Mourning into Dancing Session 5

Opening

Almighty God, who has invited us into the embrace of Your Church and united us to the sacrifice of Your Son, grant that, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we may be faithful witnesses of Your love and truth, even amidst suffering. As we share in the mission of proclaiming the Good News, may the fruits of our union with Christ's sacrifice empower us to reach out to the world, bringing the message of salvation to the ends of the earth. May this offering of ourselves, united to the Body and Blood of Your Son, transform us into instruments of Your peace and hope for all.

Through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, now and forever. Amen.

Objectives

Participants will communally and individually contemplate the providence of the Church, its Sacraments, and how it assists us in our agonies and crosses, through providing the Presence of God, a community of those who follow Him, and the grace which heals our nature, bringing God's work into our hearts, and equipping us to minister to others like ourselves.

Methodology (Volunteer Actions)

Prepare as needed, and the presenting volunteer prepares and delivers a talk on the content of this session, uniting it with personal experience, what one has been taught about the subject/passage from Sacred Scripture or Magisterium, and sharing one's own reflection upon it.. Volunteers who are comfortable and gifted with helping someone grieve may lead small groups, participate in prayer teams, and lead one-on-ones. Volunteers who are not gifted or comfortable with doing so may help the priest with adoration, lecturing at the Mass, and arrange rooms according to needs. All assist with clean up according to the parish staff request, and for the sake of tidiness in any case.

Magisterial Content

• "He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. ...From the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings.Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between him and those who would follow him: “Abide in me, and I in you. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches.” And he proclaimed a mysterious and real communion between his own body and ours: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”" (CCC, 1, 787)

• "Through the sacrament of Baptism, administered in the name of the Holy Trinity, we enter into the communion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and are configured to Christ in order that we may live a new life (cf. Rom 6:11-14; Col 2:12), a life of faith and conversion (cf. Mk 16:15-16; Acts 2:38). Baptism also incorporates us into Christ’s Body, the Church, the foretaste and first fruits of a humanity reconciled in Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:19). In communion with God, the baptized are called to live here and now in fraternal communion among themselves, while also growing in genuine solidarity with other members of the human family, whatever their race or religion. In this context, efforts should be made to ensure that the sacramental preparation of young people and adults is of sufficient depth and duration." Benedict XVI, Apostolic Exhortation on the Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness Ecclesia in medio oriente (19 November 2011), §77.

• "I think primarily of the call to the Christian life which all of us received at Baptism. It teaches us that our life is not a fluke but rather a gift: that of being God's beloved children, gathered in the great family of the Church. It is precisely in the ecclesial community that the Christian life is born and develops, especially through the liturgy. The liturgy introduces us to God's word and the grace of the sacraments; from an early age, we are taught the art of prayer and fraternal sharing. In the end, the Church is our mother because she brings us to new life and leads us to Christ. So we must love her, even when we see her face marred by human frailty and sin, and we must help to make her ever more beautiful and radiant, so that she can bear witness to God's love in the world. The Christian life thus finds expression in those decisions that, while giving a precise direction to our personal journey, also contribute to the growth of God's kingdom in our world. I think of the decision to marry in Christ and to form a family, as well as all those other vocations associated with work and professional life, with the commitment to charity and solidarity, with social and political responsibilities, and so forth. These vocations make us bearers of a promise of goodness, love and justice, not only for ourselves but also for our societies and cultures, which need courageous Christians and authentic witnesses of the kingdom of God." John Paul II, Address on the courage to take a risk for God’s promise 56th World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2019 (31 January 2019).

• "Freed from sin, reconciled and living in communion with God and the Church, the faithful undergo a process of sanctification that begins with baptism into death from sin and into new life with the risen Christ. By hearing the word of God and participating in the sacraments and life of the Church, the Christian is gradually transformed according to the will of God and configured to the image of Christ to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit." International Theological Commission, Doctrinal Document on the Select Questions on the Theology of God, the Redeemer (7 October 1995), §69.) 

Scripture Content

• Isaiah 54

Acts 2:42:

1. "apostles’ teaching and fellowship" i.e. moral and theological: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:1-3, Ephesians 4:11-14, 2 Thessalonians 2:15

2. "the breaking of bread" i.e. sacramental aspects and communion: Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, John 6:53-56

3. "the Prayers" i.e. the spiritual life and relationship with God, keeping the covenants, living the life of Christ, and conversion: Matthew 6:6-13, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18

• Never suffer alone: 1 Corinthians 12:26, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 13:3, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Romans 12:15, John 17:20-23, 1 Peter 5:9

• The Church Christ established, far from focusing exclusively on our own well-being spiritually or otherwise, calls us out of ourselves to walk with others, not to take control of them but to choose the goods we can choose for them, and invite them into a relationship with Jesus Christ: John 13:31-35; Romans 15:1-2 cf. Romans 14; Philippians 2:3-4; Galatians 5:13; 6:2; 1 Peter 4:10

Personal Content w/ Example

• Particular type of suffering this is helpful consideration for suffering: Due to Chosen Spiritual Unity

• Share an experience of a sacrament or Christian community like a Bible study, homily, retreat, etc. that was abundant, affording great value. What gifts do you receive from them? What is so beautiful about adoration? How have the sacraments helped you? Have you ever felt a part of Jesus's family, a brother or sister to Him. a child of the Father or the Blessed Virgin Mary, and do you feel closer to people you come to know because you follow Christ? Have you ever had an experience of the Divine love you want your neighbor to have? How does this influence your life?

Participant Interaction

1. Listen: Listen attentively to the talk.

2. Discuss in small groups:

• Due to Chosen Spiritual Unity: How does your participation in the Church foster a deeper union with Christ and transform your experience of suffering into a communal journey of redemption?

• Discuss the relief that comes from recognizing that the Church offers a space to share pain with others who suffer—a community duty-bound to assist and understand where suffering began. Consider how it matters little whether you caused the pain, since Jesus died for all. Reflect on how fellow believers walk with you through your unique struggle and the broader mission of healing and transformation. How have the sacraments and Christian friendships strengthened you? How can you be more intentional in being that supportive friend?

3. Pray:

• Due to Chosen Spiritual Unity: Pray for the grace to embrace the Church’s redemptive mission, uniting your personal healing with the healing of the community.

• Spend time in prayer contemplating the Church as a gift—a structure of love and service where you truly belong, where the sacraments connect you to the healing God, and where you are called to minister to others.

Feedback/Measurable Outcomes

1. Participation and authenticity by all.

2. There should be thankfulness for the Church, a newfound love for the sacraments, and an interest in Catholic fraternity even if one is not a full disciple.

Closing

1. Our Father...

2. Make announcements and anticipate the next session's content and how it connects.

3. Consider the optional content.

4. Emphasize rest, processing puts much stress on the body.

Optional Content

• Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary