S E S S I O N 26 A New Springtime of the Human Spirit

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1 S E S S I O N 26 A New Springtime of the Human Spirit What a year!! We have been guided by the story of Job and the thought of Saint John Paul II.! An Incomparable Beauty The Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil (Job 1:8).! One flesh! How can we not see the power of this expression What the spouses achieve is not only a joining of bodies, but a true union of their persons. A union which is so deep that it in some way makes them a reflection of the We of the three divine Persons in history (St. John Paul II, October 15, 2000).! The Descent of Modern Man After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said: Let the day perish wherein I was born and the night which said A man-child is conceived. Let that day be darkness (Job 3:1-3).! The family is placed at the heart of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, between love and all that is opposed to love (St. John Paul II, Letter to Families, #23).! 1

2 6/24/14 The Light Shining in the Darkness Then Job answered the Lord: I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know but now my eye sees thee (Job 42:1-5).! The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church (St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, #21).! A New Springtime for Christianity The Lord restored the fortunes of Job and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10).! Now is the time for hope We must not be afraid of the future. We must not be afraid of man Each and every human person has been created in the image and likeness of the One who is the origin of all that is with the help of God s grace, we can build in the next century and the next millennium a civilization worthy of the human person And in doing so, we shall see that the tears of this century have prepared the ground for a new springtime of the human spirit (St. John Paul II, United Nations, October 5, 1995).! CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION Trusting in the infinite mercy of God and the power of the Holy Spirit under the guidance of Our Lady, Star of the New Evangelization After such an incredible year, you have earned the right to celebrate!!!! has answered the call to become an apostle of the New Springtime by ever more profoundly conforming his life to that of St. Joseph and his family to the life of the Holy Family at Nazareth. S T E V E B O L L M A N t PA R A D I S U S D E I F O U N D E R & P R E S I D E N T Becoming a Man After God s Own Heart The Hidden F ace of Christ PA R I S H PA R I S H D AT E D AT E The Revelation of the Father D AT E TMIY CORE TEAM LEADER TMIY CORE TEAM LEADER TMIY CORE TEAM LEADER PA R I S H 2

3 The critical question becomes, where do we go from here? To answer that question, I would like to continue to follow the path of Saint John Paul II.! The End of Pope John Paul II s Pilgrimage Kneeling here, before the grotto of Massabielle, I feel deeply that I have reached the goal of my pilgrimage. This cave, where Mary appeared, is the heart of Lourdes. It reminds us of the cave of Mount Horeb where Elijah met the Lord, who spoke to him in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12) When the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in the grotto of Massabielle, she began a dialogue between Heaven and earth Mary asked that people should come here in procession for more than a century the Christian people have faithfully responded to that maternal summons This year the Pope joins you in this act of devotion and love for the Most Holy Virgin, the glorious woman of the Book of Revelation, crowned with twelve stars (cf. Rev 12:1) Dear brothers and sisters! From this grotto of Massabielle the Blessed Virgin speaks to us too, the Christians of the third millennium. Let us listen to her.!!!!!!!saint John Paul II!!!!!!!Pilgrimage to Lourdes, August 14-15, 2004! A Pilgrimage to Our Lady Day 1: Fri Leave Houston! Day 2: Sat Arrive Paris: Notre Dame/ Sainte Chapelle! Day 3: Sun Miraculous Medal/St. Denis/ Sacred Coeur/Jean Paul Sartre (Paris)! Day 4: Mon Chartres Cathedral (Paris)! Day 5: Tue Mont Saint Michel! Day 6: Wed Normandy Beaches! Day 7: Thu Travel to Lourdes (or Lisieux)! Day 8: Fri Lourdes! Day 9: Sat Lourdes! Day 10: Sun Return to Houston! Builders of a Civilization of Love The aspiration that humanity nurtures, amid countless injustices and sufferings, is the hope of a new civilization marked by freedom and peace. But for such an undertaking, a new generation of builders is needed You are the men and women of tomorrow. The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with him in the building of the civilization of love.!!!!!!!!saint John Paul II!!!!!!!!Evening Vigil with Young People, #4!!!!!!!!World Youth Day, Toronto, 2002!!!!!!!!Downsview Park, Saturday 27, 200! 3

