Module 3 - Spirituality of Communion

Spirituality
of
Communion
INDIVIDUALISM
Crisis of Individualism
The Many Forms of
Individualism Today
2
What is
Individualism?
3
Is it good to be
alone?
Individualism
My happiness is
greater than We.
5
Individualism
No one feels
Responsible anymore
6
Individualism is the idea that the individual’s life
belongs to him and that he has an inalienable right to
live it as he sees fit, to act on his own judgment, to keep
and use the product of his effort, and to pursue the
values of his choosing. It’s the idea that the individual is
sovereign, an end in himself, and the fundamental unit
of moral concern. This is the ideal that the American
Founders set forth and sought to establish when they
drafted the Declaration and the Constitution and
created a country in which the individual’s rights to life,
liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness were to
be recognized and protected.
7
INDIVIDUALISM
The Many Forms of
Individualism Today
9
Today’s Forms of
Individualism
• Weakens personal
relationships (family, etc.)
• Instant Gratification
• Intergenerational apathy
• Fear of commitment
10
Forms of Individualism : Weakens Personal Relationships
The individualism of our

postmodern and globalized
era favours a lifestyle
which weakens the
development and stability
of personal relationships
and distorts family bonds.
EG 67 11
Forms of Individualism : Weakens Personal Relationships
AL 33. On the other hand, “equal

consideration needs to be given to
the growing danger represented by
an extreme individualism which
weakens family bonds and ends up
considering each member of the
family as an isolated unit, leading in
some cases to the idea that one’s
personality is shaped by his or her
desires, which are considered
absolute”. 12
Forms of Individualism : Instant Gratification
Instant Gratification is
the desire to experience
pleasure or fulfillment
without delay or
deferment. Basically,
it's when you want it;
and you want it now.
13
Forms of Individualism : Instant Gratification
LS 162. Men and women

of our postmodern world
run the risk of rampant
individualism, and many
problems of society are
connected with today’s
self-centred culture of
instant gratification.
14
Forms of Individualism : Intergenerational Apathy
LS 162. …our inability to

think seriously about future
generations is linked to our
inability to broaden the scope
of our present interests and to
give consideration to those
who remain excluded from
development.
15
Forms of Individualism : Fear of Commitment
Misdirected personalism and

freedom can foster attitudes of
constant suspicion, fear of
commitment, self-centredness
and arrogance.
…if this freedom lacks noble
goals or personal discipline, it
degenerates into an inability to
give oneself generously to
others. 16
INDIVIDUALISM
The Many Forms of
Individualism Today
17
Effects of Individualism
18
19
20
21
of the world
of the rich & poor
DIVISION of the society

of the family
of the SELF
Antidote to Individualism :
We should then
encourage a communion
which heals, promotes
and reinforces
interpersonal bonds.
23
In our world, especially in
some countries, different forms
of war and conflict are re-
emerging, yet Christians remain
steadfast in our intention to
respect others, to heal wounds,
to build bridges, to strengthen
relationships and to “bear one
another’s burdens”.
Gal 6:2
24
Today too, various associations
for the defence of rights and
the pursuit of noble goals are
being founded. This is a sign
of the desire of many people to
contribute to social and cultural
progress.
25
How should we address
Individualism?
It is through the
Spirituality of Communion
26
Communion?
1 : an act or instance of sharing

(interpersonal connection to others).
2:a Christian sacrament in which
consecrated bread and wine
27
Communion?
CCC 27 The dignity of man rests above all

on the fact that he is called to
communion with God.
28
Remember: Who
you are, is what
God made you.
Communion?
CCC 185 Communion in faith needs a

