PROFILE OF THE MISSIONARY OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
The Society of the Precious Blood is a Society of Apostolic Life. It is dedicated
to the apostolic and missionary ministry of the word (C3). Our mission and our
community life are sustained and directed by the spirituality of the Precious
Blood.
This profile lists the qualities of a Precious Blood missionary. It serves as an aid to envisioning the ideals toward which we strive. A profile is general in nature and is intended to be developed in each concrete cultural circumstance. This Profile of the Missionary of the Precious Blood will help vocation directors and prospective candidates discern their call to our Congregation. It serves to guide formation directors and candidates in elaborating programs of formation. In a spirit of ongoing renewal, each member is urged to use this profile for ongoing growth and renewal. This profile is seen within the context of the spirit of our Founder, St. Gaspar, our C.PP.S. heritage, the Normative Texts, and the General Formation Program.
I. MISSION
Missionaries of the Precious Blood evangelize through the apostolic and missionary ministry of the word. The Precious Blood missionary hears the cry of the Blood. Our mission calls us:
· to be
evangelized by the revealed Word of God in Jesus Christ and by the living Word
of God present in the people and in the values of the culture to whom we are
sent
· to evangelize
· in the ministry of the Word
· in witnessing by life-style
· in promoting peace, justice, and reconcilation
· in human promotion
· in defending human rights and dignity
· to read the signs of the times and to hear the cry of the Blood
· to defend life in a culture of death
· to respect and promote the inculturation of the Church in every society
· to collaborative ministry with all the faithful
· to intercultural and international sensitivity
· to educate ourselves in other cultures and languages
· to allow God's Word to transform the patterns of human living
· to an ecumenism disposed to dialogue (S13) and to collaboration with
other religions
· to stand in solidarity with those who suffer: the alienated, the poor,
the disempowered, victims of oppression, the marginalized
· to work with perpetrators and victims to recover their full humanity
· to be prophetic: to resist deceit, injustice, and whatever is contrary
to God's reign
· to mobility, flexibility, and availability to various situations and
cultures
II. COMMUNITY
We embrace community life which supports our mission. Our community life is sustained and directed by a spirituality of the Precious Blood. In community we pursue the perfection of charity through the bond of charity as sons of St. Gaspar. Our community life is characterized by:
· the bond
of charity
· living together, as long as the needs of the apostolate do not demand
otherwise (C7)
· a spirit of dialogue
· a sharing of personal faith, gifts, and talents
· mutual encouragement
· a simple lifestyle
· reconciliation
· conversion
· hospitality
· shared meals, prayer, ministry, and study
· embracing intercultural, international, and intergenerational community
living
· an exchange of candidates and members in the international community
III. SPIRITUALITY
The spirituality of the Precious Blood motivates us and focuses our mission. The missionary finds at the center of his vocation the Blood of Christ. The spirituality of the Precious Blood includes:
· individual
and communal prayer and study, especially with the Sacred Scriptures and C.PP.S.
heritage
· our gathering at the Eucharistic table where our bond of charity is
celebrated, and we are healed and strengthened for mission, and where the Cup
of the Covenant creates communion and calls us to places that would challenge
us
· reconciliation
· inclusivity and multicultural diversity
· openness
· interior freedom and poverty of spirit
· celibate loving
· a radical response to the call of the Blood
· renewal of person, culture, society, and Church
· humility which recognizes our interdependence
· our Gasparian charism
· deepening of our spirituality with others who share it
We seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and grace in all the dimensions of our apostolic life as Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Those involved in the ministries of vocation animation and formation offer this profile of the Precious Blood missionary to guide and assist the Congregation in vocation and formation work. It represents our understanding of the realization of the charism of St. Gaspar at this point in time.
Aproved by General Council and Major Superiors
September 15, 2000, Kufstein, Austria