|
[CLOSE] 
Sr. M. Ceceliatook her perpetual vows on July 9th, 2011 at Most Holy Trinity Parish Church in San Jose, California. View the gallery. |
A Pauline Centenary Pastoral Tool
PAULINE SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION, n. 8 ***
PAULINE SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION IN TODAY’S DIGITAL AGE
We are living in an era of rapid and continuous change which confirms the old adage “nothing is permanent but change.” Ours is a digital age, characterized by the fastest and most modern means of communication. Who among us does not have a mobile device to get connected or to communicate from wherever we are? We are expected today to have a website, and to avail ourselves of a variety of social networking services such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or Flicker. Our personal gadgets might include a desktop, a laptop, iPhone, iPad, iPod, a netbook or a tablet. We might carry in our bags a Digicam or a videocam, etc. and share our life with family and friends through Instagram.
The marvelous Pauline Family in the Church founded by Blessed James Alberione aims to proclaim the Good News of salvation through the use of the most effective and modern means of communication. The primary means of proclaiming is by living integrally the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the example of St. Paul and under the protection of Mary, Mother, Teacher and Queen. This is the Pauline spirituality, one of the many wonderful gifts of God to the Church.
Filled with the spirit of St. Paul, the Pauline members are challenged to live the total Christ and proclaim him to the whole world through the modern and fastest means of communication today. The ideal is St. Paul’s expression: “I live no longer; it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
THE CHURCH’S MISSION / THE PAULINE MISSION
The Church today is focused on the new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith. Pope Francis reminds us that in virtue of our baptism, we, as members of the People of God, have become missionary disciples, and every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus (EG 120).
Our present Pope makes the observation that in today’s world, “God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt and the desire to do good fades.” Thus, he invites all Christians everywhere to have “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them” (EG 3).
Blessed James Alberione, used to tell his spiritual sons and daughters: “There is nothing more valuable to be given to this poor, proud world than Jesus Christ Way, Truth and Life.”
He also emphasized that “the works of God are carried out or fulfilled with men and women of God. As we live and work in the Church and for the Church, let us see to it that we graft ourselves “as wild olive trees onto the living olive, the Eucharistic Christ.” Moreover, we must be modern saints, saints of today! We have to take mankind as they are today, in order to do good today.”
In fulfilling the mission entrusted to him by God, Blessed Alberione was guided by this operative principle: “ancient spirit, new forms.” The “ancient spirit” refers to the Gospel, to St. Paul, to the best tradition of the Church. The “new forms” are the fruits provided by human progress in this century. It is impossible, according to him, not to be mindful of the command of Jesus Christ: “Preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Therefore, Alberione encourages his spiritual children “to live with progress but sane, rather than insane progress” and that, “the Pauline apostolate aims also at forming a new mentality in society, a mentality that will assure spiritual vitality” (cf. Alberione, Thoughts).
Today’s generation is breathing the marvels of the digital age, which offer opportunities for evangelization. As the Church is called today to make use of new forms of evangelization, the Pauline men and women are challenged to use the digital language in our pastoral, liturgical and apostolic initiatives. This indeed calls for greater creativity, imagination, foresight.
Let us take seriously the words of the Pope and of our beloved Founder. Let us be “evangelizers who proclaim the good news, not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God’s presence” (EG #259).
Furthermore, the present greater possibilities for communication today, mean greater possibilities for encounter and solidarity for everyone, so that Jesus Master may be known, served and loved by all. As children of Blessed Alberione, we are challenged to always:
?Be Eucharistic persons who have Jesus, Way and Truth and Life, as the Center and reason for our being consecrated persons,
?Imitate our protector and model, St. Paul, who truly loved Jesus Christ as he exclaimed: “Who will separate me from the love of Christ? Nothing.”
?Give Jesus to the world with our Mother Mary, the woman of faith, through our specific forms of apostolate, using all the most effective means of communication at our disposal.
In brief, the Pauline men and women are summoned to live out with fidelity and creativity the Pauline charism as the path of configuration with Christ, so that we may always radiate the “joy of the Gospel” to everyone, everywhere.
***
ARCHIVES
1. Blessed James Alberione’s Life: A Service of Worship
2. The Centrality of the Word and the Eucharist in the Life of the Pauline Family
3. The Eucharistic Adoration: The Disciple at the School of the Divine Master
4. Blessed James Alberione: “I Had a Dream”
5. Mother Scholastica Rivata, PDDM: “Symphony of Joy”
6. The Collaboration of Women in the Mission of the Church: In the Mind of James Alberione
7. How Blessed James Alberione Changed My Life
Prepared by Sr. M. Mercedes V. Pineda, PDDM
3700 North Cornelia Avenue
Fresno, CA-U.S.A.
Tel. (559) 275-9978
