The Church carries a rich lineage of mystics, including figures like Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and Josefa Menendez, who were granted visions of Jesus and received the deep desires of His heart. The messages they received indicate that Jesus wants his followers to actively assist him in bringing souls to himself. This collaboration isn’t presented as optional but as an essential expression of love and a response to his own burning desire for the salvation of all people.
Here are some key points that emerge from their writings:
- Jesus Expressly Asks for Help: Jesus repeatedly and directly asks for assistance in his mission. To Josefa Menendez, he says, “Help Me, Josefa, help Me to make My love for men known” (The Way of Divine Love). This clearly indicates that he doesn’t intend to accomplish this task alone but desires the active participation of those who love him.
- Instruments for a Divine Purpose: Jesus specifically wishes us to draw others to him. In his revelations to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus says, “My Heart desires to manifest Itself to men, that they may be enriched with Its treasures … I have chosen thee … for the accomplishment of this great design” (Life of Margaret Mary Alacoque). In fact, this language highlights that he doesn’t simply welcome assistance; he actively seeks out individuals to be his instruments, his collaborators in this mission.
- Sharing in His Redemptive Work: We are called to collaborate with Jesus’ own redemptive work. The concept of co-redemption implies a shared mission, where individuals, through their union with Christ, participate in the ongoing work of bringing grace and salvation to the world. As stated in, “Just as all Christians, and all consecrated souls most especially, are supposed to cooperate in the work of redemption.” (The Redeemer’s Call to Consecrated Souls)
- Specific Ways to Collaborate: Here are concrete examples of how we can participate in this collaborative mission:
-
-
- Prayer: Prayer, particularly intercessory prayer for the conversion of sinners, is a powerful means of assisting Jesus.
-
-
-
- Sacrifice and Reparation: Offering up daily sacrifices and acts of reparation for the offenses committed against Jesus. This willingness to share in his suffering is presented as a way of consoling his heart and making atonement for the sins that wound him. As stated in, “I need victims to repair the bitterness inflicted on My Heart and to relieve My sorrow.” (The Way of Divine Love)
-
-
-
- Apostolic Witness: Living a life that reflects the love and mercy of Jesus, thereby attracting others to him through example and word. Jesus says, “I want to use you … to disclose to the world the mercy and love of My Heart.” (The Way Of Divine Love)
-
- The Power of Love: Ultimately, the most effective way to collaborate with Jesus in bringing souls to himself is through love. Love for Jesus should naturally overflow into a desire to share his love with others, to become his instruments of mercy and compassion in the world.
Mystics are given a compelling portrait of a God who desires not only to be loved but to be loved in a way that transforms us into active participants in his plan of salvation. They challenge us to move beyond a passive acceptance of his love and to embrace the call to collaborate with him in the beautiful and urgent mission of bringing all souls to him.
Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Articles on evangelization and parish revitalization:
- Prayer and Service that Finds Favor With God
- The Transformative Power of Love
- The Evangelization Power of Prayer and Love for God
- Everyday Evangelization
- Every Act of Love is Evangelization
- Loving Jesus and Making Him Loved
- Embracing a Lifestyle of Worship and Praise
- A Prayer for Divine Healing and Restoration
- Factors That Have Proven to Attract People to Christ
- Evangelization: Finding Life and Giving Life
- The Eucharist: Source And Summit of All Evangelization
- Practical Steps for Reaching the Unchurched
- Bible Sharing Guide for Small Groups: A Synodal Approach
- Bringing People to Christ by Inspiring Love and Praise for God
- Proclaiming God’s Word: A Sacred Call
- From Decline to Renewal: The Transformation of New Life Church–Farmington
- The Church’s Social Doctrine and Evangelization
- Kindness: A Christian Perspective
- How to Bring Someone to Christ
- The Ultimate Purpose of Human Life – Glorifying God
- From Near-Death to New Life: A Rural Church’s Revitalization Journey
- Evangelization simply: “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
- Revitalization of Rural Churches
- Attracting Converts to the Catholic Faith
- Addressing Low Attendance in Churches
- Fostering a Sacred Atmosphere during the Sunday Mass
- Prayer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit
- Jesus is Thirsty for Souls
- Praying And Sharing The Good News With God’s Redemptive Names
- Embracing the Call to Evangelize
- What is Most Pleasing to God? Bringing Souls to Christ
- The Growth of the Church of the Nativity (Fr. Michael White)
- Deliverance Prayer, by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti (AUDIO – mp3)
- The Growth of Saint Benedict Parish (Fr. James Mallon)
- Five Pillars of the Christian Life
- Encountering Christ: The Path to Transformation
- What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?
