Sixty-five (65) clerics, diocesan and religious, attended the monthly recollection, 12 July 2011, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Polomolok,South Cotabato.
Theme: “Mary: Model of Discipleship of the Laity”.
Facilitator: Fr. Ivan Paul N. Obando, OP.
A. Mary’s spirituality (lived faith) is manifested in 3 words: (1) “FIAT”; (2) “MAGNIFICAT”; and (3) “FACITE” (Let it be done, magnifies, do).
- FIAT. “I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary, let what you have said be done to me” (Lk. 1:38). This was Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s message that she was chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- MAGNIFICAT. “Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exalts in God my savior; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid” (Lk. 1: 46-48). Mary’s magnificat is a proclamation of her faith and hope in God’s faithful love for her and for Israel.
- FACITE. “Mary said to the servants do whatever he tells you” (Jh. 2:5). Mary’s intercessory role was seen in the wedding at Cana. Obedience to God’s will is the mark of Christ’s disciples.
B. LAY SPIRITUALITY.
Lay disciples live their faith in whatever situation in life they find themselves.
PCP II states: “The lay faithful seek the Kingdomof Godby engaging in temporal affairs and ordering them according to the plan of God” (n. 406; cf. Vat. II, Lumen Gentium, 31).
“It is in the world that they are called by God and hence ‘the world becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfill their Christian vocation’” (PCP II 406, Christifideles Laici, 15). It is in the world that they are to grow in holiness – family, work and recreation, economics, politics, culture, etc.
Elements of lay spirituality:
a) Genuine love for and personal commitment to Jesus.
b) Love for the Church.
c) Fidelity to the Church’s teachings and respect for the pastors.
d) Dedication to their families and to the apostolate of the family.
e) Love for neighbor especially the poor and needy.
f) Promotion of justice in the society where they live.
g) Regular reception of the sacraments and certain practices of devotion especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
C. MISSION OF LAITY. Sent to:
a) Be a community of families – the family is the Church in the home. The family is the primary community of Christ’s disciples wherein faith is initiated, nurtured and guided towards maturity. It is a foundation for Basic Ecclesial Communities.
b) Christian presence in society.
c) Service and evangelization.
d) Social transformation – this is the liberational and redemptive thrust of the mission of the laity – guided by the light of the Gospel in reading the signs of the times and by the Magisterium of the Church, they are called to reconcile and heal, and to promote integral liberation.
D. CONCLUSION. Mary’s words reveal to us her faith, her spirituality and her life, wherein she fully and responsibly accepted the will of God. She heard the Word of God and acted on it (CFC 1440).
Mary’s life and her words of faith, words of praise and gratitude and her word of obedience, inspire the lay faithful in their Christian journey. In the midst of many challenges today, they are filled with courage and hope by Mary’s example.
As their pastors, we can assist them in their growth in Christian faith, hope and love.
