaries in JMV means that we realize we have received a light that shines on us. It also means being one with the Missionary Church by praying for the missions, helping in campaigns, going without some things so that others may have more.

Bible Reading: Lk. 4:16-21

VincentianText: "Now if it is true that we are called to bear God’s love near and far, if we must set nations alight, if our vocation is to go and spread this divine fire in the whole world, if it is so, my brothers, if it is really so, how must I myself burn of this divine fire!” (S.V.P. ES XI,554)

Points for reflection:

· Vocation and mission are two ideas that complement each other. “Come follow me” finds its completion in “go and preach to all nations”. “To follow” means to leave everything for Christ, for His mission; it means assuming the way of life of Jesus.

· Zeal consists of the sole desire to become pleasing to God and to be of service to others with enthusiasm and dedication.

· The Holy Spirit is a divine force living in us that makes God’s gift abide in us - inspiring us, making us talk and act in accordance with God. It is the love of God present in us that calls and send us.

· Each one, by the working of the Holy Spirit, is called to live in a special manner what the Spirit proposes and gives to him/her alone – the symbolic mediation of giving and receiving.

Questions:

· What means do we have for bringing the good news to the poor? Which ones are we using?

· How can we give closer attention to the new kinds of poverty and to the most marginalized sectors?

Closing Prayer: Lord, you never forget the work of your hands. Through St. Vincent de Paul, we discover that the poor are our lords and masters. Grant us this same grace.

Rue du Bac

“Come to Me”

Theme: Living the intensity of the Eucharist

Introduction: Mary puts us on the way to her Son. She motivates an encounter and communion by proposing a concrete action - “come” - that implies coming out of our homes, of our comfort zones, of our own selves and meet with others in order to go to God.

Bible Reading: Mt. 11:28-30

Text from the message at Rue du Bac: "Come to the foot of this altar. There, graces will be poured out on all those, small or great, who ask for them with confidence and fervour. Graces will be poured out especially on those who ask for them.”

Points for reflection:

Mary is not a goal, nor the end of the road, but an indicator who brings us to encounter the God of life present in the Eucharist and in each of our brothers and sisters. She gives us her Son, made the Bread of Life, and brings us to a sacramental encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist– an encounter which renews our ways, where we regain strength, where we rise again, where life is made.
The Eucharist is a memorial in the fullest sense. Through it, we are able to understand the “real presence” of Christ in the Eucharist. Bread and wine are fruits of man’s labor. It is the gift of his time and of himself. “ We come to the foot of the altar” when we relive the Eucharistic encounter.

Questions:

What are the things we must set aside today in order to encounter the Lord and others?
How do I celebrate and live the Eucharist with all my heart?

Closing Prayer: Lord, when we receive you in the Eucharist, we accept your love and strength so as to become builders of a new world. Thank you, Lord, for showing us the way to salvation and grant us the grace to continue in it by celebrating the sacraments and proclaiming our faith.

“Living in the Light”

Theme: Drawing near to the Light

Introduction: God captivated Mary’s heart with His love thus enabling her to reflect Him wholly. When we draw near to the light, we are enlightened and love is reflected in our lives.

Bible Reading: Mt. 5:14-16

Text from the message at Rue du Bac: "These rays of light are the symbols of the graces that the Blessed Virgin obtains for those who them of her.” "

Points for reflection:

The light that Jesus refers to in the Gospel is the light of faith; God’s free gift that comes to enlighten our hearts and minds. “It is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ that has shone into our hearts to enlighten them with the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory of the face of Christ.” (2 Co. 4:6) That’s why the words of Jesus take on a special meaning when he explains his identity and mission: “I am the light of the world, anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12)
A personal encounter with Christ enlightens our life with a new light; it leads us on the right path and commits us to be his witnesses. With the new way of looking at the world and persons that Jesus shows us, we are able to understand deeply the mystery of faith which is not simply a set of propositions to be accepted with intellectual assent. Rather, faith is a lived knowledge of Christ, a living remembrance of his commandments, and a truth to be lived out. (cf. Veritatis Splendor, 88)

Questions:

Does our life bring light or gloom to our brothers and sisters? Why?
Do we let the light fill our hearts? Do we pass it on to others? How?

Closing Prayer: Lord, like you, may my life be a light that shines on humanity. In our world where many of our contemporaries think and live as if God did not exist, we ask you, Lord, to help reaffirm our faith as a personal decision that commits my whole being. May the gospel be the lamp that guides the decisions and direction of our lives.

