Confraternity of Priests of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus,
Mary and Joseph
Confraternity of Priests of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus,
Mary and Joseph
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This charism is given for priests to unite themselves more intimately to Jesus in the Eucharistic Liturgy. This unity brings a greater awareness of the union that exists in the Trinity. The great love in the Godhead is manifested most perfectly in the Son who became human and offered Himself for us in the Paschal Mystery - His life, death and resurrection, ascension, and giving of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit vivifies the Church to perpetuate these saving events in the life of the mystical body of Christ, especially in the Eucharistic Liturgy. The unity in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit extends to all creation. This is experienced in the angels and saints in heaven, the souls in purgatory, the Church on earth, and all who seek God with a sincere heart. All prayers offered to God need to be consciously united to the summit, source, and focal point of all history and in every person, Jesus Christ.
This charism can be manifested by uniting in prayer with all the angels, saints, suffering souls, every person in the body of Christ and the family of God, offering all acts of praise and adoration, thanksgiving, sorrow for sins, and intercessory prayer in union with each mass celebrated each day though out all time. These prayers become the one prayer of Christ the High Priest who has offered Himself once for all, for all time.
This charism brings a more profound awareness of the Trinitarian unity. A Trinitarian unity that exists as family. The clearest reflection of this unity of the Father, Son and Spirit is the Holy Family. The love that was present in Jesus, Mary and Joseph at Nazareth was so intense and pure that they became one; one heart in the Son, Jesus Christ.
The expression of redemption by the Father, carried out by the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit is realized in the communion of saints, the body of Christ, which was most perfectly lived by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, to bring unity to us as individuals with the Lord but also with all in heaven, purgatory, and on earth. This incarnational unity in Christ exists and is preeminent in the Eucharist.
The Gift of the Holy Family gives us the example of how the Holy Spirit can bring unity to one another when the object of one's love is Jesus. Chosen by God to reflect and initiate the unity of the Triune God who is Love, the Holy Family entrusted their lives to the will of the Father and the movement of the Holy Spirit:
Meditation on their life on earth is but part. The reality of the mission of the Holy Family can be active in everyday life, especially in the priest, who carries the presence of Christ, in a unique way, in his very person. Each person of the Holy Family can be reflected in the life and ministry of the Priest:
Jesus -
As the One chosen to be High Priest, the life, death and resurrection
of Jesus is the acceptable sacrifice that is offered to bring
to fruition the unity of all humanity. The ministry of Jesus is
unity. Father, may they all be one, even as you, Father, are
in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the
world may believe that you sent me. (Jn 17-21) This ministry
of unity is given to the Church to be the instrument of unity
in Christ. This is manifested most perfectly in the Eucharistic
Liturgy. This offering is made present through the gift of priesthood
given in holy orders. But the Catholic priest carries this presence
in his very person. The increased awareness of the presence of
Christ will allow a clearer vision of unity lived out in the life
of the priest. The priest has a special calling to not only reflect
Jesus but is called to be Jesus for and to others. This can been
seen in the relationship that Jesus had with Mary and Joseph.
The vulnerability of Jesus and his reliance on his mother and
foster-father, who are valuable instruments in the mission of
Christ, provides an example of unity through humility and trust.
The humanity of Jesus that is offered as the perfect sacrifice
flows from the Holy Family. This presence of Jesus, human and
divine, in the priest transforms him into an instrument of unity
for the people of God.
Mary
- As the one chosen
to carry the Son of God in her person, Mary becomes the perfect
created instrument of unity in Jesus. The ministry of Mary, as
God-bearer is reflected in the vocation of the priest as the one
who brings Jesus to others and brings others to her Divine Son.
The active role of the Virgin Mary in the life of the priest teaches
him to love Jesus personally, nurtures him in the spiritual life,
stands with him in times of trial, and is mystically present with
the priest in the sacramental ministry, especially in the Eucharist.
Joseph
- As the one chosen to be the spouse and father of the Holy Family,
Joseph becomes the model of unity in Jesus. The ministry of Joseph,
as Patron and Guardian of Christ, is reflected in the ministry
of the priest as a type of priest through his fatherly privilege
of receiving and presenting Jesus to all. The presence of St.
Joseph in the life of the priest teaches him to honor and reverence
the body of Christ, in the Church and especially in the Eucharist,
provides a profound meditation on the presence of Jesus in everyday
life, brings confidence and assurance in difficult times, and
establishes a true sense of fatherhood in ministry.
The Holy Family is unified in the heart of Jesus.
Inspired by the divine love of the Father, the center of love
flows to and from the presence of God in the Christ and unites
Jesus, Mary and Joseph to each other as one. The sacredness of
this divinely inspired human love is recognized in the unity of
hearts in the Holy Family. The priest can tap into this source
of love by uniting himself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary
and Joseph and become a more profound instrument of the unity
that is present in the Trinity.
The Confraternity: We are a fellowship of priests seeking
to live this charism. We come together to share our lives, our
prayers, our charisims and our spirituality with one another through
the celebration of the Eucharist and a day of communal prayer
and support.
The Confraternity of Priests of the
Sacred
Heart
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