PRAYER LEAFLET: COMMITTING TO A GROUP (August 2022)

We may know the need to live in a vibrant Christian community. We must be careful not to fall into the hands
of false prophets of the sects. But our security in this sense is to know that there are no sects in the Catholic
Church. Before joining a group, ask your parish priest. Other people object that there are often problems in
Christian groups. The adage says that there are no roses without thorns. The small Christian communities, the
groups, are a celebration of one's faith. But also a place where you have to forgive yourself. Of course, it
assumes that someone will offend you. In an association, even a Christian one, there will not always be only
laughter. Sometimes you have to be patient with others and forgive them. The Christian life is inseparable
from community life.

The benefits of a community

Cardinal Martini, then Archbishop of Milan, said that it is by meditating on the Word of God individually and
in groups that our faith grows. For example, in a couple having minor difficulties, sometimes a visitor who
does not know the couple's challenging moments is talking with the spouses. Sometimes you realize the couple
did not speak to each other before their arrival, yet they are already chatting with their host because they do
not want to let them know they are not getting along. (Mt 18:19 ). Many prayers are answered in a community
that prays together. Sometimes this is the beginning of the solution to their problem. So when we don't feel
like praying, when we feel weak, the other members of the group or our Christian community lift us and
support us: "What you ask for in unity, you shall have, for where two or more gathered in my name, there am
I in the midst of them.

In the small Christian community, in a Word of God group, the members help us to discern what gift God has
given us, and we have the opportunity to exercise it. For example, some people could not imagine being able
to sing a psalm in public. Today they can do it easily with the help of the community. The community can
also help a young person to discern a vocation to the priesthood or marriage. I know a young man who had
never expressed his desire to be a priest. It was in a Word of God group that this desire was developed and
made concrete. I also remember one day when I arrived in a new town where I knew no one. I had hardly even
found out where the chapel was. I knew that I needed others to maintain my faith. I looked for a group at the
parish where I joined, and this group helped me a lot in my faith. I would have found it challenging to keep
my Christian commitment without it. So it's good to carve out space in your schedule to stay connected to a
group, a Christian community.

Other people say, "I don't know what I'm going to gain there anymore." The book of Acts, chapter 20, verse
35 says, "there is more joy in giving than in receiving." So go to the group and give what you know. Pope
John Paul II says that faith grows when it is shared. There are many groups in the Church, and when recognized
by the clerical hierarchy, they all work to build the kingdom of God. But alongside the action or devotional
groups, there are 'spiritual' groups which Pope Benedict XVI has called New Communities and Ecclesial
Movements. These movements focus on the Word of God and grow in a personal relationship with Jesus to
be more active in the Church and the world. It is suitable for us to also look for a group that will help deepen
our prayer life, our knowledge of the Word of God, and our witness of life.

Many faithful do not find it essential to belong to a spiritual group, even though it is necessary if they want to
maintain and grow in their faith. At the meeting of delegates of new communities and ecclesial movements in
1998, Pope Benedict XVI told them: "You are the solution today to the problems of maturity in the Church."
So let's look for a group in the parish and get involved. If we are already there, let us deepen our commitment.

Henri Bayemi
 DAILY READINGS AND EXERCISES OF THE WORD TO PUT INTO PRACTICE
(August 2022)
Pray the pope's intention: Let us pray for small and medium entrepreneurs, hard hit by the
1. Monday: Mt 14, 13-21: economic and social crisis, that they can find the necessary means to pursue their activity in the
service of their communities. Read an excerpt from Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
No 491.
2. Tuesday: Mt 14, 22-36: Offer your worries to Jesus by praying Psalm 91. Read CCC No 492.
3. Wednesday: Mt 15, 21-28: Pray again for what is needed. Read CCC No 493.
4. Thursday : Jer 31, 31-34: God's directives are contained in his word: pray the Litany of the Word of God or read Psalm 119.
Read CCC No 494.
5. Friday: Mt 16, 24-28: Make a gesture of sacrifice to live the Word of God. Read CEC No 495.
6. Saturday : Lk 9, 28b-36: Transfiguration of the Lord. Do good to someone to be light by sharing the retreat and telling
the benefits of God. Read CCC No 496.
7. Sunday Luke 12, 35-40: Make a review of his life to better welcome the Lord. Read CCC No 497.
8. Monday : Mt 17, 22-27: Ask God for his providence to fill you in your finances. Read CCC No 498.

