FORMATION
FORMATION 1998
THEME NO.7
"The Church is One in
virtue of the Spirit"
1. Formation Prayer
(To be recited by all present).
In the name of the Father …
Heavenly Father, as we commence this
session of the Formation Programme, help us to believe you are near to us and that you
care for each of us every day of our lives. Send the Holy Spirit to be our helper and our
guide, enlightening our minds, giving us the grace to serve you with generous hearts and
inspiring us to stand firm as Christians in your love. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading - Romans 5:1-6
(Read by the discussion leader or
member nominated by him.)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access
to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And
not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces
endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not
disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit which has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ
died for the ungodly.
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the
member nominated by him.)
Saint Paul tells us that the whole process
of salvation rests on God’s love, which is as certain as the fact that God is love.
The Holy Spirit’s role in all this is described as being the channel of that love
("poured into our hearts"), the activating principle of it and witness to it. In
one sense it could be said that God’s love is the Holy Spirit which provides the sure
foundation for Christian hope. The Spirit is the principle of unity and communion because
the unity of the Church is a grace and gift of God. This grace is constantly given to each
person as it is constantly given to life and existence. The unity of the Church is an
eminent grace that God gives to us; it is offered in communion with God and with our
brothers and sisters. This unity is a participation in the life of God which becomes
activated with our incorporation to Christ. We are to look for unity not only among the
Churches but within the Catholic Church herself. The tensions which have occurred in the
Church, due mainly to the struggle to adjust to a rapidly changing world, have tempted us
to be inward looking and uncertain. With confidence in the Holy Spirit we can overcome our
internal divisions and join together to present the Gospel to the contemporary world.
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all
members.)
What are some of the divisions within the
Catholic Church which cause me concern?
What needs to be done to make our nation
more united?
Why is unity so important to the work of
the Order of the Knights of the Southern Cross?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their
personal faith and its place in their lives that have come to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection
for the ensuing month given by the discussion leader.)
"….God’s love has been
poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5)
7. Closing Prayer
(Recited by all members.)
Spirit of communion, soul and strength of
the Church, grant that the wealth of charisms and ministries may contribute to the unity
of the Body of Christ. Grant that the laity, consecrated persons and ordained ministers
may work together in harmony to build the one Kingdom of God. We make this prayer through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
