Time for conversion
from abundance to the necessary
from exaggeration to frugality
from wanting to be satisfied
from addiction to freedom
Time for conversion
from hypocrisy to sincerity
from narrow-mindedness to broad-mindedness
from self-righteousness to goodness
from arbitrariness to clarity
from fickleness to faithfulness
Time for conversion
from the I to the Thou
from alienation to closeness
from indifference to sympathy
from grievance to reconciliation
from hostility to peace
Time for conversion
from noise to silence
from hectic to pause
from impatience to serenity
from distraction to composure
from the surface to the essential
Tiempo de conversión
de la abundancia a lo necesario
de la exageración a la frugalidad
del deseo de tener a la satisfacción
de la adicción a la libertad
Tiempo de conversión
de la hipocresía a la sinceridad
de la estrechez de miras a la amplitud
del fariseísmo a la bondad
de la arbitrariedad a la claridad
de la inconstancia a la fidelidad
Tiempo de conversión
del yo al tú
del distanciamiento a la cercanía
de la indiferencia a la simpatía
del agravio a la reconciliación
de la hostilidad a la paz
Tiempo de conversión
del ruido al silencio
de la agitación a la pausa
de la impaciencia a la serenidad
de la distracción a la serenidad
de lo superficial a lo esencial
There are many different approaches to Salvatorian Universality. While the sisters and brothers of the religious communities see in it more the all-embracing love of God that is given to every human being without exception, we Lay Salvatorians seek a more practical application of it. For it is a truly universal instrument to give and make our neighbor experience the love of God.
As mentioned before, one of our most important guiding principles is the words of Blessed Francis Jordan: “As long as there is one person on earth who does not know God and does not love God above all things, you dare not allow yourself a moment’s rest.” Continue Reading
Since the Lay Salvatorians began to develop in the 70s and 80s of the last century, their image has changed a lot. While the first Lay Salvatorians were dropouts from the two Salvatorian religious communities, real lay people have increasingly built up the present communities. And with that, a somewhat different spirit or outlook came to light. Equal in spiritual content but differently expressed by life.
In the following I want to draw an image of Lay Salvatorians today now and how the development could go forward into the future.
The world we live in has a lot of different faces and with it a lot of different life issues and challenges. Living our Christian Catholic faith is not easy in many places and is becoming increasingly difficult even in those areas where it was previously considered traditional. The reasons for this are diverse and very much go hand in hand with changes in our values and points of view of society. Continue Reading
In today’s increasingly globalized world, where challenges must be addressed locally and globally at the same time, basic and comprehensive education is inevitable. Even if some people will not like going back to school, our world and life today afford lifelong learning everywhere. It is a slogan but if you think about it more closely at all times it was necessary to face new challenges and experiences and analyze them. Without doing so nobody would have been able to survive at any time. Today of course in a globalized world the amount of information is enormous and increasing. But to be interested in multifaceted topics can only marginally be compared with going to school again. Continue Reading
Maybe you know this image made by Robert Zünd: “On the walk to Emmaus”.
Anyway, many of us find ourselves in similar situations sometimes. The day after high feast of Easter is a good moment to reflect on the words of Luke 24, 13-35.
We want to invite you, as single or together with others to share your thoughts on this text or what is moving you in the comments below. May the blessing of the resurrected Lord come over all of us.
A time of quietness, a time of recovering, a time of reconsideration, a time of joyful anticipation. At least that we should connect with the word Advent, even if the world around isn’t it. The concentration on the center of our Salvatorian being, on Jesus Christ, and our reconsideration on his coming into our world should fill our hearts with great joy. I know that the reality is talking another language. The CoVid19 pandemic still forces many victims, the numbers of infects are increasing again, based on new mutations of the virus. Climate change is also hard knocking on our door but many people do not react, do not see the signs on the wall (“Mene mene tekel …” [Dan 5]) think they are not touched by that. Are we similar to King Belsazar?
Perhaps in the coming days of great anticipation, you will manage to take some time out. Time to question your own life, to re-explore, to reorient, and to rediscover the center of our Salvatorian being. Let us not close our eyes to the challenges and signs of the times, let us together courageously find new ways of consideration and sustainability. Let us learn to understand how each of us can counteract the pollution, exploitation, and injustice of the world.
May the song be an attunement for you for the coming time. In this sense a reflective Advent and really a time of great expectations…
A beautiful Sunday morning somewhere, – Pentecost Sunday! Just walking home from the holy mass. A joyful celebration, meaningful hymns were sung by the choir and the highlight a rain of smelling petals from roses and Pentecost roses after the Gloria. Still excited I find my way through the park. Parents are playing with their children, young couples sitting in the lawn, seniors are meeting their neighbours, everybody is in a good mood.
Out of a sudden, the last words of the mass come to my mind: “Go, you are sent”
„Hello my friend, you are sent! Do you remember me?“ an inner voice appears and start to talk to me.
I think: „Me? You mean, me? – Is that a misunderstanding. What happens here now?“ – Quite a confrontation develops with a long-repressed inner „relative“ (R) …
I’m sent? To what? To whom? – I’m only a simple Christian, going to Church on Sunday, meet fine people and friends there …
(R): That’s all? – Go, you are sent! Is there not expected more?
Sent? – What does it mean: Sent?! – I am not an ancient apostle in a linen shirt and simple sandals, walking over the hills and sleeping somewhere like a homeless. What a curious image? – I live my life here and now in the 21. century. Life ticks differently today … Continue Reading
