Articles on Reconciliation

This article is taken from a presentation given at the International Seminar on Reconciliation August 21, 2006, Lima, Peru. In this article Fr. Schreiter focuses on a central element that is "both distinctive to the Christian tradition and at the same time one of the most difficult areas in which to work...that of forgiveness."

This is an address given at an International Spirituality Workshop for the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, Rome, September, 1995.

In response to the keynote addresses at the 2010 Precious Blood Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri, six panelists offered their reflections looking through the lens of the spirituality of the Precious Blood.  The presentations highlighted five images from the spirituality of the Precious Blood: prophetic witness, evangelization, covenant, conversion journey and reconciliation.  

This article is the Keynote Address given by Sr. Barbara E. Reid, O.P., at the 2010 Precious Blood Convocation on July 27, 2010.  The convocation was a gathering of approximately 300 members and lay associates of the Precious Blood Religious Congregations serving throughout North America.  The theme of the convocation was "Who will speak a word that will rouse them?  I can, I must, I will. Will you?" In her talk, Barbara Reid reflects upon the call to prophetic leadership in response to the needs of the church and the world today.

"Latin American Perspectives on Precious Blood Spirituality" by Fr. Thomas Hemm, CPPS and

"Blood Cries Out: National Reconciliation" by Fr. Ernest Ranly, CPPS

Introduction

This course was deemed necessary by our Major Superiors in order to study and reflect on the life of our founder, on our charism, our history and on our Normative Texts. Hopefully, the many reflections shared during our weeks together have helped to deepen our understanding of our CPPS patrimony leading to a clearer vision of our own identity, around which it is easier to build communion.

Introduction

Three commemorations being held this year make the theme of this symposium, “Roads to Reconciliation,” especially timely. In November, we will mark twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event emblematic of the collapse of Communism in Europe. It was perhaps this event more than anything else that set off a renewed and intense interest in reconciliation.

As we look to the role of the Church in the process of national reconciliation after two decades of armed conflict, it is important to identify what things we, as the Church, can contribute to the process.

In this presentation I would like to focus on a central element that is both distinctive to the Christian tradition and at the same time one of the most difficult areas in which to work. I am speaking of forgiveness.

Communicating the Gospel in a New Context

Throughout history, Christian missionaries have configured their work according to different understandings of how best to communicate the Gospel If reconciliation and peacemaking constitute a significant paradigm for mission today, how must missionaries be prepared in order to carry out their responsibilities?

Spirituality in Reconciliation and Peacemaking

When most people think about the concept of reconciliation, either on the individual or the social level, they are likely to expect a discussion of techniques of conflict transformation. There is, of course, an entire body of literature on conflict prevention, conflict management, and conflict transformation, much of which can be useful to the missionary. Indeed, some of the findings and methods developed in this area will be discussed in the next lecture.

Introduction: Change of Context, Change of Paradigm

Changes which have happened in the world since 1990 inevitably cause us to reflect on changes in the conduct of Christian mission. In his epic book, Transforming Mission, the late David Bosch already had a sense that major shifts were afoot. He concluded his survey of the history of Christian mission with what he termed “an emerging ecumenical paradigm.” What he gathered together in that paradigm was a list of what many of us would call desiderata for any future theology of mission.

Introduction

When I arrived in Santiago de Chile to begin my theological studies at the Catholic Univerity there in early 1970 I suddenly found myself admist a society in great upheaval. The Democratic Presidency of Eduardo Frei was coming to a close and the country was gripped in a very lively political campaign to elect a new President. On September 4th, Salvador Allende Gossens, became the hemisphere's first freely elected Marxist President. The next three years proved to be chaotic for any number of reasons too long to analize here.

With Chalice in Hand, We Stand at the Foot of the Cross

We, the women and men of the blood, stand at the foot of that cross where Jesus still bleeds; wars in our streets, wars in our neighbor's yards, wars around the world.

The many needs of reconciliation in our world urge us to carry the blood of the crucified Christ in cups filled at the foot of the Cross. Bonded in charity and bathed in the blood of Christ, we point to Jesus crouched and waiting in the corners of our excess.

Our role as Church is to give witness to God's love for all peoples. But God's incarcerated children? I believe so. This can be a very enriching ministry. One can see the work of the Lord and be strengthened by it. It is one of the gifts that people usually don't expect when stepping foot into the jail. I am there to witness to the power and love of a God who lives among us. There is probably no place on earth where more people are searching for the presence of God in their lives.