Today’s audio guest is David Spesia, the executive director of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is a former colleague from the Diocese of Joliet who is a big advocate of Pope Francis’ missionary discipleship mindset.
With that in mind, I asked him what key actions parish leaders can take to turn their parishes in beacons of missionary discipleship during this difficult time; what is key to being a fruitful missionary disciple; and what passage inspires him from the Acts of the Apostles.
He advocates for people to concentrate on the spiritual works of mercy; an increase in spiritual reading — he recommended a book by Father Donald Calloway called Consecration to St. Joseph; The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father — and praying; and a turning to the Blessed Mother.
The quotes below are meant to add to what David talks about in the interview.
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The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy:
1. Counsel the doubtful.
2. Instruct the ignorant.
3. Admonish sinners.
4. Comfort the afflicted.
5. Forgive offenses.
6. Bear wrongs patiently.
7. Pray for the living and the dead.
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“The giving of oneself brings with it an enriching of oneself.”
—St. John Paul II
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“If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself.”
—St. Peter Chrysologus, an early bishop and doctor of the Church
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“The older I get, the more I meet people, the more convinced I am that we must only work on ourselves, to grow in grace. The only thing we can do about people is to love them.”
—Servant of God Dorothy Day
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“I have found the paradox that, if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.”
—St. Teresa of Calcutta
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“It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense, but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession.”
—From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
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“Not only is kindness due to everyone, but a special kindness is due to everyone. Kindness is not kindness unless it is special. Its charm consists in its fitness, its timeliness, and its individual application. Kindness adds sweetness to everything. It makes life’s capabilities blossom and fills them with fragrance. Kindness is like divine grace. It bestows on men something that neither self nor nature can give them. What it gives them is something of which they are in need, or something which only another person can give, such as consolation. Besides, the manner in which this is given is a true gift itself, better far than the thing given. The secret impulse out of which kindness acts is an instinct that is the noblest part of yourself. It is the most undoubted remnant of the image of God, given to us at the beginning.”
—From Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik’s book, The Hidden Power of Kindness
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“Without prayer, we have neither light nor strength to advance in the way which leads to God.”
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, doctor of the Church
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“Descending upon the Apostles assembled with Mary, Christ’s mother, the Holy Spirit transforms and unites them, ‘filling them’ with the fullness of the divine life. They become ‘one,’ an Apostolic community, ready to bear witness to the crucified and risen Christ. This is the new creation which flowed from the cross and was given life by the Holy Spirit, who gave it its historical beginning at Pentecost.”
—St. John Paul II
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Prayer to the Blessed Mother written by Pope Francis
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people,”
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
Amen.
David Spesia, from the USCCB's Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis, Talks about Missionary Discipleship