24 Apr Tue 2nd Week of Easter St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest, martyr Acts 4:32-37 Ps. 93:1-2, 5 Jn. 3:7b-15 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        We have here a picture of a deeply united Christian community, showing reverence for one another and seeing that no member was in material need. The source of such union of heart and soul was their common faith in Christ and their common concern to witness to His resurrection. The importance of faith in Christ is highlighted again in Jesus' explanation to Nicodemus of the meaning of being born of the Spirit. Jesus as the 'one who came down from heaven', is the link between heaven and earth. It is He alone who can truly reveal the Father. He does this most fully when He is 'lifted up' on the cross. This is also the moment when 'everyone who believes in him' is offered a share in the divine life. Jesus 'comes down from heaven', therefore, both to reveal the Father and to bring the human family into union with Him.      As Pope John Paul II writes "It is in building this communion of love that the Church appears as "sacrament," as the "sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of the unity of the human race". (At the Beginning of the New Millennium #42).           Lord, help us to build our Basic Ecclessial Communities. DAILY OFFERING Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen. PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH INTENTION That consecrated people, answering the call of their particular vocation, may radiate the spirit of the Gospel beatitudes in the present-day world Elaboration
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That consecrated people, answering the call of their particular vocation, may radiate the spirit of the Gospel beatitudes in the present-day world In the world of today there is a widespread search for joy, happiness, serenity, liberty. That is why the consecrated religious is called on to remind every person that the life of a human being comes from God. Religious give outstanding and striking testimony that the world cannot be transformed and offered to God without the spirit of the Beatitudes which proposes a way of living and for people to relate to each other. The consecrated life is for all the faithful a luminous sign of the common vocation to holiness, a model on which to draw inspiration and courage. Besides, the religious community based on motivations of faith, on mutual love and on sharing presents itself as a call to the constant reform of ecclesial communities. The commitment asked of consecrated people needs the support, awareness and prayer of the entire Christian community, so that human weakness may not prevail but may always allow itself to be led and transformed by God's action. In fact, the attitudes indicated by the Beatitudes not only point a sure way towards fulfilment and charity, but also lead directly to the Person of Christ who came so that men and women not only might have life but have it to the full. - END -