We will spare no effort to awaken or to reawaken the faith in the people to whom we are sent, and we will help them to discover “who Christ is”.
Constitution 7
Eugene’s instruction to every member of his missionary family:
Insist on making Jesus Christ known and loved. Speak often of this divine Saviour and of all he has done to save mankind. Make them resolve never to spend a day without praying.
Letter to Fr. Jean Viala, 17 January 1849, EO IV n4
From the very beginning of our missionary history, our goal has been: “teach who Jesus Christ is” (Preface). Today the same sentiment continues to be expressed in this way.
May this be our guiding light today in all our actions.
Wednesday – Today I again find myself wanting to proclaim how each of the constitutions is a way of living out the Eucharistic Prayer:
“Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours forever and ever. Amen.”
I wonder if in this way we all are empowered to proclaim that we are all sacraments with a small “s”. I am sure that many might declare my words a profanity but I say it only because we are talking about how “our crucified and risen Saviour” lives and uses us so that we become one “through Him and with Him and in Him”. I do not believe or want my words to be a profanity, but rather to try and describe what it means for me to have Jesus Christ as the center and point of unity of our lives”. Such a gift comes through awe and wonder along with true humility – together becoming our living “oblation”.
Words and their depths that we use to try and describe the One who resides within us, becoming divinity within us even though we are still human.
“Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ” – a prayer to Mary to continue to lead us to Jesus. (from the Angelus and the Rosary)