Rule of Life

Prologue

We believe that the Holy Spirit continues to guide and bless our pilgrimage of faith with graces and charisms necessary for the building up the Body of Christ, the Church. Therefore we come together in this holy brotherhood because we believe that the same Holy Spirit has inspired us and, in response to this inspiration, we desire to take the path of holiness:  to contemplate the Eucharistic Presence more deeply, to love one another more purely, and to serve the poor and the sick more humbly. In the spirit of the Beatitudes, let us dedicate ourselves to the works of holiness with charity, zeal for the Kingdom, growth in wisdom and grace, trust in Divine Providence, and sharing in the Passion and Compassion of Christ.

1. Twin Pillars of the Holy Life: Humility and Charity

My brothers in this holy brotherhood, the following precepts are laid before us so that we may take the journey towards the Holy Life, not as persons hindered and burdened by legalism, but as brothers guided and freed by Christ's redemptive love. Let us then strive with joy to live up to the holy demands of this Rule of Life so that we may attain the twin pillars of holiness--”humility and charity. The holy journey begins with humility and bears fruit in charity.

2. The Inspirations of the Holy Spirit

The inspirations and movements of the Holy Spirit are, at times, gentle and lingering and, at other times, fast and fleeting. At all times, however, we are called to respond. For thus we read, Do not stifle the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test everything; retain what is good. Avoid any semblance of evil (1 Thess. 5:19-22). We must respond to these holy inspirations with promptness because charity does not wait. Let us not take long to discern God's Holy Will. It is easy to justify our indifference or our lack of contemplation, generosity and commitment, in the name of prolonged discernment and circumspection. As the Apostle James reminds us, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and you say to them, goodbye and good luck! Keep warm and well-fed, but do not meet their bodily needs, what good is that? So it is with the faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless (James 2:14-17). The Word of God also exhorts us, how can God's love survive in a man who has enough of this world's goods yet closes his heart to his brother when he sees him in need? Little children, let us love in deed and in truth and not merely talk about it (1 Jn. 3:17-18).

3. Supremacy of Charity

The charity of Christ urges us (2 Cor. 5:14). Charity is the supreme law. For the Word of God tells us, God is love (1 Jn. 4:16). The more we express our love for God, both in prayer and in service, the more we give witness to the Word made flesh. Therefore, let nothing or no one impede the holiness of love and the labor of love, for love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom 13:10).MAgain, the Word of God assures us that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pt. 4:8). Thus, all the other precepts are in the service of charity. In the end, there will only be three things: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13).

4. Prayer
Prayer is the food of the soul. Prayer is the humble recognition that God alone is our life. By this we acknowledge that all life and holiness flows from God and is oriented to God by an inner dynamism called, the Holy Spirit. Prayer, in this sense, becomes both an active process of entering into the life of the triune God and a passive process of being embraced by that same triune God.

Therefore, we draw strength of life and love, not from ourselves, that is to say, not from our talents and skills, not from our knowledge and experience, not even from our individual character and personal achievement. With unceasing prayer, let us console ourselves and those entrusted to us that we have a God who journeys with us. Let our prayer lead us to prayerfulness, and our prayerfulness, to service. Let us study the Word of God and live according to the divine Wisdom. Let us judge events on the basis of God's Word, as we draw inspiration from the lives of the saints, especially the lives of St. Ezekiel Moreno and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and learn assiduously from the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

5. Discerning God's Will
Let it be our personal project to form our conscience in accordance with what is true, good and right. Whatever is respectable and noble, forgiving and redeeming, sacred and loving corresponds to the Holy Will of God. Nothing that is good is opposed to God's Holy Will. Only sin is contrary to the Holy Will of God. For thus you read, do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2).

6. Realizing God's Holy Will
Let us not quarrel over which ministry best expresses the Divine Will and which program, project or activity best realizes the Divine Plan. For, indeed, there are infinite possibilities and equally infinite ways of fulfilling God's eternal Will and Wisdom. In the Body of Christ there are many members and many forms of giftedness and service, all of which are intended for the building up of the one and the same Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 Pt. 4:10-11). Therefore, let there be no place for competition among us as to which work is the most effective or the most fruitful, as this manner of thinking and proceeding is based merely on human estimation. Greatness is not found in the scope or extent of our work, neither is it measured by popular adulation. If greatness were to be pursued at all, let it be a greatness of love and sacrifice in the most silent of ways.

7. Prudence and Respect
Let us always be prudent in our choice of the specific ways by which we express and reveal Christ'™s presence to others. Let us humbly respect the personality patterns, the stages of maturity, the seasons of life, the different levels of brokenness, the socio-cultural circumstances, and the individual pace of our brothers in this holy brotherhood, and of the people entrusted to us by the grace of God. Mission life and work entail a long and gradual process. Prudence and respect will thus engender perseverance and a deeper, yet more humbling, understanding of how slow and painful, human growth can be.

