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| The primary goal of the Month of Nazareth is to lead the brother to the experience of faith in Jesus of Nazareth as supreme friend who invites him through the Eucharist to take and eat and share all with himself during the brother's entire lifetime. |
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Component Experiences
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1. Experience of prolonged silent prayer, experience of solitude, experience of desert (thus the chapel, surroundings, schedule should all be conducive.
2. Experience of fraternity, the experience of being loved by brothers who together seek Jesus (sharing meals, review of life, manual work together should all be conducive.)
3. Experience of Universality, both active and passive. The brothers on the Month should experience a crossing over of cultural, national economic and age barriers which is extremely liberating and highlights the main motive for fraternity, i.e., the common brotherly search for Jesus. (visiting brothers from overseas, making the Month of Nazareth in common with those overseas should all be conducive.)
4. Experience of Poverty for love of Jesus and the poor (manual labor, modest and poor surroundings all should be conducive.)
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Further Observations
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The Month of Nazareth should lead the brother to the point of making his consecration.
Ergo:
1. Fraternity spirituality must be clearly and forcefully presented (the didactic element in the Month of Nazareth should be predominant)
2. The life of fraternity is a real, clearly defined vocation and as such demands real fidelity and obedience on our part. It demands a real change in the way of life, a real conversion.
3. The essential elements of the consecration should be clearly outlined and several examples (formularies) of consecration should be presented.
Bryan Karvelis
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The Month of Nazareth offers brothers a more extended and deeper experience of Fraternity life. In the U.S.. the National Council seeks to organize a month biannually, usually mid-July to mid-August in order to experience living in fraternity with 12-15 other brothers throughout the country. While practicing the core components of fraternity life mentioned above, those participating explore in a contemplative way their lives, ministry, and their relationship with God in the spirit of Nazareth. As the Directory points out, The Month is a sharing of fraternal life at every level: prayer, reflection, manual work, leisure. etc. Formally it becomes a turning point in their ministry and commitment to Jesus and to Fraternity. This Month remains the ideal for all members Knowing that individual fraternities and districts can be enriched by the presence of one of its members at the Month. a goal might be to have fraternities sponsor a member yearly, assisting in arranging coverage for that priest's responsibilities at home.
Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests -- An Overview of Spirituality and Method, (Fifth Edition, April 1987), sometimes called the 'American Experience'
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Why I Made the Month of Nazareth
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I was very pleased to hear from Ron Belisle that the Month of Nazareth will be here in our own backyard. This will be an opportunity that probably will never be more available in our life times.
Now, why would you want to take a whole month to make the Month of Nazareth? I have made the Month twice. I would have to say that the first time was in Detroit which was for me was more of a third world experience then an experience of deepening fraternity ties and my faith.
My experience the second time in the summer of 1999 at the seminary in Camarillo was wonderful. If I remember correctly there were 10 of us. One of the guys was a Lutheran minister who belonged to a Lutheran JC group. We had people from Denver, Florida, Detroit, California, Georgia and some other places.
One of the things that were emphasized was of being a family or fraternity. Most of us lived alone and so spending close time together was a different way of living life. The areas where we had the most tension had to do with what foods to purchase, how to cook things, who had the TV controls, and how to get the briquettes started. We experienced the same kinds of tensions that would take place in a family and still by our deep sharing and prayer a great love developed between us.
I don¹t think that we learned that much about the life of Brother Charles but we did learn a great deal about being small and loving the other brothers. So we practiced the chrisms that were present in the life of Charles. We took care of our own needs and so this was not like a usual retreat experience. We divided into teams for cleaning; cooking, shopping and we were surprised at how much time was needed for the usual but simple parts of life.
If you have any specific questions please feel free to call me at 541.579.3569 or email me at dickr@opusnet.com.
Your little brother, Dick Rossman
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