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We believe in One God who is Three Persons:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
a mutual exchange of knowledge and love ... therefore ...
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COMMON LIFE : We live in community seeking to be of one mind and heart, holding all things in common (Acts 4:32). |
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God infinitely perfect and blessed in Himself
out of a plan of sheer goodness created us
to share in his own blessed life.
Cf. The Catechism of the Catholic Church Prologue
I.1
WITHDRAWAL: We withdraw from the preoccupations of life in the world in order to be free to dispose ourselves more fully to a sharing in this divine life.
"Through an utterly free decision,
God has revealed himself
& his plan of loving goodness."
CCC #50
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SILENCE : We live in an atmosphere of silence in order to hear God's self-communication, his Word which we reflect on in our PRIVATE PRAYER & LECTIO DIVINA (prayerful meditation on Sacred Scripture). |
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"It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom,
to reveal himself and make known the mystery of his will.
His will is that [we] should have access to the Father,
through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit,
and thus become sharers in the divine nature."
Dei Verbum 2
STUDY: We engage in serious study in order to understand God's revelation of himself, to immerse ourselves in his Truth and be changed by it.
" Baptism ...
signifies and actually brings about
death to sin and entry into the life
of the Most Holy Trinity
through configuration to
the Paschal mystery of Christ."
CCC 1239
| MONASTIC PROFESSION: Religious Consecration is a "second baptism" whereby in union with Jesus Christ we hand ourselves over completely to the Father in a life of obedience, poverty and chastity . |
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Baptism not only purifies from all sins,
but also makes the neophyte "a new creature,"
an adopted son of God,
who has become a partaker of the divine nature,
"member of Christ and co-heir with him,
and a temple of the Holy Spirit."
CCC 1265
THE HABIT: We wear our baptismal robes every day!
"The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause
of that communion in the divine life
and that unity of the People of God
by which the Church is kept in being.
It is the culmination both of God's action
sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship [we] offer to Christ
and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."
CCC 1325
THE EUCHARIST: The daily celebration of the Eucharist is the center of the community liturgy. As a memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, it is the bond of fraternal charity and the primary source of apostolic zeal. In the Eucharist, Christ is received, the memory of his passion is recalled, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of future glory is given. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continues throughout the day and night.
"It was from the side of Christ
as he slept the sleep of death of the cross
that there came forth 'the wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'
For this reason the Church celebrates in the liturgy
above all the Paschal mystery
by which Christ accomplished the work of our salvation. "
CCC 1067
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THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS: Through the daily singing of the prayer of the Church, the Divine Office, throughout the liturgical year we celebrate, re-present and are drawn into the mysteries of our salvation . |
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"Human work proceeds directly from persons
created in the image of God
and called to prolong the work of creation
by subduing the earth, both with and for one another."
CCC 2427
" By means of his labor
man participates in the work of creation.
Work united to Christ can be redemptive."
CCC 2460
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WORK: We fulfill the design of the Creator and associated with the work of the Redeemer we give ourselves to work with all our powers of mind and heart as well as gifts of nature and grace. |
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"Interior conversion urges expression
in visible signs, gestures and works of penance."
CCC 1430
Penances help to configure us to Christ,
who alone expiated our sins once for all.
They allow us to become co-heirs with Christ..."
CCC 1460
PENITENTIAL PRACTICES: We know both the reality of human sinfulness and God's infinite mercy we engage in penitential practices--doing penance for our own sins and the sins of others desiring all to share in the fullness of divine life.