Such is the mystery that unravels the divine pedagogy: Jesus, Our Revealer and Redeemer, did not immediately impose his Divine Identity and Mission upon those he called. He first invited them to come to him "come after me and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19), "follow me" (Mt. 9:9), "come and see" (Jn. 1:39) and it was only later that the Father revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Mt. 16:16). Jesus walked with his disciples in a journey of revelation from his humanity to his divinity.

8. Serving Humbly and Joyfully
My brothers, let us count it pure joy to serve the poor and the sick. They are God's beloved. Let us not be sad, offended, or angry, if for the services we render we do not receive any word of gratitude or any form of compensation in return. Charity is its own reward.

However, if by cultural practice we receive some words of appreciation, let us welcome such compliments with true humility and holy indifference. Or again, if by cultural practice, the poor and the sick give us some material compensation, such gesture of gratitude may be received, provided that it does not deprive them of their basic needs and it does not worsen their poverty.

9. Giving Witness to Christ: Poor, Chaste and Obedient
Let us always be simple and moderate in our food, clothing and shelter. Let us keep our hearts and minds chaste, because only the pure of heart will see God (cf. Mt 5:8). Let us obey those who exercise stewardship over us and let us do so with humility and charity, always deferring to the Holy Will of God.

Let us therefore be unassuming in all that we do. The more we recede to the background, the more the memory, presence and promise of the Risen Christ become clear, meaningful and abiding.

10. Modus laborandi
Before undertaking any apostolic work, let us pray intensely and ask the Lord to bless and accompany us, lest we proclaim only ourselves and, consequently, labor in vain. After serving the poor and the sick, let us go back to the Lord to give Him thanks, praise, honor and glory for having given us the privilege to spread the fragrance of humility and charity. Before we rest each night, let us kneel and humble ourselves before the Eucharistic Lord to ask for forgiveness for whatever faults we might have committed while working with God's flock.

Let all our formation in prayer, work and study be put in the service of charity. Thus, advancement in studies should not lead to pride, but to greater capacity, availability and willingness to serve. Those who have more to give must serve more, but always serving in humility and charity. As we work in the areas of physical rehabilitation, psychological recovery, social reform, and spiritual renewal, let us bear in mind that it is God's Kingdom that we seek (cf. Mt. 6:33) and it is Christ that we serve: "I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me" (Mt. 25:40). Let us, then, work, not for self-glorification, but for growth in wisdom and grace.

11. Modus Vivendi
Let us live harmoniously in the house. Let us encourage one another in the midst of difficulties. Let not our differences come in the way of our one mission to serve the poor and the sick. We are all pilgrims in this world. Let us, therefore, strive to inspire one another to take up this Holy Journey. We grow in wisdom and grace, as we pray, love and serve. Conversely, as we pray, love and serve, we should also strive to grow in wisdom and grace.

12. The Use of Things
All things that belong to us whether given, lent or owne are to be treated as mere means to an end. Our only purpose is to serve the poor and the sick God's beloved. Let us therefore simplify our needs so as not to deprive the poor and the sick of things that truly belong to them, for what is ours is also theirs. We are all pilgrims. We are mere dispensers of God's manifold blessings. Everyone must give according to what he has inwardly decided; not sadly, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver. God can multiply his favors among you so that you may always have enough of everything and even a surplus for good works (2 Cor 9:7-8).

Epilogue: Ecclesia semper reformanda

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). Let us therefore strive to renew ourselves each day just as the Church, the Body of Christ, continuously responds to the ever-refreshing call to renewal and holiness. Let us put on a new man, one who grows in knowledge as he is formed anew in the image of his Creator (Col. 3:10).

Let us see to it that in all our undertakings, we grow in virtue. For the religious vows without virtue are meaningless. Chastity without virtue becomes prudishness. Poverty without virtue is misery. Obedience without virtue is slavery. Faith without good works is dead. Good works without the practice of virtue can only make us proud and vain. Let us always be humble and charitable. Let Christ be everything in all of us (cf. Col 3:11).

May the Holy Spirit, joy and strength of the pure of heart, comfort us in the Most Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Healer of soul and body. Amen.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Beatitudes, lead us to the Kingdom of Heaven that same Kingdom proclaimed by her Son in time and prepared by the Father from all eternity. Amen.

May St. Joseph, protector of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes, keep us strong in the service of our Lord. Amen.

May St. Ezekiel Moreno and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta always intercede for us as we adore the Most Blessed Sacrament, live in harmony with our brothers in this holy brotherhood, and serve the poor and the sick entrusted to our care. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Ferdinand T. Hernando
Steward-Founder
Missionaries of the Beatitudes

September 1, 2008