common language of faith, normative for
all and uniting all in the same confession
of faith.
30
Spirituality
of
Communion
Communion?
Moral Contemporary issues such as
relativism, social degradation, and
individualism take the form of sin which
hinders our communion with God whom,
primarily, we should be connected all the
time.
32
Communion?
With sin disrupting our connection with
God, this communion is restored through
the incarnation of God, Jesus Christ.
Through the cross, God shows us that He
is willing to restore our humanity and
come back to him.
33
Communion?
With this theology, we, the Church and
the body of Christ, is in communion with
God the Father through Jesus Christ as
our head and the Holy Spirit as our
paraclete.
34
Nature: Spirituality of Communion NMI 43
1. A spirituality of communion indicates
above all the heart's contemplation of
the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in
us, and whose light we must also be able
to see shining on the face of the brothers
and sisters around us.
35
When we are connected to
God, we see everything is
good and worthy of our
friendship.
36
2.A spirituality of communion also
means an ability to think of our
brothers and sisters in faith within the
profound unity of the Mystical Body,
and therefore as "those who are a part of
me". This makes us able to share their joys
and sufferings, to sense their desires and
attend to their needs, to offer them deep 37
We have the capacity to feel
and think for the other.
When they are in pain, we
are too.
38
3. A spirituality of communion implies
also the ability to see what is positive in
others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift
from God: not only as a gift for the
brother or sister who has received it
directly, but also as a "gift for me".
39
We always have the eyes to
see the other as a gift, as
God send them to us.
40
4. A spirituality of communion means,
finally, to know how to "make room" for
our brothers and sisters, bearing "each
other's burdens" (Gal 6:2) and resisting the
selfish temptations which constantly beset us
and provoke competition, careerism, distrust
and jealousy. Let us have no illusions: unless
we follow this spiritual path, external
structures of communion will serve very little 41
We have the capacity to
welcome each one of us, no
matter what.
42
Teamwork Exercise:
Sort the Numbered Plates
A Witness of Communion to the World
Let everyone admire how Christians care
for one another, and how you encourage
and accompany one another:
“By this everyone will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one
another”
(Jn 13:35).
44
As witnesses of communion to the world,
we must always beware of the temptation
of, JELOUSY. We are all in the same boat
and headed to the same port!
(Remember the story of the Buses?)
45
EG 100. Those wounded by historical
divisions find it difficult to accept our
invitation to forgiveness and reconciliation,
since they think that we are ignoring their
pain or are asking them to give up their
memory and ideals.
46
But if only people become
witnessess of authentically
fraternal and reconciled
communities, they will find that
witness luminous and attractive.
47
We all have our likes and dislikes, and
perhaps at this very moment we are angry
with someone. At least let us say to the
Lord: “Lord, I am angry with this person,
with that person. I pray to you for him and
for her”. To pray for a person with whom I
am irritated is a beautiful step forward in
love, and an act of evangelization.
48
49
Communion in Difference
EG 117. When properly
understood, cultural diversity is
not a threat to Church unity. The
Holy Spirit builds up the
communion and harmony of the
people of God.
50
We would not do justice to the logic
of the incarnation if we thought of
Christianity as monocultural and
monotonous.
Evangelization is always towards
all the people.
51
AL 139. Keep an open mind. Don’t get
bogged down in your own limited ideas and
opinions, but be prepared to change or
expand them. The combination of two
different ways of thinking can lead to a
synthesis that enriches both. The unity that
we seek is not uniformity, but a “unity in
diversity”, or “reconciled diversity”.
52
Fraternal communion is enriched by
respect and appreciation for differences
within an overall perspective that
advances the common good.
We need to free ourselves from feeling
that we all have to be alike.
53
A certain astuteness is also needed to
prevent the appearance of “static” that can
interfere with the process of dialogue.
For example, if hard feelings start to emerge, they
should be dealt with sensitively, lest they interrupt the
dynamic of dialogue. The ability to say what one is
thinking without offending the other person is important.
54
Words should be carefully chosen so as not to offend,
especially when discussing difficult issues. Making a
point should never involve venting anger and inflicting
hurt. A patronizing tone only serves to hurt, ridicule,
accuse and offend others. Many disagreements between
couples are not about important things. Mostly they are
about trivial matters. What alters the mood, however, is
the way things are said or the attitude with which they
are said.
55
Spirituality
of
Communion

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Module 3 - Spirituality of Communion

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Spirituality

The individualism of our

AL 33. On the other hand, “equal

LS 162. Men and women

LS 162. …our inability to

Misdirected personalism and

DIVISION of the society

1 : an act or instance of sharing

CCC 27 The dignity of man rests above all

CCC 185 Communion in faith needs a

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