Synod of Montreal II. Celebrate and give thanks

Foreword

Presentation

I. Communities that proclaim Jesus Christ to the world of today

II. Communities that celebrate their faith and give thanks for the gift of God

Introduction

Baptism and Confirmation

Eucharist

The homily

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacrament of Marriage

Declaration

III. Missionary communities at the service of the world

IV. Communities that are open, welcoming and fraternal

V. Communities in which true co-responsibility exists

Comments on the recommendations that are not being promulgated

Conclusion

Table of contents

Montréal

Let us pray with the Holy Father Benedict XVI Benoit XVI
The general intention of prayer of the Pope for the month of november is : That those dedicated to medical research and all those engaged in legislative activity may always have deep respect for human life, from its beginning to its natural conclusion.
His missionnary intention is : That in the Korean Peninsula the spirit of reconciliation and peace may grow.

How to participate in my Christian community pdf

Security and maintenance

Diocese of Montreal

II. Communities that celebrate their faith and give thanks for the gift of God
Introduction
Christian spirituality is life in Christ and in the Spirit. Received in faith, this life expresses itself in love, is animated by hope and lived through the daily practice of the Gospel.
The men and women of our diocese are thirsting for spirituality. They are searching for an interior life and aspiring after authenticity and inner freedom. Prayer is one way of reaching this. For many, the rediscovery of the source of Christian prayer is a new and urgent task. It is the Spirit who "comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words " (Rm 8,26).
Spirituality is also nourished by a regular sacramental life. The sacraments are an inexhaustible source of God's grace for all believers, but the profound meaning of the sacrament is not always understood. Very often persons desire "religious rites" to accentuate great moments in their lives: birth, marriage, illness and death, without always being able to identify with the essential faith dimension. For pastoral leaders, then, this gives rise to tensions between the meaning of the sacrament and the content of the person's request. The crucial question is inevitably asked: how can we receive and respect the request and yet ensure a meaningful celebration of the sacrament? Leaders find themselves faced with a twofold obligation: on the one hand, to take seriously the person making the request and, on the other, also to take seriously the sacrament as "an act of Christ".
In the Church, the sacraments are received in faith and are an expression of faith. Therefore, one who wishes to celebrate one or other of them must take a step in faith. The pastoral leader is present to receive the request respectfully and to help the person to journey and to understand the faith requirement. The passage from ritual to faith commitment is possible. Starting from the socio-cultural dimension of the request, pastoral accompaniment will help the person to journey towards the act of faith necessary for a fruitful and meaningful celebration.
Let us believe that every sincere person is able to set out on this journey. Let us have confidence in each one. Out of respect for those who desire a sacrament, pastoral leaders should suggest appropriate ways to assist in the gradual opening of the human heart to the profound meaning of this mystery of faith.