Water from the Rock
On October 15th the book Water from the Rock was officially presented to the General House, in the course of a Marial prayer session based on the prayer which was prepared for the Year of Spirituality. Is there, then, a special prayer contained in this framework? Yes, although it was not written with this in mind. (See the prayer ? Italian ? 1,2 MB)
When the question was raised in the Commission about preparing a motivational prayer for the Year, it was felt that there already existed a very beautiful one at the end of the document, in number 156, which demonstrates the prophetic vision of Mary?s Magnificat. It was decided, therefore, to continue using this prayer in the course of these months, and also later. Therefore it is the official prayer for the Year of spirituality.
The books were distributed by Brother Seán and Brother Luis Sobrado. The prayer session consisted in four different sections, following the various chapters of the document along the lines of the Magnificat. Everything was presented in power point accompanied by short poems.
In the first section we gave thanks to God, and to Mary, for our brotherhood, which prompts us to offer our spirituality to the world, a gift offered to the People of God, to the Brothers and laity, to everyone.
In the second section we asked God, together with Mary, to help us to look after the young people, especially the most neglected, feeling ourselves called to drink from the springs of a devoted apostle who traversed mountains and valleys to make Jesus Christ known and loved.
In the third session we prayed using the familiar invocation to Mary, our ordinary resource, asking her to accompany us so that we can be brothers and sisters filled with audacity, passionate about life, with a heart inflamed with love.
In the fourth session we also asked Mary to help us to make ourselves available to everyone, as She had done, with an attentive and compassionate heart, in accomplishing the mission that has been entrusted to us.
The symbolism of different representations of Mary helped to enhance this act of dedication:
1. The image of a pregnant Mary in the foyer of the General House. We wish to give Christ to the world through our spirituality.
2. The image of Mary in the Formation Centre in Nairobi. We wish the Year of spirituality to recognise those who feel the call to live as brothers and sisters the spirituality of Marcellin
3. The image of Mary, Nuestra Señora de las Gracias, worshipped in Carção, Portugal, the birth place of Brother Teófilo. We wish our Marist spirituality, which is Marian, to contribute to the popular devotion to Mary in the Church.
4. The image of the Virgen del Cantaro (the Pitcher), going to the spring with Jesus in her arms. We wish with Mary and like Mary to serve God and man, to be contemplative in action and active in contemplation.
5. The image of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, in the basilica of Issoudun. We wish to be instruments of the compassion of God in todays world, being thirsty for mercy and pardon.
6. The image of Mary in the church of Saint Matilde, Geneva, showing the way to the sacrarium. We wish to be guided by Mary to the first three places of our Marist tradition: the crib, the altar and the cross.
7. The image of Our Lady of Africa. We wish our spirituality to be developed in this continent, creating deep roots in the brothers and laity who work there.
8. The image of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fatima. We wish, in this month of the rosary and always, to remember as Marists the great calls of Mary in Fatima: peace in the world and the conversion of sinners, that is to say, each one of us.
9. The image of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit. We wish the Spirit to come into our lives, just as he came into Mary?s, continuing to listen to the Word (contemplation) and feeling the missionary concern (action).
10. The image of Mary, Mother of Korea. We wish to think about the spirituality of Marcellin which is missionary and which invites us, today, just as then, to go out to all the dioceses of the world, especially through the great apostolic adventure.