Appealing to the whole person

Bond of Perfection

Discussion Group 

David Purdy, Taisali Leuluai, Duoc Le

Things that strike you:

The nature of Salesian Spirituality

• pastoral
• gentle
• feminine
• mercy not condemnation
• deep interest in all that is human, especially in affection
• openness to God, to others
• devout prayer life
• Relational
• Not structured, flexible
• More of the heart, then the head (Ignatian)

“Live Jesus!”

The Consistency that Christians should live, by always keeping in mind, heart and actions the Life Death & Resurrection of Christ

Salesian Spirituality begins from your own heart and not outside

Themes

• Page 54: Salesian Spirituality is not a desert experience in which the spiritual experience begins by calling one out of the world.
• Francis has vast expertise and charisma
  
• active bishop
• writer
• advocate of lay vocation
• preacher
• preacher to the code
• reformer

• Page 51:  “The great method of prayer is  to have no method at all”

What was new for us:

Francis and Jane (To become Christ for others)

• Take Jesus name
• Our actions should be His actions
• Former understanding that Salesian Spirituality was only from Francis, but that of both Francis and Jane

What confirmed what we already believed

Page 10: In order to follow Jesus Christ one must empty oneself

• This process in Christian life is called ascetic life
• Sacrament of Baptism
• Paul to Galatians, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
• To build a good relationship takes time

Page 59:  In the Salesian Direction, “the point is not to instruct but to appeal to the whole person”

• mind
• body
• emotion

Discussion of 1 December 2009
Submitted by Duoc Van Le
Photo by Joe Boenzi: Duoc’s birthday party