After the Integration phase, today we entered the second phase, “Where are we coming from?” of the Spirituality Congress. We started the day with a morning prayer led by Fr. Robert Kycia, CMF. The image of Our Lady of Czestochowa figures prominently on the altar as we were all invited to “treasure and keep everything” about Jesus in our hearts.
Immediately after, Fr. Juan Carlos Martos, CMF, Director of CESC, presented the first meditation of today’s retreat, “Claret as a Mystic, Steps on his Spiritual Path.” He invited us to look at Claret as a modest mystic and at the events of his life that shaped his apostolic mysticism. After the first meditation, we were given personal time for reflection while the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration.
The community gathered in the crypt chapel to end the morning activities with a beautiful Marian liturgy presided by Fr. Martos. We meditated on Mary as the Mystical Rose before the Nuestra Señora de Fussimanya icon.
The second meditation of the day focused on two points: the missionary as a man of faith and the missionary as a man of prayer. Fr. Josep Rovira, CMF, member of CESC expounded on these two points in his presentation, “Deepening some aspects of our Claretian Spirituality.”
After another period of personal reflection, we gathered in groups and shared with our brothers and sisters the fruits of this day’s recollection, guided by the questions and points for reflection proposed by the two moments of meditation. It was immediately followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided by Fr. Juan Martin Azkaiturrieta, CMF, Provincial Superior of Sanctus Paulus Province.
The day ended with a solemn prayer concert in the crypt featuring a Spanish artist, Maite Lopez.
