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Gaudete Sun Chat: Joy of the Gospel

By Sister Susan Marie on December 12th, 2013

Joy is Only Born from an Encounter with Christ

Have you read Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”? In English, the title reads:”The Joy of the Gospel!” The exhortation serves to guide Catholics in living and applying the Church’s teachings, and in particular, focuses on the New Evangelization.

As we celebrate Advent’s joyful “Gaudete Sunday” this week, it seems fitting to meditate on the joy that comes from Christ and his Church.

The very first words of “Evangelii Gaudium” proclaim:

“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.”

In fact, our Holy Father reminds us that the joy of Christ differs from the happiness the world offers:

“Sometimes we are tempted to find excuses and complain, acting as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met. To some extent this is because our “technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy”. I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to.

“I also think of the real joy shown by others who, even amid pressing professional obligations, were able to preserve, in detachment and simplicity, a heart full of faith. In their own way, all these instances of joy flow from the infinite love of God, who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. I never tire of repeating those words of Benedict XVI which take us to the very heart of the Gospel: “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction”.”

In our Living Jesus Chat Room this Sunday, we will discuss these points:

  • Why do you think Pope Francis chose to write this exhortation? Is there a certain threat or worry he might be addressing?
  • Advent can be the perfect time for us to reach out and invite someone back to the Church. How can evangelization be a source of joy for us?
  • Does the celebration of Christmas promote or fight materialism? How can we keep Christmas centered on Christ and his gift to us?

Sign up for our Chat Room

Come to our Living Jesus Chat Room, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time U.S. this Sunday, DECEMBER 15th. Sign up here and get your own username, or just come on Sunday and sign in as a guest. Seats are limited so , come on time.

Events, Visitation Outreach   No comments yet —  Filed under 

Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Visitation

By Sister Susan Marie on December 12th, 2013

Our Visitation family has much to ponder in these thoughts of Archbishop Lori, spoken in 2009 at a Marian conference.

He compared the tremendous  apparition in Mexico of Our Lady of Guadalupe  to Our Lady’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth in stirring words.

“Bishop Lori began by recalling the Visitation saying that “from the very moment the Virgin Mary learned that her cousin, Elizabeth, was with child, Mary hastened through the hill country to be with her.”

While Mary visits her children constantly, there are other times when, “in God’s providential love, her presence is seen and felt,” recalled Bishop Lori before mentioning Marian apparitions in Lourdes, France and Fatima, Portugal.

“Yet it was Mary’s visitation to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill that, in many ways, was most like her original visit to Elizabeth,” he explained.  “Just as Mary had journeyed through the hill country to see Elizabeth, so now she journeyed through the hill country of Mexico to see a poor campesino of no standing. Like Eliazbeth, her aged cousin who was with child, Juan Diego also needed help, not only because he was poor but indeed because his uncle was gravely ill.”

Bishop Lori also explained that Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego brought Jesus to the Americas.

“As in the original visitation, Mary appears to Juan Diego bearing a child in her womb. She has come to bring the Lord Jesus not merely to a single dwelling but indeed to the Americas – thus giving birth to a new world of faith.  In bringing Jesus to the Americas she gave birth to a new people, indeed a new race called ‘la raza mestiza’ – weaving together the Spanish and Indian cultures.”

“She appears in this form before this new race was widespread and in this way Our Lady of Guadalupe made the faith accessible both to the Spanish in the colonies and to the natives.  After her visitation, the Americas were finally evangelized, as massive numbers of people came to know Christ and became member of His Body the Church.”

“Now Mary has visited us again,” said Bishop Lori, bringing his presentation to a close.  “She comes to us here as a loving mother, seeking to bring forth Christ in us, seeking to make us his agents of evangelization, seeking to make us ardent defenders of life, seeking to draw us ever more deeply into the orbit of Trinitarian love.”

Source: Catholic News Agency

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Special newscast: Visitation Monastery, Mobile Al.

By Sister Susan Marie on December 11th, 2013

Meet the friends of and Sisters in this Monastery whose presence and retreat outreach is so treasured in Mobile by citizens, business owners and retreatants.

A special local newscast!

http://local15tv.com/news/features/featured/stories/helping-visitation-monastery-get-new-elevator-2617.shtml