Guidelines Sheet - Series on the Verbum Dei Sources of Spirituality: 3–7 June, 2024

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The two following weeks, we will center our guidelines sheet in the Virgin Mary. In Verbum Dei, our Mother Mary is also a person who leads us to grow in our spiritual life as faithful disciples of Jesus.

“Mary will always be in Verbum Dei, the source and guarantee of our clean and abundant joy, our perseverance and optimism obedience in the vocation, of our pure love” (Statutes VDMF 244) 

“Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, will always occupy a unique, decisive, indispensable, and irreplaceable place in Verbum Dei. Mary, “cause of our joy”, impels and guides the growing rhythm of our life of prayer and apostolate. She directs and determines the development and configuration of our Fraternity in both its ecclesial and universal dimensions” (Constitutions VDMF 78)
 
The Rosary is very important devotion for Catholics. We pray the Rosary in the parishes, in the families and many times in a personal way.
 
“The Rosary is and will always be in the Verbum Dei, together with the Eucharistic Sacrament, the most fraternal, familiar and homelike act” (Statues VDMF 242)

Through praying the Rosary, Mary is guiding us to Jesus. But, how do we pray the Rosary? Is rosary for me a monotonous and routinary prayer? Do I pray the Rosary without enough consciousness of what I am doing?  The Church is inviting us to pray the Rosary in a meditative way. Why?

Because meditation is a deeper and more efficacious form of prayer than vocal, and according to various Saints and Doctors of the Church such as St Alphonsus Liguori and St Theresa of Avila, meditative prayer is necessary for one’s spiritual life and even eternal salvation. The purpose of meditation as with all prayer is to elevate the heart and mind to God.

St Louis de Montfort among many other Saints recommend praying slowly and intently for a tremendous spiritual benefit.

In Verbum Dei, we also emphasize the meditation of the Word of God. “For that reason, our contemplation, meditation and prayer life, will be based on the Word of God, interpreted by the Teaching of the Church” (Statutes VDMF 202)
 
When praying the Rosary, it´s ideal to have a short meditation for each mystery, so that one may contemplate the significance of the mysteries as the prayers are recited. During this week, we´ll meditate on the Joyful Mysteries. It may help us to know more the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

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MONDAY (JUNE 3)
The First Joyful Mystery
The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
Mt 1:18; Lk 1:26-38

The Angel Gabriel declares Mary as the handmaid of the Lord. She will conceive by the Holy Spirit, and bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary accepts this honor, while also accepting, without fully understanding, the pain and sorrow that would accompany its fulfillment. This mystery teaches us that even the purest joy we experience in this life necessarily entails suffering. It is with full reliance and trust in God that we are able to accept our suffering in order to fulfill our mission and forward God’s plan of salvation with humility and love.

Spiritual Fruit: Humility

Mary accepted God´s plan without resistances or reservations because she was completely confident that His plans are best. Do I humbly trust in the Lord especially when I don't understand clearly His plans?

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TUESDAY (JUNE 4)
The Second Joyful Mystery
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
Lk 1:39-56

Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who learns that she has conceived a child in her old age. Their visit is marked by happiness and thanksgiving as they rejoice in the wonderful gifts of God. Mary, with the Holy one inside of her, makes Elizabeth’s unborn child leap within her womb. Though such a simple visit, both are moved with God’s love and strengthened by His Grace. This mystery teaches us that we are to cherish our encounters with others. Each person God puts in our path is an opportunity to love, and share in the blessings God has bestowed upon us.

Spiritual Fruit: Charity and Love
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Mary thought of her cousin´s situation more than in her own personal condition due to her early pregnancy. Mary loved her cousin and wanted to help her. Do I live moments of self-giving to a person in need in dialogue with Mary? She encourages us to help in the best way possible.

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WEDNESDAY (JUNE 5)
The Third Joyful Mystery –
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
Lk 2:6-19

The time for the birth of Christ has come. Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem where they find there to be no room at the inn. Mary is left to give birth to her Son in a modest and meager stable. Along with the interminable glory of Christ’s birth, Christ’s entrance into the world is marked by poverty and suffering. This mystery teaches us the virtue of poverty in spirit. Christ calls us to continual detachment from earthly things, and in so doing; we move closer to Christ and join our sufferings with His.

Spiritual Fruit: Poverty in Spirit
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This mystery is a manifestation of God´s ways to enter into our lives. He wants to be born and dwell in us but it may only happen when we acknowledge our poverty, unworthiness, our being a creature in need of Him. Do I welcome Him in my life when I experience my weaknesses, limitations or material and spiritual poverty? Is my joy founded in His presence in my life?

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THURSDAY (JUNE 6)
The Fourth Joyful Mystery
The Presentation of our Lord
Lk 2:21-39

In observance of the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary take the child Jesus to be presented in the temple to God. Although not subject to this law, Jesus submits in obedience, and in like manner, Mary, not subject to the law of purification, humbly submits herself to it. It is at this time also, that the old man Simeon beholds the Son of Man. Simeon immediately recognizes the child as the King and Savior foretold, and declares the fate of Jesus as a sign that will be contradicted. This mystery teaches us the importance of purity in thought and deed. It is in humility that we are able to see our weaknesses and failings, while we recognize our constant need of God’s mercy and grace.

Spiritual Fruit: Purity of Mind and Body
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Simeon and Anna believed in the coming of the Savior. Their expectations were fulfilled upon seeing Jesus because they recognize Him as the Savior of the world. Do I believe in the presence of God in this world or do I doubt? Do I believe in God´s power in the midst of contradictions and uncertainties?

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FRIDAY (JUNE 7)
The Fifth Joyful Mystery
The Finding of the child Jesus in the Temple
Lk2:41-51 

At twelve years of age, Jesus goes with his parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. It is on their return journey home that Joseph and Mary realize that their son is missing. Joseph and Mary seek Him endlessly. On the third day, they find Jesus preaching in the temple amongst teachers, who were at once astonished at his wisdom. Despite their grief and anxiety, Jesus assures His parents that all is well, as He is doing is Father’s work. Although Joseph and Mary do not fully understand this at the time, they will see that this event foreshadows the mission of ministry and sacrifice that Jesus will fulfill in obedience of His Heavenly Father. This mystery teaches us that submission to God our Father comes before all else. There is always joy to be found when we seek Jesus in the spirit of obedience.

Fruit: Obedience to God
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The joyful mysteries help us to meditate on Jesus’ infancy. Mary and Joseph played an important role in Jesus’ life. Both were very obedient to God in taking care of Jesus as He was growing physically and spiritually. That’s why at the age of twelve Jesus defended obedience to the Heavenly Father. Are we concerned to teach our younger generations to believe in God? Faith is primarily taught in the families. Let´s be ready to transmit our faith to those who come behind us.

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PRAYER FOR THE CONGRESS
To be held in Loeches, Spain from August 30 – September 27, 2024

“Communion, Consecration and Participation in the Mission"

Father, you who create and sustain all things with your love, we ask you to make us artisans of communion, so that as we journey towards the Congress we may know how to welcome the diversity that characterises us as the Verbum Dei Missionary Family.
 
Jesus, human face of God, consecrate us to your Word so that the Congress may be prepared and carried out in profound fidelity to your voice, listening to each one of us and to the signs of the times.
 
Holy Spirit, you who open rivers in the desert, guide us in this time of discernment and decision, so that we may live, embody and offer our charism ever more fully, so that all the baptised may participate in the mission of Jesus entrusted to the Church.
 
Accompany us, Mary, with your loving motherly presence and intercession, so that this Congress may be a channel of hope in which God transforms us and makes all things new. Amen.