This document summarizes a spiritual retreat focused on strengthening relationships between Catholics and Jesus. The retreat includes five conferences on topics like the current state of the Catholic Church, discovering spiritual gifts and charisms, and understanding the Eucharist. The third conference discusses how the substance of bread and wine transforms into the body and blood of Christ during communion, and how this "consubstantiation" relates to stages of developing love and prayer in one's relationship with Jesus over time. The document provides context, summaries, and discussion questions for each conference to help participants reflect on better knowing and following Christ within the Catholic faith.

1. McShain – Horstmann
Spiritual Reunion - Family Retreat
“Have you ‘friended’ Jesus yet?”
Malvern Retreat House
November 8 – 10, 2013

2. Trail Guide

Introduction & Prayer
The FRONT: Context - The Catholic Church Today
1.
(7:00 PM Friday)
2.
(9:30 AM Saturday) Origin – How Jesus “Friends” Us
3.
(3:30 PM Saturday) Destiny – Consubstantiation and Understanding Changes
4.
(6:45 PM Saturday) Morality and the Sacraments (with Confessions)
5.
(9:30 PM Saturday) Young Adult “Chalk Talk”

3.  Lord Jesus Christ,
 We thank you for having called us together here.
We offer you what we are called to be and to do as the
People
of God for your greater glory and the coming of your Kingdom.
 Grant
that we may begin this time
with a spirit of hope and anticipation,
and that you will guide and feed our minds,
our hearts and souls in the days ahead...
in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

4. Conference #1
THE FRONT END:
Context & The Catholic Church Today

5. Current View of the Catholic Church

6. Current View of the Catholic Church

7. Current View of the Catholic Church

8. Current View of the Catholic Church

9. Current View of the Catholic Church

10. The Catholic Church
and the New Evangelization

11. Catholic Church – Shadow Trends
Radical
Rapid
shifts in secular culture
changes in Western Catholic culture
Diversity
of expectations for priests and laity
(especially women)
Decrease
in candidates for priesthood

12. Catholic Church –
Trends of Light
 1.

 2.

 3.

Initial trust:
Someone makes a positive association with Jesus, the Church, or a Christian believer.
Spiritual curiosity:
Person intrigued by / desires to know more about Jesus, his life, his teachings or
some aspect of the Christian faith.
Spiritual openness:
Person acknowledges to himself/herself and to God that he or she is open to the
possibility of personal and spiritual change.

13. Catholic Church –
Trends of Light
 4.
Spiritual seeking:
 Person moves from being essentially passive to actively seeking to know
the God who is calling him or her.
 5.
Intentional discipleship:
 Personal decision to “drop one’s nets.” To make a conscious commitment
to follow Jesus in the midst of his Church as an obedient disciple and to
reorder one’s life accordingly.

14. Catholic Church – Trends of Light ?
1.
Initial trust
2.
Spiritual curiosity
3.
Spiritual openness
4.
Spiritual seeking
5.
Intentional discipleship
70% - 80% of Catholics
3% of the Parish

15. Roles and Identity (Christifideles Laici)
Only
from inside the Church's mystery of communion
is the "identity" of the lay faithful made known,
and their fundamental dignity revealed.
Only
within the context of this dignity
can their vocation and mission in the Church
and in the world be defined and renewed.

16. Catholic Church - Needs
 New
Fire of Jesus Christ :
 His love
 His vision
 Through the “New Evangelization” (“Year of Faith”)
 New
relationships between laity and priests
based on a clear understanding of:
 Identity
This is the “friending” part
 Roles
(More on this later...)

17. “The New Evangelization”
 Audience:
 Not
directed at non-Catholics, non-Christians, non-believers.
 Purpose:
 Not
about proselytizing, baptizing new converts, increasing numbers of new
church members.
 Not about passing on doctrine.

(Catechesis important - but from a different perspective and for a different purpose)

18. “The New Evangelization”
 IS
directed at believers
 IS
about Leading them to personal/intimate relationship with Christ:
 Evangelism - Starting the Conversation
 Fellowship - Gathering around “a” Table
 Worship - Gathering around “the” Table
 Discipleship - Completing the mission of Christ
 Ministry - Revitalizing the members.

