Capítulo General 2024

La Grande Bretèche (Tours), 07/25/2024, Sr. Gemma Morató i Sendra and Sr. Conchi García Fernández - www.domipresen.com.- On the feast of Saint James, our retreat ends, which has led us to delve into the modes of prayer of Saint Dominic. Our soul and heart have had the opportunity to rest in the Lord.

Fifth mode of prayer: Meditation on the Word of God, standing

Listen, hear, and understand. The ear has three parts: the outer, the middle, and the inner. The ear not only allows us to hear, but it is also fundamental to our ability to maintain an upright position and balance. At times, we have all experienced the sensation of having our ears blocked, which can sometimes cause a loss of balance. Symbolically, this indicates three ways of listening: listening superficially, listening attentively, and listening with deep understanding. Sometimes, we are hard of hearing and do not fully grasp what is being said to us. Just as in the biblical story when God called Samuel, we must be attentive and receptive to the important calls and messages of life.

What maintains our balance? What constitutes our humanity? It is the inner listening. The ear is like the feet of our heart. It is the way to stand firm. It is the Shema Israel (Listen, Israel). Listen and you will live and be fruitful.

The ability to listen goes beyond the simple perception of sounds; it is a deep skill that connects us with ourselves and with others. Inner listening allows us to understand our own needs and emotions and guides us in our actions and decisions. Through the ear, we receive the outside world and establish meaningful relationships.

The Shema Israel, a central prayer in the Jewish tradition, reminds us of the importance of listening as an act of faith and spiritual connection. By listening attentively and openly, we not only live more fully but also cultivate fertility in our lives, both in terms of creativity and in the richness of our relationships. Listening is, in essence, a way of being and existing that keeps us firm and connected to our true humanity.

Domingo allows himself to be transformed; he does not pray, he is prayer. We must aspire to be prayer. Once again, how do you pray and who is your God? Standing is the attitude of the resurrection. Let us rise so as not to fall into temptation. Standing represents entering a different state of inner significance.

Standing at the foot of the cross in the Bible symbolizes that we remain firm. It is a behavior of respect, attention, and availability. Standing before God is not just a physical posture, but a disposition of the heart and spirit. It represents the strength and perseverance to face trials, faith in the resurrection, and hope in eternal life.

Domingo shows us that prayer is not just an act, but a way of being. By becoming living prayer, we enter into deep communion with the divine, reflecting our faith in every action and thought. Standing, in this context, is a powerful symbol of our willingness to remain firm in our faith and our readiness to respond to God's call with respect and attention.

Jesus, with Peter's mother-in-law, says she is ill, possibly due to jealousy, and Jesus lifts her up. Jeremiah and Ezekiel tell us: "Stand up." What are the words that have kept me standing after all these years of religious life? The Word is the marrow. Saint Dominic, thirsty for the salvation of men, goes to the source of salvation and wants to restore thirsty souls.

Standing firm is not clinging to an idea, ideology, or the past. The ear of the heart allows us to redirect ourselves. It is true listening. Jesus shows us that healing involves lifting others, both physically and spiritually. The words that sustain us throughout our religious life are those found in the Divine Word, which acts as the marrow of our faith. Saint Dominic exemplifies the deep desire to bring men to the source of salvation, seeking to restore their souls.

The nine modes, in synthesis:

Stage of acceptance, humility, compunction, obedience, trust:

- Accept the human condition. Refuse power and recognition.

- Acceptance of reality and oneself, with light and shadow.

- "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. I receive and accept you as you are." It is a relationship of a child of God.

Stage of encounter, face-to-face, the stage of friendship:

       - Based on John 15:15: "You are not servants, but friends."

        - Be friends of Jesus.

        - Unfold the specific identity of each person before God.

Stage of the gift:

- We move from "Where are you?" to "Where is God?"

- God is wherever we make Him enter.

- God wants to enter the world through men and women. This is the mystery of our existence.

Reflection:

- We move from "Where are you?" to "Where is God?"

- God is wherever we make Him enter.

- God wants to enter the world through men and women. This is the mystery of our existence.

After this profound retreat, which has prepared the way for the Holy Spirit, we begin the process of electing the new general government. The afternoon is dedicated to the tractatus for the Superior General. And in the evening, a vigil of adoration to the Blessed Sacrament, with Marie Poussepin, has prepared us for tomorrow. May the Holy Spirit accompany us.

 

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