9. Tuesday: Mt 18, 1-5. 10. Help or pray for a child or help someone in their spiritual life. Read CCC No 499.
12-14:
10. Wednesday : Jn 12, 24-26: Render service to his parish or donate to the parish. Read CEC No 500.
11. Thursday : Mt 18, 21-19, 1: Make another effort to reconcile with someone with whom you don't get along well despite the
struggles you often make. Or else pray for him. Read No 501.
12. Friday : Mt 19, 3-12: Pray for a couple in difficulty and vocational discernment for young people. Read No 502.

13. Saturday: Mt 19, 13-15: Give a gift to a child, or take the time to chat with or pray for them. Read CEC No 503.
14. Sunday: Luke 12, 49-53: Do something (family prayer, spiritual sharing, spiritual counseling, telling the stories of saints, etc.)
that can revive faith in your home, family, or friends. Read CCC No 504.
15. Monday: Lk 1, 39-56: Assumption of the Virgin Mary: Be joyful and make a rosary or an ‘Ave Maria’ CCC No 505.
16. Tuesday: Eze 28, 1-10: Make an act of humility and fight pride in your attitude, words, or heart. Beginning of the Great
Retreat Word of God Germany. Read CEC No 506.
17. Wednesday: Mt 20, 1-16: Pray not to be jealous of the success of others and carry out an act of evangelization to work for
God. For retreatants, talking to Jesus as a friend. Read CEC No 507.
18. Thursday : Mt 22, 1-14: Check whether one gives priority to God in one's life or to one's occupations and oneself. And make
practical resolutions. For retreatants, make love resolutions in your family. Read CEC No 508.
19. Friday Eze 37, 1-14: Pray for all sinners and, if possible, offer a mass for the dead. For retreatants, asking for
forgiveness for one's sins. Read CEC No 509.
20. Saturday : Mt 23, 1-12: For retreatants, make resolutions to be faithful to their intimate prayer. Make an act of humility
and be sincere in your actions. Read CEC No 510.
21. Sunday : Don't worry about any problem or concern you have, and trust God. Share the fruits of retirement.
Lk 13, 22-30: Make resolutions to be faithful to your Word of God group for retreatants. Read CEC No 511.
22. Monday: Mt 23, 13-22:
Pray to be a witness to your behavior and to reflect the light of Jesus. Share an aspect of the great
retreat that gave you great joy. Read CEC No 512.
23. Tuesday: Mt 23, 23-26: Pity someone and help him. Read CCC No 513.
24. Wednesday : Jn 1, 45-51: Pray for a family member or help them love Jesus. Read CEC No 514.
25. Thursday : Mt 24, 42-51: Pray for the conversion of those dear to you. Read No 515.
26. Friday Mt 25, 1-13: Offer all your spiritual fatigues to Christ and make resolutions to be more active in your spiritual
life. Read CEC No 516.
27. Saturday: Mt 25, 14-30: Do not be lazy, but work with joy. Read CEC No 517.
28. Sunday: Lk 14, 1. 7-14 : Perform an act of humility. Read CEC No 518.
29. Monday : Mk 6, 17-29: Speak well of someone and protect their reputation. Or encourage someone dear to you. Read
CCC No 519.
30. Tuesday : Luke 4, 31-37: Avoid dirty words and actions and pray for a spirit of purity. Read CEC No 520.
31. Wednesday Luke 4, 38-44: Pray for a sick person, contact him, or, if possible, visit him. Read CCC No 521.
Prayer Leaflet of the Incarnation Movement (Movement of the Catholic Church):

ATTEND A WORD OF GOD ANNUAL RETREAT

DATE LIEU CONTACT
4th retreat Tuesday 2 August, at 4pm au Sunday Collège Notre Dame des Nations Yassa incarnationparolededieu@yahoo.com
7 August, at 2pm. Collège Notre Douala, Cameroon ; Bamenda : 673104585, Bafoussam 677 53 95 76.Dschang 674999989.
Dame des nations Yassa, Douala 675930137.
5th retreat Tuesday 16 to Sunday 21 August Diözesanhaus Vierzehnheiligen pddfrance@outlook.fr
Germany 9, 96231 Bad Staffelstein, Allemagne wordofgoduk@gmail.com
deutschlandsgotteswortgruppen@gmail.com
Theme : « Today, salvation has come for this house » (Lk 19, 9)