19. New Evangelization” Goals
 Focus
on the laity.
 Know
Christ and be his follower.
 Deeper
individual conversion.
 Deepening
 How?
religious experiences and commitment.
– FORMATION, GIFTS & CHARISMS (Conference #2)

20. CONFERENCE #1
THE FRONT END:
Context & The Catholic Church Today – QUESTIONS:
Surprises - What did you see / hear that’s new?
• What did you see / hear that’s not? Is this good or bad?
• What’s on the horizon that gives you hope?
• What will be the biggest challenges for the institution?
• What will be the biggest challenges for the you?
•

21. McShain – Horstmann
Spiritual Reunion - Family Retreat
“Have you ‘friended’ Jesus yet?”
Malvern Retreat House
November 8 – 10, 2013

22. CONFERENCE #2
Origin – How Jesus “Friends” Us
Lay Formation through
Discovering & Discerning Gifts and Charisms

23. Lay Formation:
Discerning Gifts and Charisms
• Shepherding
• Serving
• Strengthening
• Salvation
• Spiritual Insights

24. Gifts and Charisms – Difference:
 Gifts




Galatians 5:22-23, Aquinas, Catechism (and elsewhere)
Given to us
Purpose: for our inner transformation
JESUS “FRIENDING” US
 Charisms:



Talents to be given to others
How God enters world through our consent
JESUS “FRIENDS” THE WORLD THROUH US

25. Gifts and Charisms
Shepherding
Serving
 Governance/Ruling
 Helping
 Pastoring/Shepherding
 Hospitality
 Apostleship
 Martyrdom
 Teaching
 Evangelization

26. Gifts and Charisms
Strengthening
Salvation

Charity

Poverty – Obedience - Chastity

Exhorting

Exorcism, Miracles & Healing

Silence & Solitude

Prayer

Penance/Confession

Showing Mercy


Faith
Giving

27. Gifts and Charisms
Spiritual Insights
 Words
of Knowledge
 Words
of Wisdom
 Tongues
 Interpretation
 Discernment
 Prophesy
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A CHARISM?
• Effectiveness externally
• Emotional experience internally
• Confirmation from others

28. Gifts and
Charisms
Key:
 An
awareness of presence of
“Spiritual Gifts”
 An awareness of one’s own
“Human Charisms”
 On individual and parish level
Leads to
 Better
understanding of one’s specific vocation.
 Provides
outline of your mission & tasks to be done.

29. Formation of the Parish
It’s not just about having activities...
It’s about becoming disciples !
Adult Faith Formation
Religious Education (Summer & Fall)
Middle School
Senior High & Teens
Catechists, Leaders & Shepherds
Sacramental Prep

30. Formation of the Individual
Individual Prayer
Community Prayer (Small Groups)
Community Worship (Mass)
Sacramental Preparation
Catechesis
Spiritual Direction
Personal Guidance/Mentoring
Leisure and Social
Pastoral Outreach

31. The Current Challenge of Formation
Individual Prayer
Community Prayer (Small Groups)
Community Worship (Mass)
Sacramental Preparation
Catechesis
(“Catholic School / CCD”)
Spiritual Direction
Personal Guidance/Mentoring
Leisure and Social
Pastoral Outreach

32. Lay Faithful (Closing Thought)
Lay
faithful must be formed according to the union which
exists from their being parishioners of the Church and
citizens of human society.
There
cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the
one hand, the so-called "spiritual life” with its values and
demands; and on the other, the so-called "secular life” that
is life in a family, at work, in social relationships, in the
responsibilities of public life and in culture. (Charles Chaput)

33. CONFERENCE #2
Origin & How Jesus “Friends” Us:
QUESTIONS:
•
•
•
•
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What are my gifts and charisms (see slide)?
How is Jesus “friending me” through the gifts/charisms
he has given me?

34. McShain – Horstmann
Spiritual Reunion - Family Retreat
“Have you ‘friended’ Jesus yet?”
Malvern Retreat House
November 8 – 10, 2013

35. CONFERENCE #3
Destiny:
Consubstantiation and Understanding Changes

36. Substance defined:
Essential nature
“To stand under”
“To be under”
“To be present”

37. “Transubstantiation 101” - Scriptural References:
Matthew
26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26 & Luke 22:7-39
 At
the Last Supper:
 ”This is my Body – This is my Blood.”
 “Do this in memory of me.”
John
 “I
13:1-17:26
am the Bread of Life”

38. “Transubstantiation 101”- Catechism References:
 Christ
instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the night before He
died. (Catechism 873)
 Eucharist
 It
strictly means “pleasing” or “thanksgiving”
renders us most pleasing to God:

By the grace it imparts

By giving us the best means of thanking Him for all His blessings (Catechism 869)

This is how WE “Friend” God

39. “Transubstantiation 101”- Catechism References:
 When
Our Lord said, “This is my body,” the substance of the bread was
changed into the substance of His body
 When
He said, “This is my blood,” the substance of the wine was changed
into the substance of His blood.

40. Q: How do we know that it is possible to
change one substance into another?
 A.
We know that it is possible to change one substance into another,
because:

God changed water into blood during the plagues of Egypt.

Christ changed water into wine at the marriage of Cana.

Our food is daily changed into the substance of our own flesh and blood, so....
 What
God does gradually in our nature, He can also do instantly by an act
of His will.

41. Pope Benedict XVI - Analogies
 You
can't see an electric current, but you can see light.
 You
can see and eat food but you don’t see the food “change into” your
body.
 You
cannot see the human soul, but you can see the soul in action through
words and actions.

