austraLasia #2047

Vidimus Dominum, Consecrated Life, symbols and spirituality

ROME: 2nd February 2008 -- The celebration of a World Day for Consecrated Life (instituted 2 February 1997) was yet another gift of John Paul II the Great to the world.  It is appropriate, then, on 2nd February eleven years later, to draw your attention to two resources which will serve not only for today but for the longer term.
    One is the website Vidiumus Dominum (www.vidimusdominum.org), the official internet presence of Consecrated Life.  Quite apart from its regular news service (it acts more as a 'clearing house' for news regarding consecrated life around the globe), 'Vidimus' is possibly your best resource for any documentation in four languages (IT-EN-ES-FR) to do with consecrated life.  This is still an unexplored treasure for many of us, so my suggestion is to fire up your browser and 'go find'.  Perhaps you know the story of this site - its inspiration also came from 1997, at the World Congress of Young Religious and it was a Salesian who took the helm and got it moving (Fr Carlos Garulo). At one point Fr Tarcisio Scaramussa (now Auxiliary Bishop of Sao Paulo) became president of the Vidimus Dominum Association.  Now with Fr Chávez as President of the Union of Superiors General, who 'own' the site, he is keen that a Salesian continue to be closely involved in the site's development. Yours truly has taken that on.
    The second resource has just recently come on the scene: Symbols and Spirituality, by Fr Michael Winstanley.  Those who heard Michael at Hua Hin in recent times would almost certainly want to race out and get themselves a copy, for they will have experienced this author's gentle but scholarly telling of the Gospel narrative with its multi-faceted practical and prayerful applications to lives of discipleship and mission. Certainly you can head off to www.don-bosco-publications.co.uk/ to order the book and to read Fr Frank Moloney's warm recommendation of it. Symbols and Spirituality draws on John's Gospel for its insights, and in Michael's now accustomed style, highlights excerpts which reveal far more than the casual reader of the Gospel could note; indeed, his is an invitation always to dwell with, absorb, pray with, then act upon. For today's Feast (not a part of John's Gospel as such), there are two reflections in the book which are most appropriate: Chapter 7 on generous discipleship, where he illustrates the total giving of Mary of Bethany (not, note, Mary of Magdala as many think), in the 'anointing' scene. The other is the final chapter on symbols of mission, where he does, this time, take Mary of Magdala, in the other instance where a form of 'vidimus dominum' appears in John's Gospel (in that grammatical form it appears as the disciples' response to Thomas, recall: We have seen the Lord!): in Mary's case it is in the first person: I have seen the Lord! Michael's comment on this scene is as good a reflection as you would want on this day:
    We are bearers of his revelation, his life-giving word. Evangelisation, catechesis, education are at the heart of our Christian mission. Theological ideas are important and liturgical sensitivity, and technological proficiency. But we are sent above all to bear witness in our daily living to the reality of the Risen Jesus, as someone we know as Saviour and friend. This comes across through the sparkle in our eyes, the warmth of our smile, the genuineness of our welcome, acceptance and hospitality, the song in our heart, the lightness of our step, the gentleness of our compassionate touch. It is communicated through the excitement of our vision, our enthusiasm for what we are engaged in, our freedom and flexibility, the simplicity and generosity of our self-giving and service. Basically it all has to do with who he is for us and who we are for him. I have seen the Lord!
    For me, these were the most powerful lines in the entire book!
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 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2047
Subject and key words: SDB General consecrated life book Michael Winstanley sdb
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2047