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Session on Ongoing Formation - P 4 |
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Written by José Alberto Domínguez, A.A.
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Sunday, 14 September 2008 |
Rome, August 18 to September 6, 2008
Apostolic Community
We have begun the second week of our meeting on Ongoing Formation. The main theme of this week is the apostolic community, and we are under the leadership of Fr. André Brombart who is introducing us to this theme in his talks.
On Monday, we began discussing the theme of the Word of God and the
apostolic community. The Word of God must hold an important place in
the life of each religious. It must serve as a criterion of
discernment and, at the same time, as a source of apostolic vitality.
In the life of the community, the Word of God constitutes a common
point-of-reference which we must welcome and accept. In final
analysis, this Word – in our apostolate – requires that we deepen our
understanding of it and proclaim it. It is what gives inspiration to
our apostolate.
On the second day, i.e. on Tuesday, we touched upon the theme of the
Word of God and relations within a community: fraternity, charity, and
friendship. Regarding fraternity, the Rule of Life § 7 reminds us that
we must build community day after day and that this requires an effort
on the part of each of the brothers. Regarding charity, Jesus gave us
an important commandment: “love God and neighbor.” Jesus therefore
told us that we must love each other as he loved us. And finally,
friendship is important in the Assumptionist tradition. This
friendship is the result of mutual trust between individuals.
The intercultural groups we created this week help us to concretize
this idea. What is important is that the climate of trust allows for
brotherly exchanges on both themes. We undoubtedly need to do some
personal thinking about this and to exchange our ideas in groups in
order to examine our life before God and our brothers.
José Alberto Domínguez, A.A.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 November 2008 )
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