The MISSIONARIES OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD Cup No. 28, April 2010 of the New Covenant THE PRECIOUS BLOOD AS A WELLSPRING FOR JPJC by Francesco Bartoloni, C.PP.S. he theme of Justice, Peace and the TIntegrity of Creation (JPIC) is becoming more and more pressing, as many religious congregations and missionaries in their ministry of ani- mation consider this issue to be essen- tial. The same is happening in our congregation. Fr. Felix Mushobozi, a General Councilor, has the specific task of promoting this topic for the entire congregation. Here in Rome, the JPIC Committee is the most active committee in the office of the Union Bishop Erwin Kräutler, C.PP.S. speaking at Symposium in Lima, Perú of Superiors General. Through specif- ic research, meetings and seminars, and field experience, especially in a Motivated by the Blood of Christ city as big and complex as Rome, the by Felix Mushobozi, C.PP.S. See page 15 ☛ hree images have come to sym- tions: between humanity and our cre- The Precious Blood bolize Precious Blood spirituali- ator; between persons and between as a Wellspring for JPIC T ty: covenant, cross and the cup. humanity and mother earth. Accord- by Fr. Francesco Bartoloni, C.PP.S. 1 Robert Schreiter, CPPS and Barry ing to Schreiter the image of cove- Motivated by the Blood of Christ Fischer, CPPS have written exten- nant evokes communion, community by Felix Mushobozi, C.PP.S. 1 sively regarding these images. Here I building and connectedness. The Precious Blood Ecology: Healing will recall some of their reflections covenant by which God established a Blood Flows to our Wounds and underline the motivations relationship of love was sealed by by Joseph Grilliot, C.PP.S. 5 derived therein for our missionary the blood inviting the parties to faith- Responding to the Cry of the involvement in the ministries that fulness. The blood of Christ is the Blood in the Slums of Mumbai promote Justice, Peace and the bond of these relationships. The by J. Anthony Daniel, C.PP.S. 7 Integrity of Creation (JPIC). implication of this is that we must A Seed of Justice called work to counter the individualism of the Village of Hope COVENANT our culture and the sense of isolation by Vincenzo Boselli, C.PP.S. 9 which many people experience. The biblical image of the covenant is Choices for Life in Violent Places commonly used to explain a relation- Practically, Schreiter talks about the by Kris Schrader, ASC Dani Brought,ASC 12 ship of love between humanity and need to help people find their identi- God. It includes three areas of rela- See next page ☛ T Continued from front page ☛ through death, the weakness and and conflicts, so that through con- h e ty in their relation to God and to the powerlessness of suffering can crete actions we affirm that every be the road to strength, the instru- one another. Motivated by the life is precious. C ment of human shame becomes the u blood of Christ we are invited to St. Gaspar sets the example for us. p throne of divine glory. The cross as explore situations in our ministries Motivated by the blood shed on the the altar of sacrifice through the son o which address problems of bonding cross, he went to the condemned f unites earth and heaven, marks the and communication. Schreiter sug- village of Sonnino to create with overcoming of death through the t gests specific areas of possible them the means for their survival h death of one person”2. e activity: fidelity in marriage and and to invite them to conversion. N other commitments; isolation of the The redemptive power of the cross Gaspar was imprisoned for opposi- e elderly; and the inclusion of the is found in its power to overcome tion to Napoleon’s invasion of w oppressed and marginalized in soci- negative human experiences with Papal States and returned from C eties. To these I would add care of real hope. Death is overcome by life prison with a zeal to renew the o v creation and concern for the victims as one places his or her hope in Church in chaos. Gaspar was e of climate change. Christ, who not only died on the moved with compassion for those n a cross, but rose into an everlasting dying of cholera in Rome and Our call is to take concrete mea- n life. In this way, blood symbolizes offered himself and his mission- t sures so that we share God’s co ve- both death and life. aries to assist them, even at the sac- nant and especially, we share God’s rifice of his own health. concern for the poor. Our option for Thus concludes Schreiter: “The the poor and marginalized is moti- blood of Christ in which the very Today many of our CPPS and ASC missionaries hear and respond to the cry of the same blood of the “Eucharist is the source from which we cross in their varied local circum- stances. In the Central American are empowered for mission and to work Mission some missionaries have for justice, peace and integrity of chosen to stay with indigenous peo- creation.” ple to make sure that their right to land and culture are respected. In our Peruvian Mission some mis- vated by the fact that we are grant- divine life was lodged is shed in sionaries have chosen to stay with ed the same spirit which entitles us this violent act; but out of that shed- the victims of pollution and degra- to address God as “Abba” – Father ding has come new life, the Church dation of environment so that their (Gal 4:6) and our recognition that and the enduring grace by which we rights and responsibilities are Christ’s disciples will be judged by are all freed from everlasting attended to and peace is preserved. the response they give to those in death.3” Such a spirituality of the The cry of the blood of the cross is greatest need (Mt 25:31-46). The cross has implications for our mis- heard by those working for recon- spirituality of the covenant that sion in the area of promotion of ciliation among the victims of guides our relationships embraces JPIC. First, we are motivated by the crime and prisoners in the USA or the whole creation. God creator and blood of Christ shed on the cross to those attending HIV victims in sustainer of the world and all it con- be responsible for those who suffer, Tanzania. In all our missionary tains dwells in all things giving whose blood is diminished and activities “the blood of Christ is the them life and being. Through God’s devalued physically, mentally, source of strength to endure, but spirit we are united with all creation morally, and in any of the circum- also the sign of ultimate hope that 4 and share responsibility for it as stances of their life. no suffering need be for ever .” As one motivated by the blood of the indicated in God’s covenant (Gn Secondly, we are urged by the same 1 cross, to give witness to the social 9:8-17) . blood of Christ to be interested in gospel means that we confront the staying with people in their suffer- suffering, the death, the contradic- CROSS ing to help them find their way tions of our lives with confidence As a symbol for Precious Blood through that suffering, transforming that there is a larger reality which spirituality, the cross carries a and redeeming their circumstances. can redeem us. wealth of meaning. Explaining the Conscious of the violence with uniqueness of the cross as a symbol, which the blood of Christ was shed Schreiter has this to say: “The cross on the cross, we are invited to CUP symbolizes the great paradox in reflect on the blood of many inno- The blood of the new and eternal 2 Christian faith: life come about cent people shed through violence covenant that was shed on the cross T h e C u p o f t h e N e w C o v e n a n t An international community of CPPS members respond to the cry of the blood of illegal immigrants held in the Detention Center for Foreigners in Aluche (Madrid) for salvation of humanity and they shall be called sons of God” to proclaim and witness the social which is offered daily on the altar, (Mt 5:6.9). We need to drink from gospel, because we have experi- is a sacrament of love uniting the cup of the blood of Christ to enced that bond, love and peace in humanity in praise and thanksgiv- quench our thirst for justice. We community. In this way, our respon- ing. That blood was offered on the drink from the cup to be purified so sibility for one another is more cross so that whoever would thirst that we may be able to share that effective and capable of reaching for love and hope, might receive it love and hope with others. out to the poor and the marginal- in the cup of salvation. It is cele- ized. It is obvious that we need to evan- brated in obedience to the com- gelize ourselves before we can be The spirituality of the cup urges us mand of the Lord: “do this in mem- sent for mission. Our life in com- to identify ourselves with those ory of me” (1Cor 11:23-26). The munity should be a witness to the who live extreme human experi- aspirations of the Eucharistic cele- world that we are people of the ences such as hunger, diseases, per- bration do not end with the mass; covenant.