42. CONFERENCE #3
Destiny:
Consubstantiation and Understanding Changes
 Remember this ?

43. Stages

44. Stages of Love = Stages of Prayer

Attraction

Clinging

Enjoyment

Union of Wills

45. “Friend-ing” Jesus
Fundamentals of Accepting the
Mystery of the Eucharist
QUIET!
Time of day
Length
Location
Accoutrements

46. CONFERENCE #3 - Destiny, Consubstantiation
and Understanding Changes
QUESTIONS:
The Practical:
• Describe what your prayer time looks like.
• Think about your prayer life. “How’s that workin’ for ya?”
Trans – substance – tiation and your prayer life:
• How has your prayer life “changed” over time?
• How has your prayer life “changed” you?
Christ and You:
• Where does the “Prayer of the Church” (The Eucharist)
fit in your life right now?
• What challenges you about The Eucharist?

47. CONFERENCE #4 – Morality:
Reconciliation and the Sacraments

48. The Theology of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Video)

49. The Sacrament of Reconciliation
It’s not just about “confession” any more

50. “Confession”
From
the Greek:
“To say the same thing”
“To agree with”
Practically
 Going
speaking:
the same direction
 Making Progress
 Being in “Right Relationship”

51. John Adair's “Action Centered
Leadership ”

52. Jesus Christ’s
“Action Centered
Life?”
Eucharist
(“Task”)
Reconciliation
(“Individual”)
Matrimony
(“Team”)

53. CONFERENCE #4 – Morality and the Sacraments:
QUESTIONS:
Why is this GOOD?
• Why is this HARD?
• Where do I start?
• Where do we start?
•

54. - THE BACK END:
Meaning & Sending Forth

55. The need today:
The Holy Spirit continues to renew ...the ...Church
and ... has inspired new aspirations towards holiness
and the participation of many lay faithful.
(Christifideles Laici)

56. The Challenge and Approach:
Moving from “theory” to “practice”
Aka, “Formation”

57. Formation – What and Why
 What:
A
Comprehensive Integrated Program for Living an Integrated Life
 A Continual Personal Process of Maturation
 Adapting “An Approach”
 Why:
 Discover
vocation and mission
 “Renew the face of the earth”
 Discovering and Discerning Gifts and Charisms

58. The “What “ of Lay Formation:
Two Approaches

59. Discovery – Vocation and Mission

Legionaries of Christ:
Personal Prayer
Communal Prayer and/or Worship
 Self Awareness Program
 Vocation
 “Apostolate"


60. Discovery - Vocation and Mission
“I Will give You Shepherds”
Human (For you)
Intellectual (For you)
 Spiritual (For you)
 Pastoral (For them)


61. - THE BACK END
Meaning & Sending Forth – QUESTIONS:
How has the papacy of Francis changed things?
• Is the change Positive? Negative? Neutral? Why do you say that?
• What is left to do...
• As a church?
• As a parish?
• As individuals? (What? Thought you get a free ride?)
•

63. Consubstantiation and Understanding Changes ...
...through PRAYER

64. Prayer
Traditions
Types
(Resources)
and Stages
Fundamentals
(How to...)

65. Prayer
1988
- Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua,
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
12
priests ask to leave.
In
interview...from “Did” to “When.”
Rationale
and background.

66. Types and Stages of Prayer
•
Formal (Liturgy of the Hours)
•
Devotional (Rosary)
•
Vocal vs. Mental
•
Contemplative
•
Contemplation – Meditation - Mystical Union
•
“7 Mansions” (Teresa of Avila)
Lectio Divina

67. Prayer Traditions

68. Traditions

Carmelite:
 About
love
 Little Flower, Teresa of
Avila, John of the Cross

69. Traditions

Dominicans
 About
truth
 Thomas Aquinas, Dominic,
Catherine of Siena, GarrigouLagrange, Congar, Rhine
Mystics (Hildegard, Eckhart)

70. Traditions

Jesuits:
 About
knowing yourself
 Ignatius, Bellarmine, DeLubac,
Rahner

71. Traditions
Franciscan:
 About
simplicity
 Francis, Bernardin of Siena,
Anthony (of PADUA, not the
desert guy), Bonaventure

72. Traditions

Salesian:
 About
practical spirituality &
everyday living
 Francis deSales, John Bosco

73. Traditions

Benedictine:
 About
the rule and “The Work”
 (btw The Work = Prayer)
 Benedict, Bede

74. Traditions
• Marian
The Mother of God... you know who!
• Louis de Montfort, Maximilian Kolbe
•

75. Traditions
Other:
 Adrienne
von Spyer and
Hans von von Balthasar,
 Catherine Doherty, Dorothy Day
 Imitation of Christ
 Catherine of Genoa
 Cloud of Unknowing/Trappist Centering (Keating, Pennington,
Meninger)
 Charismatic

76. Traditions
Doctors
of the Church
What Basilicas / Cathedras
do we see here?

77. Not this..