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