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A Lay Woman’s Reflection on Marist Spirituality and the interface with Spiritual Direction by Bev McDonald, B. Theol.
The above artical was first published in"Presence Vol. 13, No. 3. http://sdiworld.org/presence_journal.html
Bev lives in New Zealand with her husband and daughter. She is a spiritual director and holds a Bachelor of Theology from Auckland University. email address: stillpoint.ak@gmail.com
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Meeting of Lay Marists of Europe in Torino, Italy, August 2007.
Three of the talks from the European gathering of Lay Marists in Turin August 2007
- 'HIDDEN AND UNKNOWN':A MARIST WAY TO LIFE Jan Hulshof
- The identity of Marist lay people and their relation with the other branches: to what extent has Father Colin’s dream been realized? Marie-Claude Grulier
- Marist lay people: what perspectives for the future? , Marion Korenromp
More information to follow soon.
 
The Irish group who attended the European gathering of Lay Marists in Turin in August 2007:
Sr. Moira Ryan, Sile O'Reilly, Darina Muckian Ryan, Sr. Alvarez, Celia Faul, Sr. Miriam McManus, Catherine Muckian, May Lynott, Eileen Mc Cann, Sharon Duggan, Nuala Fox, Reena Mc Dermott, Annette Flanagan, Mary McQuaide, Vera Browne, and Kitty Walshe.
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The Marist Laity
are at the very heart of the Society. Its members are heirs
to the full Colinian inheritance that vision for the Society
of Mary of Fr Colin. It could even be said that where a vigorous
Marist lay movement does not exist alongside the other two
branches the Society does not fully exist. It is like a defective
tree with one of the fruit-bearing branches missing. Colin
looked mainly to Marist laity to spread the spirit of Mary
throughout the world. The Marist Laity (Maristica 4) Frank
McKay Page 76.
Since this world is the arena for Mary's work, it is natural
that a vast family is necessary, each individual Lay Marist
and groups of Lay Marists working in their own environment
and according to their own vocation. Each group therefore,
can have certain guidelines for practices to be adopted by
the members. Jean-Claude Colin recognised the great variety
of groups possible here ranging from those with a minimum
of rules to be followed, to those, which demand more of their
members. The essence of the matter has nothing to do with
groups, rules or practices but rather that Marists live in
the spirit of Mary with a missionary heart.
As being a Marist is rather more a way of life; there is
no emphasis on any particular religious practices apart from
the religious practices of an ordinary Christian life. Marists
focus on the person of Mary rather than on particular practices.
Each group and individual however, can decide what particular
prayers and practices they wish to follow while being mindful
that they be in keeping with the spirit of Mary. Called to
be evangelisers they keep a special place in their prayers
for all those in great need, invoking Mary's intercession.
One traditional form of this is simply on rising and retiring
to pray the prayer 'We fly to your protection' and three Hail
Mary's. It is important that Marist devotion be simple and
unaffected and not draw attention to itself. It is principally
expressed in living her spirit rather than in talking about
her or in great public manifestations. Marists as such do
not propagate any special devotions to Mary.
Each group of Marist Laity can work out its own organisation
once it is in keeping with the basic principles explained
above. Some groups may be very loosely organised, others more
tightly organised and more demanding.
The leadership in each group should come ideally from the
members themselves and not from the priests, brothers and
sisters of the Society of Mary. It is essential that groups
work in harmony with the local pastors in the parish and not
become in any way divisive or elite.
It is to be encouraged that individual Marist Laity and
groups develop links, both formal and informal, with other
branches of the Marist family.
- The Marist laity is a manifestation of the intrinsic
dynamism of the Society and co-extensive with it.
- The Marist laity is to be seen primarily as evangelising.
- The scope of the Marist laity is as wide as the world,
so a truly evangelising movement must be ecumenical.
- Marist Laity is to be seen as an initiative of the whole
Marist family.
The Marist Laity (Maristica
4) Frank McKay. Page 76ff
General Characteristics of Marist Groups
1. A Variety of Expressions
Since the entire world is the arena for Mary's work, it is
natural that a vast family is necessary, with each individual
and group working in their own environment and according to
their own vocation. Each group can have certain guidelines
for practices to be adopted by the members. A great variety
is possible:ranging from those with a minimum of rules to
be followed, to those which demand more. One form is not better
than another. The essence is not to be found in groups, rules
or practices, but rather in that Marists are committed to
live in the spirit of Mary with a missionary heart.
For copies of 'The Marist Laity' contact An
Turas
2. Devotion and Practices
A. Devotion
to Mary: Marists have devotion to Mary. This expresses
itself in living her spirit rather than in great public manifestations.
Their devotion to Mary is personal and shapes their way of
life, but it is not part of their vocation to propagate any
special devotions to Mary.
B. Religious
Practices: Being a Marist is more a way of life, and their
is no emphasis on any particular religious practices apart
from the religious practices of a committed Christian life.
The person of Mary is important rather than particular practices.
Each group and individual however, can decide what particular
prayers and practices they wish to follow while being mindful
that they be in keeping with the spirit of Mary. Called to
be evangelisers they pray for all those in great need, invoking
Mary' intercession. It is important that Marist devotion be
simple and unaffected and not draw attention to itself. (One
traditional form of this is simply on rising and retiring
to pray the prayer 'We fly to your protection' and three hail
Mary's).
3. Structures
and Rules
A. Each
group can work out its own organisation in keeping with the
basic principles explained above. Some groups may be very
loosely organised, others more tightly so and more demanding.
B.The leadership
should come from the members themselves in so far as possible
and not from the members of the religious congregations. It
is essential that groups work in harmony with the local pastors
in the parish and are not in any way divisive or elitist.
C. Individuals
and groups are encouraged to develop links, both formal and
informal, with other branches of the Marist family.
Marist Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2005
Additional
Information
Conference
talk given by Andrea Pichlmeier,at
the Boston Laity Conference April 2004.
Conference
talks given by Larry Duffy, Edwin
Keel and Rick McCord, at the
New Orleans Laity Conference 2000.
Marist
Family Retreat 1999,
The 'New Church' in the context of Marist Spirituality, Jan
Hulshof sm.
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