“A wish come true”

Theme: Mary’s wish – a past and present mission: to found the Association.

Introduction: At one time in his/her life, the young person lives a critical phase and this is represented by pressure in the society. It is our obligation to pay attention to their needs as they develop their own identity and philosophy of life.

Bible Reading: Mt. 4:18-22

Text from the message at Rue du Bac: "The Blessed Virgin wants you to begin a mission… you will be its founder and director. It is about a Confratenity of the Chldren of Mary to which the Blessed Virgin will grant abundant graces. Many indulgences will also be granted.”

Points for reflection:

Young person, your life is a constant calling; it yearns for an encounter – you dream and need, sometimes desperately, to meet someone who can understands your struggles, who will listen patiently, who will be attuned with you in such a way that you will be able to say: he/she is my soulmate, my significant other. A genuine encounter requires certain conditions: deep empathy, unlimited trust, ability to listen, truthfulness, loyalty, attention, respect.
Mary and Catherine talk lengthily without haste. Gazing at each other’s eyes, they discover their secrets and weave together a covenant. They make the encounter possible, one that will never end and leaves a deep mark on Catherine’s life.

Questions:

What is the quality of my encounters in JMV? What is my contribution?
Am I eager to make other young people become members of JMV?

Closing Prayer: Through JMV we are able to reach out to young people who are distant from the Church, those who are going through difficult situations and also those who opt to enter into this plan of life. May we be capable of listening to the challenges, longings, dreams and desires of our brothers and sisters with love.

“…A project of love”

Theme: The Medal

Introduction: With this medal, Mary presents to us the essential Christian message. The reverse side of the medal talks about God’s plan of love for mankind while the front shows Mary as the chosen messenger of God’s tenderness.

Bible Reading: 1 Jn. 4:7-16

Text from the message at Rue du Bac: "An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin, upon which one could read the following words written in gold letters: Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.” The frame seemed to turn, and on the reverse side, could be seen the letter M surmounted by a cross, and below it the hearts of Jesus and Mary.”

Points for reflection:

Front side of the Medal. Mary is seen standing, like a pilgrim on the way, with her arms stretched out to welcome with kindness in order to make possible a true encounter with the light that shines from her hands - an encounter with God’s love. Mary reveals her identity: She is the Immaculate Conception who is attentive to all our needs. She intercedes to God for us. We run to her and she listens. She hears and understands all that our young hearts do not know how to express and she leads us to her Son: “Do whatever He tells you.”
Reverse side of the Medal: This is a gift of love. Jesus and Mary represent love in the midst of men and are love for men. In spite of our infidelities and betrayals, the hearts of Mary and Jesus are always there - they never get tired of loving us. They are united to ensure joy in our life. A person’s worth is not measured by the clothes he/she wears, by their diplomas or how thick his/her wallet is: it is measured by the ability to love. Without love nothing is of value.

Questions:

Marian Youth, do you wear your medal proudly? Or do you hide it? What does it signify to you?
What does to serve with love mean for us? Do we live our commitment with enthusiasm?

Closing Prayer: Lord, you come to me, you look into my eyes and you tell me you love me… I feel your love, I wish to savor it and let myself be swept by it. This love moves me to transmit it to others. Lead me and help me in this task.

“Our Driving Force”

Theme: The Medal, a sign of love

Introduction: Mary wants to leave a remembrance of her message. This message is not only for Catherine but for everyone. The medal is the sign that will help us bring the message of Jesus and Mary very far.

Bible Reading: Mk. 16:15

Text from the message at Rue du Bac: "I heard a voice telling me: Have a medalstruck according to this design. The persons who wear it wil receive great graces...especially if they wear it with confidence.”

Points for reflection:

Wearing a medal. In these days of tattoos, amulets and symbols of supernatural powers, it is important to shed light on the meaning of the medal. It is not a magical amulet that drives away evil spirits but a sign of God’s tender love and care. It is a TANGIBLE SYNTHESIS OF THE GOSPEL.
When we wear the medal we must be willing to be witnesses and missionaries of the truths it bears and make of them the foundation of our life. The medal is a mission. The medal is a gift from God. We have to wear it with joy as as sign of his mission: to proclaim God’s tender love and care.

Questions:

We can say that the medal is our missionary ID in the world... How do we carry out our mission with the medal?
To what do I commit myself when I wear the medal?

Closing Prayer: The medal reminds us of the Good News of the Gospel that we must bring to the world, preaching and building the Kingdom of God. Lord, I want to continue your work and be your companion in the mission.