The People of God Strengthening
Communion on Earth
Trinitarian Life Ecclesial Plan becomes one with Jesus’
desire on Holy Thursday as He prayed to the Father for
communion.
"I pray that they may all be
one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in
Us, that the word may believe that You sent Me." John
17:20-21 The “Vitae
Trinitariae Ecclesial Plan” (VTEP) comes from the desire of
priests, deacons, religious orders, leaders and members of different
associations and movements in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, who are
committed to live and promote the spirituality of communion,
strengthening communion on earth. “A spirituality of communion indicates
above all the heart's contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity
dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on
the face of the brothers and sisters around us.” (Pope John Paul II in Novo Millenium Ineunte. 43)c
Vitae Trinitariae was consecrated
to Holy Mary of Guadalupe by Archbishop Emeritus John F. Donoghue. The Trinitarian Life
Ecclesial Plan structure follows the direction of Pope John Paul II, as
stated in Novo Millenium Ineunte: “The new century
will have to see us more than ever intent on valuing and developing
the forums and structures which, in accordance with the Second
Vatican Council’s major directives, serve to ensure and safeguard
communion. (44) Before making
practical plans, we need to promote a spirituality of communion, making
it the guiding principle of education wherever individuals and Christians are formed, wherever ministers of the altar, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers are trained, wherever families and communities are being built up.
( . . .) Communion must
be cultivated and extended day by day and at every level in the
structures of each Church’s life. There, relations between
Bishops, priests and deacons, between Pastors and the entire People of
God, between clergy and Religious, between associations and ecclesial
movements must all be clearly characterized by communion.
(45) ( . . . ) [Making] the
Church the home and the school of communion, is the great
challenge facing us in the millennium which is now beginning, if we wish
to be faithful to God’s plan and respond to the world’s deepest
yearnings.” (43 in Novo Millenium Ineunte). "
All ecclesial communities are
called to build the spirituality of communion as well as to promote
the art of prayer and to help their members to grow in it.
This call is parallel to their unique charisms. VTEP will
complement, enrich and empower their mission to be more fruitful and
lead them to work in communion with all other members in the Church.
There is to be a deeper and more perfect unity among, associations,
movements, religious orders, church staff and priests, thereby making "The Church, the home and the school of communion
. . . this is the great challenge facing us in
the millennium which is now beginning, if we wish to be faithful to
God's plan and respond to the world's deepest yearnings." (Pope John
Paul II, Novo Millenium Ineunte, 43) . The commitment of
the church leaders is very important. These VTEP will strengthen all ecclesiastical
communities, leading them to work together for the Kingdom of God in
perfect harmony and unity. Extraordinary fruits will be the
sign, “you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew
7:20) “Through the apostolic
ministry, the Church, community assembled by the Son of God made flesh,
will live throughout time, building and nourishing communion in Christ
and in the Spirit, to which all are called and in which they can
experience the salvation given by the Father.” (Benedict
XVI, General Audience - March 29, 2006)
The “Vitae
Trinitariae Ecclesial Plan” started contemplating the actual
reality of the Mystical Body of Christ; the Divine part (Head) unites us
and the human part (body) divides us. VTEP experienced the
relationship between the “Whole Christ”, Head and body- and the
relationship between the members of the body of Christ. Our
reality leads us to see the Mystery of unity present in The Most Blessed
Trinity, three in one, with out any division. Three different
persons with a different course of action or mission but each one of
them appointing to the other person in perfect harmony. A perfect
relationship for the salvation of the souls.
The communion
existing within the Trinity should be alive in the Church with all
expressions and circumstances of our life. The
Trinitarian Life is the living mystery of the unity of the Most Holy
Trinity present in the world; it is our encounter, our gathering in love
with God and ALL our brothers. The Trinitarian Life leads us to
make a reality the prayer of Jesus to the Father" “I pray
that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that
they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
John 17:20-21 “The
concept of communion(koinonia) is without doubt the key concept
for interpreting the ecclesiology of Vatican II. Koinonia is the
transcendent innovation of the Council”. Tony Hanna, New Ecclesial
Movements) “The idea of
communion as participation in the Trinitarian life is illuminated with
particular intensity in John's Gospel, where the communion of love that
unites the Son with the Father and with men is at the same time the
model and source of fraternal union, which must unite disciples among
themselves: "love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12; cf.
13:34). "That they also may be in us" (John 17:21,22), hence, communion
of people with the Trinitarian God and communion of people among
themselves. During the time of the earthly pilgrimage, through communion
with the Son, the disciple can already participate in his divine life
and in that of the Father: "our fellowship is with the Father and with
his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).
This life of communion with God and among ourselves is the very end of
the object of the proclamation of the Gospel, the object of conversion
to Christianity: "that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to
you, so that you may have fellowship with us" (1 John 1:3). Therefore,
this double communion with God and among ourselves is
inseparable.” (Benedict XVI, General Audience -
March 29, 2006) “To be responsible for the gift of
communion means, first of all, to be committed to overcoming each
temptation to division and opposition that works against the Christian
life with its responsibility in the apostolate. The cry of Saint
Paul continues to resound as a reproach to those who are ‘wounding the
Body of Christ’: ‘What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I belong to
Paul', or 'I belong to Cephas', or 'I belong to Christ!' Is Christ
divided?’ (1 Cor 1: 12-13). No, rather let these words of the
apostle sound a persuasive call: ‘I appeal to you, brethren, by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no
dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the
same judgment’ (1 Cor 1
:10). “Thus
the life of Church communion will become a sign for all the world and a
compelling force that will lead persons to faith in Christ: ‘that they
may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they
also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me’
(Jn 17:21). In such a way communion leads to mission, and mission
itself to communion." (John Paul II Christifideles
Laici)guiding principle of education wherever individuals and
Christians are formed, wherever ministers of the altar, consecrated
persons, and pastoral workers are trained, wherever families and
communities are being built up. (43)
Emai - trinitarianlife@trinitarianlife.com
- St. Andrew Catholic Church, 675 Riverside Rd, Roswell GA
30075