Rosary #1: Authority

My Mother, My Confidence!
February 1, 2009 – July 15, 2009
A Rosary a day in preparation for the General Assembly
A rosary will be posted each day.

These rosaries are inspired by the Word of God and the Word of our Writings; meditated upon in the spirit of Mary…she kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).

Rosary#1: Authority
Mk 1:21-28
All were amazed and asked one another,"What is this? A new teaching with authority.He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

FIRST MYSTERY:
The authority of Jesus invites us to have the “courage to die.”

“Charity flourishes on the grave of the dead ego.” (G.G.) We need to find the courage to die—the courage to remain hidden and vulnerable to judgment. For authority does not stem from what we say, or do, or impose, and community is not built on human abilities, honor, or the passing charm; nor can our dedication become conditioned by the rejection, or the lack of understanding toward the service we offer.
~ Ciciliano- January 2-5, 1996 G. Spigone

SECOND MYSTERY:
The authority of Jesus is found in those who carry on the service of authority in our Institute

First of all, Communion among each other, and then with those who carry the role of authority. Wherever or whenever an Oblate keeps and lives the Constitution there is the Institute – this is the first element that makes us one in the Lord. Obedience, too, “Since cohesiveness in the Institute depends on the humble and total obedience of its members to whomever carries the service of authority…”(Const 66). Without obedience it becomes almost impossible to live a spiritual fraternal life, both in community and in the Institute. A lack of communion with one another or with the Moderator is a lack of communion with the Institute and consequently with the Lord. For no one can build Church without becoming Church first.
~ Rome, May 1, 2004, G, Spigone

THIRD MYSTERY:
The authority of Jesus is found in the structure of the Institute and it is what holds the fabric of the Institute together.

This means that we must not only respect, but also love the structures that constitute the life of the Institute: activities, initiatives, responsibilities, etc. In addition, we must safeguard the material goods that are entrusted to our care and that need to be kept and preserved for the common good. We can neither neglect nor become possessive of what belongs to the Institute. Moreover, we must have a great consideration for the service of authority, since, aside from the human ability of the Moderator, the service of authority is what holds the fabric of the Institute together.
~ Rome, June 15, 2004, G. Spigone

FOURTH MYSTERY:
The authority of Jesus found in our Institute is received in the spirit of the mystery of faith

Service of Authority and the spirit of the mystery of faith:
Let us accept limitations and poor choices of those entrusted to service in the Institute. This is due most of all to the disparity between our instrumentality and the task to be accomplished and let trust one another because we trust in the grace of God Who helps us discover unpredictable gifts and charisms in others.
~ PERSPECTIVES QUINQUENNIUM 1999-2004

FIFTH MYSTERY:
The authority of Jesus resides in the authority of the Institute.

We can actualize this by taking up the Constitution and once again confront ourselves with it. If we do this with freedom of spirit, we will find in our Constitution not so much what we want but the true meaning of Assembly in which the extraordinary authority of the Institute resides: “The supreme rule of the Institute resides extraordinarily in the General Assembly whenever lawfully convoked” (Const 126)
~ Rome, Feb 22, 2004 G. Spigone, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary


POSSIBLE RESOLUTION IN PREPARATION FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2009

Meditate every day on the Constitution in light of the daily Word of God, in preparation for the General Assembly.
As we reopen the Book of the Constitution during these months, let us make joyful acts of love and ask our “Father” – who wrote it for us – to give us the gift of a sharp mind and a docile heart. We will be grateful to him even beyond the Assembly.
~~ Rome, Feb 22, 2004 G. Spigone, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Lectionary # 72. 4th Sunday in Ord. Time, B Cycle,
Feb. 1,2009
Gospel Mk 1:21-28Then they came to Capernaum,and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.The people were astonished at his teaching,for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?Have you come to destroy us?I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"Jesus rebuked him and said,"Quiet! Come out of him!"The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.All were amazed and asked one another,"What is this?A new teaching with authority.He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Thought for the day ... G. GiaquintaThe true greatness of our Lord’s virtues is a mystery, but one we must meditate on every day as a help to live them.