A
Day of Recollection
The
great good that has come out from the sin of Adam – “Felice
Culpa” – (O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, without
which we would never have known so great a redeemer), was that it showed
us the profoundness of God’s love. Adam and Eve were finite creatures
with limited capacity to receive God's love and mercy. But through the
sacrifice of Jesus and through our baptism we become adopted sons and
daughters of God, for God has taken us unto Himself as part of the union
with His Son, enabling us to receive infinite mercy and love from God.
Through the death of Jesus Christ the gap that has separated mankind
from God was closed.
Father
Chris Connor concluded his teaching by saying that it is easy to believe
in God, but it is not always easy to have faith in God, that is to believe
that the Lord will provide. In our personal lives, it is because God
has provided that we are where we are today. Every year that passes
when we celebrate the Holy Week, we should get more wiser and our understanding
of the love of God much more deeper.
After the
teaching, participants reflected on the question of what it personally
mean to each of them the passion, the death and the resurrection of
Christ in their lives and each gave a brief explanation of what it means
to them.
After a
short lunch break during which participants were spread around the place,
some in the dining room and some outside in the garden, they were reconvened
in the chapel for the afternoon session. This session heavily emphasised
the penitential personal prayers and meditation. It opened with Father
Efrem blessing the penitentiary session and the two priests then retreated
to the confession rooms. Powerfully worded penitential questions that
were quite strong on the conscience were then read out in the silence
of the chapel, with pauses after each question for reflection. After
which there was a session for confessions. While confessions were going
on, the Rosary was said and some beautiful songs were sung. After which
Father Chris gave a benediction and an absolution to the congregation.
