As Jesus leaves the desert solitude to fulfill his messianic mission, he immediately begins to form community around him. Among his first acts is to call the first disciples by name. He invites them to share intimately in his mission, to follow him, to learn his way, his truth, to share in his life. Sent forth two by two, they joyously share the Good News with others.
He surrounds himself with a new family whose life together centers solely on the fulfillment of the Father’s will: “these are my mother and brother and sisters. Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me” (Mark 3:34-35). This new family is the beginnings, the first fruits of that glorious Kingdom of peace, unity, and communion that Jesus wishes for all humanity and all creation.
Today we contemplate this central place of communion and community in the life of Jesus and rejoice with him in being able to share in an apostolic community of faith through the Missionary Cenacle Family. These fruits of the kingdom continue to be made manifest in our day and time through this precious communal gift of God’s goodness and love.
The Grace We Seek: To more deeply treasure the gift of the Missionary Cenacle Family.
Reflection Material
A. From theRule of Life of the Missionary Servants
2. We are two religious Institutes of pontifical right, branches of one apostolic family, who have been called by God to be missionaries in the Church: some as Sisters, Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity; and others as priests, deacons and Brothers, Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. Together, our religious and lay branches comprise the Missionary Cenacle Family.
8. We are to call forth apostolic men and women from everyday walks of life to become lay associates in the Missionary Cenacle Family. A family spirit should be demonstrated by loving regard among the members of the branches and, when feasible, by collaboration in apostolic works. It is our particular responsibility as religious members of this family to conserve this Cenacle spirit and to be the sanctuary where that fire is kept. Father Judge declared that if the right spirit is maintained, if the primitive spirit is passed down, this family idea will engender the most beautiful fruits for the honor and glory of God and for the edification of the Church.
From theRule of Life of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate
2. We, the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate, are a self-governing, international association of the Catholic faithful, who have been called by God to be missionaries in the providence of our daily lives. We have a special relationship with the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Blessed Trinity Missionary Institute. Together we comprise the Missionary Cenacle Family.
8. We are to call forth apostolic men and women from everyday walks of life to become Associates in the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate and to encourage those who feel called to other branches of the Missionary Cenacle Family. We demonstrate a family spirit by having a loving regard for all the members of the family and, when possible, by collaboration in apostolic works. It is our particular responsibility as members of this family to spread the Cenacle spirit. Father Judge declared that if the right spirit is maintained, if the primitive spirit is passed down, this family idea will engender the most beautiful fruits for the honor and glory of God and for the edification of the Church.
B. From the Word of God
The disciples are true brothers and sisters of Jesus – Luke 8:19-21
The life of the community comes from communion with Jesus – John 15:1-10
To be an apostle is to have Jesus as our true friend – John 15:11-17
The apostolic community provides a necessary support for mission – Acts 2:42-47
C. From Father Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M.
1. Conference to Cenacle Family (Pentecost Meeting, May 31, 1924)
If you get nothing else out of (these meditations) but this, the thought, the wish, the ardor to spread that Cenacle spirit, then you will be blessed. We must look out for delusions, and to my mind, there is a great deal of delusion regarding programs and schedules.
There must be a certain order, of course, but that order must not be placed before the spirit. The main thing is a heart filled with the love of God, a heart that wishes to do much for God. The main thing is a spirit of sacrifice, and if we have that we have everything. If we have that passion – “I want the Cenacle spirit, I want to breathe it, I want to scatter it” – if we have that, the Cenacle will grow by leaps and bounds.
The mission of the Inner Missionary Cenacle is to conserve that Cenacle spirit. The Inner Missionary Cenacle is the sanctuary where that fire is kept. It is the duty of the superiors of the Inner Missionary Cenacle to see that the fire will never go out. . . .
With expansion there are certain complex difficulties that come along, and with expansion sometimes there is menace. Any expansion that holds back the spirit is wrong; any development prejudicial to that Cenacle spirit would not be of God.
What are you going to give to your Associates? Give that which is essential. Give that which they need. That is the Cenacle spirit. With that nothing will upset them. Opposition will not deter them. They will be persevering in God’s service. They will be resourceful.
Briefly, our aim is to increase our own and to spread devotion to the Holy Trinity, to the Holy Spirit, to exalt the Holy Name of Jesus, and all the Missionary Cenacle stands for, and to pray for priests. Get this one idea, bring it to your meditation tomorrow morning, that the largest good you may do for your Associates, the largest good you may do for the Missionary Cenacle, for the Church, for the Triune God, is to inflame your hearts with the Cenacle spirit and give it out to others. Pray to our Blessed Mother; she wants to communicate that to you. Ask the Apostles, that through their intercession you may be inflamed with this spirit. [MF:8479-81]
2. Conference to Missionary Servants (May 10, 1924)
Our Divine Lord has promised to be in a particular way in the midst of those who gather in His Name. (Matt. 18:20) Prayer is a necessity. Prayer for one another is a mark of God’s favor upon the Cenacle. Any means or agency that will excite prayer, encourage it and perpetuate it, will be a transcending grace. Such a grace, to my mind, is the family spirit that exists among the Cenacles. How anxious, then, should we be that this good and pleasant dwelling together of brethren in unity persevere, and that it persevere we should give much thought and meditation to this grace, its necessity, and its blessedness.
If . . . this family spirit continues between the Cenacles, it will be a great comfort to the two bodies. It will fortify all to withstand a great deal of the adversity that must be met with in the service of God and labor for the Church. If this family spirit flourishes amongst us, you will be a blessed, mutual help one to another: you will be conditioned to do much more good.
The family idea is dear to God and to the Church. Never was there in this world such an ideal way of living as lived the early Christians. We have today in the Cenacle an approach to this, a very advanced approach in our present way of living. It would be a pity and reason for great sorrow if this should suffer interference and decay. Think of the mutual strength you may be to one another. Think of what you may do for one another. This may be so large and important a good that indeed, I hope and pray that your affairs will be so conditioned that you must depend upon one another, that you cannot do without one another, that you may realize that you need one another.
My dear Sisters, then, give the (priests and) Brothers the help of your prayers. There are spiritual heights for them to take; there is a conquest over temptation, over themselves that will come largely through your prayers and sisterly charity. I declare that the (priests and) Brothers have a good will towards the Sisters. I know they are always willing to generously help the Sisters.
It is a sacred duty of Custodians to see that this good and pleasant dwelling of brethren in unity continues, and that they effect all in their power that it may go on producing beautiful and lovely fruits. It is likewise the duty of Custodians where there are Brother and Sister Cenacles nearby to make inquiries as to the life of this family spirit, to discover any differences or grievances that would hurt it, to propose that which may help it.
It is true that several abuses may shatter this beautiful relation; in fact, one or two may do this. However, this will not happen if Custodians do their duty. You are anxious to know my mind on this matter. You know it, but to make it the more positive and to help this holy tradition, I declare that I recognize the value of a family spirit, of a family working in the Church, of a family that with ardor will take these words from our dear Lord’s lips: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19) [MF:850-853]
Missionary Cenacle Spirituality 