Growing in Christ

Presentations and discussion on deepening one’s relationship with Christ by reflecting more deeply on his four modes of presence to us:

A. Personal/historical. The personal, historical Jesus is someone with whom we can be in relationship. Because he is human, we feel we can talk with him because he understands our situation; we can focus on him and experience a bond of love developing between us. Through faith, we know that he still lives, and also that this man, who once existed in space and time with a body like ours, is, somehow, still available to us in his risen state. Read the first pargraph of the opening conference.

B. Ecclesial (in the Church, the Christian community). Jesus continued his ministry on earth by sending the Holy Spirit to form and gift communities of believers to love with his own power and compassion. It is in and through the Church that we encounter Christ in a distinctive way--as a special quality of love flowing through those who gather in his name. Read a short section.

C. Sacramental. Christ feeds the spiritual hungers of his followers and comes to us in special and intimate ways through the Sacraments ministered in the Church. Here we focus on those signs and symbols that mediate his presence, including those formally recognized in various Christian traditions, and others that have special meaning to us. Read a paragraph from Conference Five.

D. Cosmic. The risen, ascended Jesus is one with the Word, through whom all things were made (Jn. 1: 3). What this means is that all of reality is, in fact, sacramental, a symbolic means through which Christ is present to us. Read the opening sentences from Conference Seven.

Learning Process
Participants will receive eight input conferences from Dr. St. Romain. Suggestions for spiritual practice and questions for reflection and discussion will be provided for each of the four modes. A special discussion forum with email digest option will be set up on the Shalom Place web site to enable discussion and interaction between participants and Dr. St. Romain. Information will be sent to registrants on how to join the forum and participate after registration.

Registration
You may register and pay the program fee online using PayPal secure credit card service. A printable registration form is also provided for those who prefer to pay by check or money order via postal mail.
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As a Catholic growing up, I was often mystified by Protestants’ affirmations of knowing Jesus as their “personal Lord and Savior.” Fundamentalists on the campuses of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and Louisiana State University were particularly insistent on the importance of this kind of knowledge. I had faith in God, and believed all that the Church taught about Jesus--his resurrection, ascension, and the victory won over Satan and death--so I didn’t think I was lacking a great deal. Even after attending a Cursillo retreat in 1973 and then becoming involved in Charismatic Renewal, I still felt drawn more to God and the Holy Spirit than to Jesus. People in the prayer meetings would talk to Jesus with such fervor, as though he was standing right next to them, interacting with them; they would speak to "the Lord” about this and that with great confidence, assured that he heard them and cared for them. I envied the intimacy they seemed to have, and prayed that I might come to know the same. . .
- Conference One: "Encountering the Personal-Historical Christ"

. . . At that time (college years, early 70s), I didn’t know many people in the campus community--not even the priests, really. Nevertheless, there was a “spirit” of sorts at work in the community as we gathered for worship--a kind of warm, welcoming, hospitable feeling: people greeting me as I walked in, smiles from those with whom I exchanged the sign of peace. But mostly there were all these people . . . coming together to pay homage to God! Just the marvel of this alone touched me! I wondered why they were really here, or what they were “getting out of it?” I saw some of my biology professors there, and a physics and philosophy professor. That gave me heart. If *they* could believe and get themselves to Mass, then perhaps there wasn’t really anything in biology or philosophy that could invalidate my faith. The simple fact of their church attendance was a sign of hope for me, although I’m sure I never told them this. . . .
- Conference Three: "Encountering Christ in the Christian Community"

Sacramental celebrations and symbols help to awaken our faith and open us to Christ’s presence in a specific circumstance or context. We might be able to turn to Christ without the assistance of sacramentals, but because we are human, it is natural for us to want to use these helps in our Christian prayer and devotion. Because of the incarnational nature of Christianity, we also know that Christ is disposed to meet us in our human endeavors, longings, and times of worship. In fact, he has promised us that “wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am there in your midst.” (Mt. 18:20) Sacramentals often provide a means for “gathering in his name,” so we can be assured that Christ is when us when we do so.
- Conference Five: "Encountering Christ in a Sacramental Context"

Maybe you know someone who says they find God in nature; maybe you are such a person yourself. I know I am. Even during those times earlier in my life when I didn’t much appreciate the role of religion in conveying a sense of God’s presence, I still felt close to God in nature. I enjoyed hunting, fishing, bird-watching, boating, camping out, gardening, and lots of other outdoor activities. The fresh air and sunshine can help anyone feel better, but there was more to it than that . . .
- Conference Seven: "Encountering Christ in a Cosmic Context"