The missionaries were going on their missionary expedition as members of a community, and so before each mission departure there was a moment of community prayer and send-off:<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0Before leaving the house, they will go to the church in their travel dress,\u00a0that is to say\u00a0in soutane <\/strong>[ed cassock], with their walking stick in hand and breviary under their arm.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nThey will kneel around the altar. The assembled community will be in choir dress.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0The missioning prayer took place before the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus, highlighting that it was Jesus who was sending.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0The missionary responsible for the week will take out the holy ciborium\u00a0and place it upon the altar. All will recite together… [<\/strong>ed a list of prayers follows].\u00a0The missionaries will receive the\u00a0benediction of the most\u00a0Blessed Sacrament.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>Once the Blessed Sacrament has been replaced in the tabernacle, the missionaries will go in front of the superior\u2019s choir stall, and kneeling they receive from him their first mission, which he gives in these words:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u201cBeloved brothers, go to the lost sheep from the house of Israel; they have been purchased at a great price. May the powers of hell give way; may the angel of the Lord accompany you on your way, so that with peace, health, and joy you may return to your own. To the invisible and immortal God alone be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The missionaries will bow profoundly while the superior pronounces these last words. Then together they will rise and go and prostrate themselves at the foot of the altar, and, after having kissed the ground, they will depart in the Savior\u2019s peace.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
1818 Rule Chapter Two \u00a72<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0Today the Missionary Oblates express this reality thus in Constitution 11: We fulfil this mission in community; and our communities are a sign that, in Jesus, God is everything for us<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The missionaries were going on their missionary expedition as members of a community, and so before each mission departure there was a moment of community prayer and send-off: \u00a0Before leaving the house, they will go to the church in their … Continue reading