by Flavio Calicchia
Pope Francis, during his speech address to participants in a meeting promoted by the Families of the Most Precious Blood said:
«[…] In your mission you are called to reach out to everyone, to make yourselves understand by all, to be “popular” by using a language through which everyone can understand the message of the Gospel…».
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood (CPPS), faithful to the charism of their founder St. Gaspar Del Bufalo, to the centuries-old tradition of the Popular Missions and to the invitation of Pope Francis, still continue today, after more than 200 years, this service of the Word by continuously updating the methods that have guided this ministry.
The Popular Mission is an extraordinary preaching that aims at a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, at the conversion of hearts, at the awakening of the religious sense and to the return of the Christian practice in families and parish communities.
In total obedience to the Pope and the Bishops, the Missionaries are willing to bring such extraordinary proclamation of the Word of God alone or in collaboration with other Missionary Institutes and Diocesan Clergy, especially the Auxiliary Missionaries, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (and other nuns), and Missionary Families and Lay people who endorse the spirituality of the Blood of Christ.
The Center for Preaching receives all the requests for mission preaching and in close cooperation with parish priests organizes the time and manner of the mission, bearing in mind the motivation for that request and the real needs of the parish and the area where it daily serves.
The Mission involves a three-phase approach:
(a) First phase – Mission Preparation: the Director of the Center for Preaching goes personally or designates an experienced Missionary to prepare on site whatever is necessary for the good success of the Mission. He meets with the Pastor, the Pastoral Council, the Council for Economic Affairs and all other active groups in the parish community to make sure that the Parish prepares adequately for the Mission. In this meeting, the Director first explains what the Mission is, what it is aimed at, and how it is to be implemented, remembering that it is a spiritual event and not just an organizational matter: he urges for active collaboration for the Mission;
(b) Second phase – The development of the Mission (the celebration): The Mission begins with a solemn concelebration on Saturday evening, possibly presided over by the Bishop of that Diocese, or in his absence by the Vicar General. It is to be attended by all the people and especially by existing groups and movements in the parish, invited in advance. After the Gospel reading is finished, the Missionaries receive the missionary mandate from the Bishop or Vicar, according to the CPPS Ritual;
- c) Third Phase – The Post-Mission (the accompaniment): The after-Mission depends greatly on the preparation and execution of the Mission itself. The fruits will continue to ripen if the Priests, the Pastoral Council and all those involved in the Commissions, groups and movements are convinced of the “permanent missionary nature” of every Christian.
St. Gaspar devoted himself to such an apostolate with tireless ardor and heroic self-sacrifice, as he admired the mighty hand of God working in people’s hearts.
With such confidence, so do we, his children, carry on this work with the same ardor that animated our Founder.