4 Apostles to the Family It is especially necessary to recognize the unique place that belongs to the mission of married couples and Christian families, by virtue of the grace received in the sacrament. This mission must be placed at the service of the building up of the Church, the establishing of the Kingdom of God in history. This is demanded as an act of docile obedience to Christ the Lord. For it is He who, by virtue of the fact that marriage of baptized persons has been raised to a sacrament, confers upon Christian married couples a special mission as apostle, sending them as workers into His vineyard, and, in a very special way, into this field of the family.!!!!!!!!!saint John Paul II!!!!!!!!!Familiaris Consortio, #71! Once we have encountered her, we will be sent as apostles of a new springtime.! The Mission of Apostle Go and make disciples of all the nations. With these words, Jesus is speaking to each one of us saying: now you must go, now you must pass on this experience to others Jesus did not say: Go, if you would like to, if you have the time, but he said: Go and make disciples of all nations. Sharing the experience of faith, bearing witness to the faith, proclaiming the Gospel: this is a command that the Lord entrusts to the whole Church, and that includes you Some people might think: I have no particular preparation, how can I go and proclaim the Gospel? God says the same thing to you as he said to Jeremiah: Be not afraid for I am with you to deliver you (Jeremiah 1:7-8).!!!!!!!!Pope Francis!!!!!!!!World Youth Day, Rio de Janeiro!!!!!!!!July 28, 2013! Four Professionally Produced Series The Great Mystery of Marriage! 1!The Question of Marriage! 2!The Spiritual Question of Man! 3!The Image of God! 4!Behold the Man! 5!Woman and the Mystery of Love! 6! Two in One Flesh! 7!Return to Paradise! 1!The End of Love! The End of Love! 2!The Descent into Self! 3!Pornography: Naked and Unashamed?! 4!Can a Woman have Sex like a Man?! 5!Modern Fig Leaves! 6! A Culture of Death! 7!The Promise of Springtime! A Light to the Nations! 1!A Light to the Nations! 2!The Mystery of the Temple! 3!Love until the End! 4!The Mystical Body of Christ! 5!The Mystery of the Home! 6! A Woman Clothed with the Sun! 7!Water Flowing from the Temple! The Choice Wine! 1!Honor your Wedding Vows! 2!Use Money for the Formation of Persons! 3!Give God some of your Time! 4!Set your Mind on the Things Above! 5!Find God in Yourself! 6!Find God in other People! 7!Make it Easy to be Good! 4

5 A Gift to the Next Generation Make it available to your children and grandchildren.! Marriage preparation for couples.! Youth (college and upper high school students).! Parishes.! On our spiritual journey, we have another important step to take. We must consider men in relationship to their children.! Next Year: The Revelation of the Father The Relationship with Children! We discover the reality of authentic true Christian fatherhood.! We discover a calling beyond the mere physical reality of fatherhood.! We discover the essence of raising healthy, happy, holy children.! We honestly address the challenges facing fathers and children today.! We adapt the 7 Steps to provide a template for successful parenting.! As you continue your journey, there is someone you need to take with you St. Joseph. Although hidden, he remains ever at our side.! 5

6 Another Spring in Southern France June 7, 1660.! Gaspard Ricard, aged 22, gets lost while tending his sheep near Cotignac, France.! Dying of thirst, he lays his head down on a rock.! I am Joseph. Lift the rock and you will drink.! Eight men would not be enough to move the rock.! St. Joseph repeats the message.! The rock is easily moved and a spring of water begins to flow.! A Prayer to St. Joseph To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and we confidently ask your patronage Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, to die a holy death, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.!!!!!!!!!Pope Leo XIII! Small Group Discussion Starter Questions! 1. What specific steps are you going to take in your life and in your home to become the foundation for a new springtime for the Church and greater society?! 2. How are you going to help spread the program to other men and parishes?! Next Year! The Revelation of the Father! 6