Try to Make a Pauline Effort in All We Do...

This is part of a wonderful email sent out to members of the HFI in the VA/DC/MD area by fellow HFI member Tony Casto. I thought it was worth passing along. Thank you Tony, for sharing your insights.


"...In a previous letter, I mentioned we need to try and make a Pauline effort in everything we do. Many religious wear a habit or religious emblem to remind themselves of their inward consecration, we as seculars have no such outward reminder. Our outward reminder should come from the devotions we do. And they need to be Pauline. From habitually referring to Jesus as Master in our conversations, to other devotions, ones that have the Pauline slant already known and used by us, such as the  Way, Truth, Life method in Eucharistic Adoration. These give us a Pauline mind-set and flavor. But even those devotions that are not specifically Pauline can be made as such. The rosary for example. I use my own Pauline meditations based on the Institute applied to the mysteries. Here is the Joyful mysteries for example:

1st Joyful- the Annunciation

Just as Mary was called by God to her special vocation to be the mother of God, we were called to the Institute as our mission. Have we made our “Magnificat” in thanksgiving for our call? Do we apply that thankfulness in carrying out our vocation  every day? Do we understand and trust in God that we will be able to live it out to the best of our ability?

2nd Joyful - the Visitation

Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth and Zechariah and John. The privilege and joy of God’s call was not kept to or for herself, but immediately spread. Is our privilege in being called to the Institute kept to ourselves, or are we bringing the “Good News” about the HFI to anybody whenever possible? In what new ways can I share this news about the Institute? Or vocations to the other Institutes that make up the Pauline Family?

3rd Joyful- the Nativity

The Master came to earth and lived out the same consecration we we called to in our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Not only was He born into poverty, but He  lived it out in a simple sober lifestyle, born out in a family setting, punctuated by hard work. Chasity was lived out by singleness of mind, not distracted from the mission and purpose he was called to. Obedience was plainly shown in the family situation, and throughout his life to the will of the Father in the carrying out of his mission. How is our adherence to the vows being carried out in our lives? Do we make sure it’s a total offering, and not just fulfilling our obligations?

4th Joyful- the Presentation

Jesus is presented in the temple, an offering of the first born, a life dedicated to God. We are dedicated, consecrated in our lives to the Father in and through the Institute. Just as Simeon told Mary of the joys and sufferings this would entail, so our lives are presented with these same offerings made daily in our “ prayers, actions, joys and sufferings.”  Do we remember to present and live these offerings out to the best of our ability every day to make up in reparation for the misuse of the media? Do we think to re-offer ourselves daily by renewing our vows in the Institute to thank the Master for his gift of our call?

5th Joyful- the Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The boy Jesus was found in the temple asking questions and learning from the teachers. Do we continue to ask questions and learn about the Institute, read the writings of Bl. Alberione and apply them to our lives? Do we sit at the feet of our Teacher in Eucharistic Adoration whenever possible, even daily to better understand our mission in the Institute and how to carry it out? When we “lose” Jesus, when he seems distant and far away, do we realize to look for him where he put us, in the Institute prayers and duties he gave us?

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These meditations are just some of the ways I use in this first set of mysteries. They do not and should not be limited to just these few thoughts and questions. Like everything else, they need to be made your own. And the rest of the rosary can be done the same way. ( In the future I will hopefully share the meditations on the remaining mysteries). The important point though is to remember that our Pauline identity is needed in our every action, our way of being. Just as our roles of father/motherhood are lived out over the course of time to become unthinkingly played out in our every action, decision and motivation, so too should our Pauline identity become so engrained in us that it is not regulated to a separate role or way of thinking. It should become “who we are” and no longer just “what we are.” "