"Never tire of becoming more and more ..."

[MariaChristi]

…Never tire of becoming more and more refined, through a serious and daily commitment to formation, through the aspects of your particular vocation as lay faithful, who are called to be courageous and credible witnesses in every sphere of society, so that the Gospel might be the light that brings hope in difficult situations, in troubles and in the darkness that men today so often find along the path of life…

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The above quote from Pope Benedict in a recent address to members of Catholic Action, impressed me as well as many other points he stressed; such as:

...Co-responsibility requires a change in mentality, particularly with regard to the role of the laity in the Church, who should be considered not as “collaborators” with the clergy, but as persons truly “co-responsible” for the being and activity of the Church. It is important, therefore, that a mature and committed laity be united, who are able to make their own specific contribution to the Church’s mission, in accordance with the ministries and tasks each one has in the life of the Church, and always in cordial communion with the bishops...

...To guide others to an encounter with Christ by announcing his message of salvation with language and ways understandable in our own day marked by rapidly transforming social and cultural advances, is the great challenge of the new evangelization. I encourage you to continue generously in your service to the Church, by fully living out your charism, whose fundamental feature is that of adopting the apostolic goal of the Church as a whole, in a fruitful balance between the universal and local Church, and in a spirit of intimate union with the Successor of Peter and of active co-responsibility with one’s own Pastors ...

... you are called today to renew your commitment to walk along the path of holiness, by preserving an intense life of prayer, encouraging and respecting personal paths of faith and by esteeming the riches of each person, with the accompaniment of the priests who assist you and of leaders who are capable of educating you in ecclesial and social co-responsibility. May your lives be “transparent”; may they be guided by the Gospel and enlightened by an encounter with Christ, whom you love and follow without fear. Adopt and share the pastoral decisions of the dioceses and parishes, by promoting occasions to meet and sincere collaboration with the other elements of the ecclesial community, by building relationships of esteem and communion with priests, for the sake of a living, ministerial and missionary community. Cultivate authentic personal relationships with everyone, beginning with families, and offer your availability to participate at all levels of social, cultural and political life, by always setting your sights on the common good.

Any comments?

 

[JohnnyK]

We lay folks have to become part of the Evangelization process and be not afraid to stand up for our faith. it’s not always easy but it will bear good fruit.

 

[MariaChristi]

We lay folks have to become part of the Evangelization process and be not afraid to stand up for our faith. it’s not always easy but it will bear good fruit.

Dear JohnnyK,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, we need to remember the words of Blessed John Paul II: “Be not afraid. Open wide the doors of your heart to Christ.”

If we rely on ourselves then we would need to fear for we are frail and prone to sin, but if daily we look to Jesus the Perfecter of our Faith (see Hebrews 12:2) and daily seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can stand with confidence before anyone. Love is not always easy. I believe it was St Therese of Lisieux who said that love is the willingness to suffer.

Jesus died for us and rose to give us a share in His Life. He told us to "Go and make disciples… ( Mt. 28). As Pope Benedict is reminding us:

…as lay faithful, who are called to be courageous and credible witnesses in every sphere of society, so that the Gospel might be the light that brings hope in difficult situations, in troubles and in the darkness that men today so often find along the path of life…

Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make our hearts like Yours.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love!

 

[LorenC]

if daily we look to Jesus the Perfecter of our Faith (see Hebrews 12:2) and daily seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can stand with confidence before anyone. Love is not always easy. I believe it was St Therese of Lisieux who said that love is the willingness to suffer.

Aaaamen!!! I needed this reminder today. Thank you!

LorenC

 

[MariaChristi]

Aaaamen!!! I needed this reminder today. Thank you!

LorenC

Thanks for your reply, Loren.

Another favorite phrase of mine from “little” St. Therese is: “Everything is Grace!”

How much we all need to be reminded of our call to holiness! Amen and Amen!

 

[kkollwitz]

“Never tire of becoming more and more refined, through a serious and daily commitment to formation, through the aspects of your particular vocation as lay faithful, who are called to be courageous and credible witnesses”

Kkollwitz’ translation of B16: Catholic lay people, you can’t count on Father or Sister to carry all the water. Take responsibility as an adult for your own growth in faith, and as St. Peter said, “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

 

[MariaChristi]

“Never tire of becoming more and more refined, through a serious and daily commitment to formation, through the aspects of your particular vocation as lay faithful, who are called to be courageous and credible witnesses”

Kkollwitz’ translation of B16: Catholic lay people, you can’t count on Father or Sister to carry all the water. Take responsibility as an adult for your own growth in faith, and as St. Peter said, “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

Dear kkollwitz,

Good translation! Thanks for your reply.

When pondering the word “refined” I remembered this verse from Scripture:

Rev 3:18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

As a lay woman, I have had the sad experience of not only not being able to “count on” priests, deacons or religious to carry water, but experiencing the fact that some can be obstacles to a lay person’s carrying any water at all!

My husband and I have met and worked with some wonderful priests and sisters but it has been very painful to hear from others, no real support or encouragement to work with us as we strive to live our lay vocation to holiness and service in the Church. I sincerely pray Pope Benedict’s investigation of seminaries and most recently the LCWR will help the Church to move forward, “with each member working properly”, (cf Ephesians 4) to build up the Body in love.

May God enable us to heed the call of Christ and work together in the Church to become the saints each of us is called to be.

 

[babs57]

Our priests are so busy and over-worked, it’s a wonder that they can even prepare the five minutes they give us for the Homily. But, because the Mass isn’t the place for a twenty minute sermon, it is up to us to get together and support each other in our studies and work. That’s why I love CAF!

Also, although we as Catholics don’t get preached at every Sunday, I really appreciate a good sermon! Thank the Lord for people like Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, Karl Keating, etc.

:clapping:

 

[MariaChristi]

Our priests are so busy and over-worked, it’s a wonder that they can even prepare the five minutes they give us for the Homily. But, because the Mass isn’t the place for a twenty minute sermon, it is up to us to get together and support each other in our studies and work. That’s why I love CAF!

Also, although we as Catholics don’t get preached at every Sunday, I really appreciate a good sermon! Thank the Lord for people like Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, Karl Keating, etc.

:clapping:

Dear Babs,

Thanks for your reply. While I continue to love and pray for all our clergy, I realize that some are too busy about things they could delegate to lay persons. Consider the words in the Acts of the Apostles 6:2-4:

… And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

It is important for our priests to spend more time in prayer and ministry of the word, than in spending time on other things. We all need to make choices and learn God’s Plan for each of us as members of His Body to work properly in order to build up the Body in love. (Ephesians 4).

The homily needs to be more than it is in some parishes. Clergy and laity need to work more closely together in order to encourage one another in the vocation all of us share: the universal call to holiness. We are called to become holy through our union with God in the perfection of charity and to share that “good news” with the world. Priests as well as people need to hear the Pope’s words: “Never tire of becoming more and more…”

 

[kkollwitz]

“Mass isn’t the place for a twenty minute sermon”

I’ll have to tell my pastor.

 

[babs57]

“Mass isn’t the place for a twenty minute sermon”

I’ll have to tell my pastor.

We feel very lucky if we get ten minutes. However, we have some very active bible study, adult ed and prayer/rosary groups. I LOVE MY PARISH! :grouphug: