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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

January 3, 2025

Celebrating 84 Years Since the Foundation of the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi

/ Regnum Christi News, Weekly Message Blog

The charismatic reality of Regnum Christi was born on January 3, 1941, the moment when the Lord founded the Legionaries of Christ and, together with them and through them, Regnum Christi. Its objective was set from the beginning: to encourage the personal holiness of its members through a spirituality centered on Christ.

The General Directive College has sent a letter to all members of Regnum Christi inviting them to see this date as a “reminder of God’s providence in bringing to life this charism that he wanted to give to his Church, announcing his merciful love to all, leading us to the redemptive encounter with Christ and inviting us to become his apostles in the world with passionate zeal (2 Cor 5:14) created through the personal experience of the love of Jesus Christ.”

Regnum Christi consists of four vocations: the Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, and lay members. Each vocation brings its own vocational dynamism to the shared mission.

“Based on the certainty that stems from our charism as a gift of God and a deep Christian gaze upon the world from which we are called and to which we are also sent out, we renew our desire and commitment to make the Kingdom of Christ present in hearts and in society, in the here and now of the world.” (Communiqué of the General Convention 2024, 3).

This 84th anniversary also happens during the 2025 Jubilee called by Pope Francis for the entire Church. Regnum Christi has always lived and encouraged deep fidelity to the Pope and his Magisterium, so we are full of enthusiasm as we begin to live this year of grace by joining in the celebrations around the world.

“Since those beginnings,” states the letter from the General Directive College, “the Lord has blessed our spiritual family with innumerable fruits: men and women transformed by an encounter with Christ, communities of apostles seeking to extend his Kingdom, and a living witness of charity among a diversity of vocations.”

Let us thank God for this anniversary and renew our commitment to extend the Kingdom of Christ in our hearts and in the hearts of others.

Read the letter from the General Directive College below:

 

Translation of the Spanish Original

January 3, 2025

DG-FRC 001-2025

Clas. II.3.A.11

To all members of Regnum Christi,

With profound gratitude to God and with a heart full of hope, we celebrate the anniversary of the day on which the Lord founded the Legionaries of Christ and, together with it and through it, Regnum Christi.

This date is a reminder of God’s providence in bringing to life this charism that he wanted to give to his Church, announcing his merciful love to all, leading us to the redemptive encounter with Christ and inviting us to become his apostles in the world with passionate zeal (2 Cor 5:14) created through the personal experience of the love of Jesus Christ.

The charism of Regnum Christi, initially embodied in the Legionaries of Christ, who, by their condition as priests make Christ the Priest and Good Shepherd present, has been extended with strength and richness to all the members of our spiritual family, allowing each one to participate fully in this evangelizing mission. Since those beginnings, the Lord has blessed our spiritual family with innumerable fruits: men and women transformed by an encounter with Christ, communities of apostles seeking to extend his Kingdom, and a living witness of charity among a diversity of vocations.

We have traveled a path that has not been free of challenges, but we have experienced the faithfulness of God who guides our mission. 2024 has also been a special year for our family. At the first Ordinary General Convention of the Regnum Christi Federation, we reflected deeply on the path that leads us to 2030, focused on our mission of “making the Kingdom of Christ present in people’s hearts and society.”

We strengthened our commitment to forming vibrant evangelizing communities of apostles, where each member finds a place to reach their vocational fullness and contributes their unique talents to the service of the Kingdom. Aware of the needs of today’s world, we have committed ourselves to be witnesses of hope in the midst of uncertainty because we are certain that “hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5), as Pope Francis tells us at the beginning of the bull of convocation of the jubilee “Spes Non Confundit.” We renew our apostolic mission to plant the seed of the Kingdom, go out to meet others at the crossroads, and see the world with the eyes and heart of Christ.

On this anniversary, we invite you to thank God for the Legionaries of Christ who, with their religious consecration, bear witness to their total dedication to Jesus Christ and as priests, represent Christ the Priest and Good Shepherd, collaborating in the formation and apostolic mission of the members of Regnum Christi. May Mary, Queen of the Apostles and Mother of Hope, continue to accompany us on this journey of configuration with her Son. United in prayer and mission, we trust that the fruits of the Spirit will continue to deepen and become fruitful, particularly in this year of jubilee grace.

With our prayers,

The General Directive College of Regnum Christi

Download PDF of English translation

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: How Should We Think of the ‘Things Above’?”

/ Ask a Priest
Q: What are the “things above” in Colossians 3:2 that we are to set our minds on, and what does it mean practically to set our minds on them? Does this just mean to keep Jesus always in the forefront of our thoughts? Thank you! — Sally

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: A full answer to your question could fill and has filled whole bookshelves. Perhaps a few ideas will help. One way to think of the “things above” is that it is shorthand for thinking of God and the things that will give him glory and help others. St. Paul urges us to see our lives from God’s perspective. That means that you want to be aware of your dignity as a daughter of God. He loves you dearly and hopes that you will be with him forever in heaven. In a word, he wants you to become a saint. With that in mind, you should start to see daily life differently. You make prayer and the sacraments a priority. You try to help your family and your neighbors. You try to see others as sons and daughters of God, too. You also try to see yourself, not as other people do, but as Christ does. He knows your heart and mind. He isn’t fooled by appearances. Keeping Christ front and center also helps you deal with the difficulties of life. You learn to unite your suffering with those of Jesus on the cross. You don’t get too caught up with the latest fads or apps or movies or whatever. All these things are passing and will be in the dustbin of history sooner than later. You learn to ask the famous question of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Quid hoc ad aeternitatem? What is this in the light of eternity? What matters in the light of eternity? God. Your dignity – and how you spent your life giving him glory. If you cultivate thinking of life from this perspective, you cultivate hope. You can also toughen yourself against the vagaries of the world. At the end of life, the only things that matter are what we did for God and for others. Everything else will vanish like smoke. This is a short answer, but one that I hope is helpful. Count on my prayers.   Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type your question HERE, and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

“Ask a Priest: How Should We Think of the ‘Things Above’?” Read More »

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: How Should We Think of the ‘Things Above’?”

/ Ask a Priest
Q: What are the “things above” in Colossians 3:2 that we are to set our minds on, and what does it mean practically to set our minds on them? Does this just mean to keep Jesus always in the forefront of our thoughts? Thank you! — Sally

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: A full answer to your question could fill and has filled whole bookshelves. Perhaps a few ideas will help.

One way to think of the “things above” is that it is shorthand for thinking of God and the things that will give him glory and help others. St. Paul urges us to see our lives from God’s perspective.

That means that you want to be aware of your dignity as a daughter of God. He loves you dearly and hopes that you will be with him forever in heaven. In a word, he wants you to become a saint.

With that in mind, you should start to see daily life differently.

You make prayer and the sacraments a priority. You try to help your family and your neighbors. You try to see others as sons and daughters of God, too.

You also try to see yourself, not as other people do, but as Christ does. He knows your heart and mind. He isn’t fooled by appearances.

Keeping Christ front and center also helps you deal with the difficulties of life. You learn to unite your suffering with those of Jesus on the cross.

You don’t get too caught up with the latest fads or apps or movies or whatever. All these things are passing and will be in the dustbin of history sooner than later.

You learn to ask the famous question of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Quid hoc ad aeternitatem? What is this in the light of eternity?

What matters in the light of eternity? God. Your dignity – and how you spent your life giving him glory.

If you cultivate thinking of life from this perspective, you cultivate hope. You can also toughen yourself against the vagaries of the world.

At the end of life, the only things that matter are what we did for God and for others. Everything else will vanish like smoke.

This is a short answer, but one that I hope is helpful. Count on my prayers.

 

“Ask a Priest: How Should We Think of the ‘Things Above’?” Read More »

January 3, 2025 – The Spirit Knows

/ Daily Meditations

 

 

 

 

Christmas Weekday

 

 

John 1:29-34

 

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

 

Opening Prayer: Lord, you entrusted John the Baptist with a big job in your plan of salvation. Open my ears to hear his eyewitness testimony with a fresh perspective and let it penetrate my soul like never before.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

  1. It’s You! When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him, there was nothing in the Lord’s bearing that hinted at his divinity. Jesus’s ministry was still nascent. He hadn’t even assembled disciples yet. How did John the Baptist know to proclaim Jesus the “Lamb of God” and “the Son of God”? The Gospel passage tells us that the Spirit prepared John for this moment. “I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me…” The Lord walks into my life a hundred times a day “disguised” as a friend, neighbor, or colleague. I will best recognize him and love him as he deserves to be loved when I’ve tapped into the Spirit beforehand. Prepare me, Lord, to encounter you often during this busy day as I spend these quiet moments praying.

 

  1. My Reason for Living: Modern psychologists would call John a self-actualized man. He knew his mission and purpose, and applied his talents and skills to accomplish it. His life coach probably would have discovered that John had excellent moral intuition, a strong sense of realism, and a fearlessness of the unknown, as do self-actualized men today. But, because John drew his purpose from pleasing God and doing God’s will, John also became a saint. I want to imitate John and seek my fulfillment by recognizing that my primary purpose is to know, love, and serve God unwaveringly. I want to live Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”

 

  1. God Knows Before We Do: The Lord told John the Baptist how to recognize him before he came to the river for his baptism. In the same way, the Spirit sometimes prepares us during prayer for future blessings or trials. Twenty years ago, I arrived home from my first weekend retreat to the news that my mother had cancer. She died shortly thereafter. I continue to thank the Lord for the blessing of having gotten to know him so intimately just before this trial entered our lives.

 

Conversing with Christ: Lord, the best moments of my day are those where you make your presence known to me in one of a thousand ways. Thank you for meeting me in my little reality. I praise you with a heart full of gratitude.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will actively look for you, listen to what you ask me to do through the messengers I meet, and act promptly, whether I’m asked to do something small and invisible or something that costs me.

 

For Further Reflection: Read what Saint Josemaría Escrivá has to say about docility to the Holy Spirit here.

 

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for moms who have college-aged young adults, And So We Pray, Guidance for Moms

with College-Aged Young Adults. She is a wife of more than thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother.

January 3, 2025 – The Spirit Knows Read More »

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!