Counsels for Spiritual Life
Program of Ongoing Formation for Associates of the Blessed Sacrament
The Counsels for Spiritual Life is a book published by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament headquartered in Rome, Italy. It uses English Texts of letters taken from The Life and Letters of St. Peter Julian Eymard translated by Sr. Catherine Marie Caron, SSS. The book contains selections from some 2,212 letters Fr. Eymard wrote to fellow religious, partners in ministry and spiritual directees.
Sessions/Themes
The selection and organization of themes into sessions, meant to last 1:15 – 1:30 hours, was done by a team of Associates of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Paschal Baylon in Cleveland, Ohio under the direction of the CEE; they were then put into a more general format to be used by other branches of associates throughout the province.
Counsels Overview/Organizational Suggestions
Session Series #1
Counsels Reference document for Series #1: this document includes some of the letters written by Saint Peter Julian Eymard referred to in the different sessions.
I. God’s Love for Us: the experience of God’s love for us in the life of a religious and an associate.
II. The Eucharist: the role of the Eucharist in the life of a religious and an associate.
III. The Gift of Self: its meaning and importance in the life of a religious and an associate.
IV. Vocation: the call to be a religious and an associate – then and now.
V. Prayer I: the place and importance of prayer in the life of a religious and an associate.
VI. Prayer II: the place and importance of praying the Liturgy of the Hours in the life of a religious and an associate.
VII. Adoration: the experience of prayer before the Eucharist (Adoration) in the life of a religious and an associate.
VIII. Faithfulness: being faithful to God’s call in the life of a religious and an associate.
IX. The Cross: experiencing the cross in the life of a religious and an associate.
X. Divine Providence: the experience of God’s divine providence in the life of a religious and an associate.
XI. Humility: the role of the virtue of humility in the life of a religious and an associate.
XII. Experiencing God’s Love in Trying Times: the experience of God’s love during trying times in the life of a religious and an associate.