- Unleashing The Evangelization Potential of Your Parish
- The Ultimate Goal of Evangelization
- God’s Longing for Love and our Mission to Make it Known
- A prayer for those whom we wish to encounter Christ
- Memorable Sundays
- Fr. Bedard’s Three-Step Blueprint for Evangelisation
- Guide for The Missionary Transformation of Parishes
- Divine Encounters: A Practical Guide for Small Evangelization Groups
- The Missionary Transformation of Sant’Eustorgio Parish
- Creating Vibrant Faith Communities: Insights from ‘Excellent Catholic Parishes’
- Sharing The Gospel According to People’s Needs And Receptivity
- A Prayer for Inviting Others to Evangelization Meetings and Services
- Welcoming Church Guests and Visitors: Dos and Don’ts
- Various Dimensions of Evangelization
- The True Measure of Success
- Pope Francis on Evangelization
- Revitalizing the Rural Parish for Mission
- Factors Leading to Christian Conversion
- Evangelizing Through Random Acts of Kindness
- Questions To Start Spiritual Conversations
- Three Feet From Gold
- Spreading the Gospel One Act at a Time
- Gather, Witness and Invite
- Prayer to Receive the Spiritual Gifts of The Holy Spirit
- The Language of Evangelization
- Key Factors for Parish Growth According to Rich Birch
- How to defeat Satan?
- Bringing Love, Hope and Healing Through the Gospel
- Love: Our Fundamental Vocation
- Touched by the Master
- A Man, a Dog, and the Ultimate Love
- The essence of evangelization: Loving God and our neighbours
- Loving Our Enemies and Reconciling with Others
- A Powerful Prayer for Healing: You Are The LORD Who Heals Me
- Living a Life of Love: Mother Teresa’s Legacy
- Living a Life of Love: Lessons from the New Testament
- In The Shadows Of Darkness, A Powerful Force Is At Work
- 19 Pastoral Orientations for Parish Renewal and Growth
- The Missionary Renewal of Catechesis
- Characteristics of missionary parishes
- Powerful healing prayer attributed to St. Padre Pio
- We are called to share our faith with others
- Should we seek to grow the Church?
- Find a Need and Fill It – Revealing God’s Heart in the Community
- 15 Habits to Evangelize on a Daily Basis
- The Church’s Mission
- Three Barriers to Building An Invitational Culture In Your Parish
- The Relational Evangelizer
- Doing Church at Home
- The Blind Girl
- A Group of Frogs
- The Elephant Rope
- A Shared Faith is a Growing Faith
- In The Shoes Of The Unchurched
- Parish Evangelizing Cells
- Six Unique Features of Missional Parishes
- Steps Towards Becoming A Missional Parish
- What Is Evangelization, And How Should It Be Carried Out?
- Discussion And Self-Assessment Questions For Parish Evangelization
- A Missional Church Is A Church That Prays
- The Jesus Prayer: A Method To Pray At All Times
- What can help children raised Catholic continue practicing the faith as adults?
- An Example of a Missionary Parish: Phoenix First Assembly of God
- Satan’s Tactics
- Learning to Be a Missionary
- When we cry out to God, he answers
- Presence and Proclamation
- Saving those who are lost
- Saint-Nazaire Parish: The story of a missionary transformation
- Small Groups and Evangelization
- Evangelizing By Inviting People To Receive Jesus As Lord And Saviour
- You Will Receive Power…
- Have You Heard About the Law of Three Hearings and Seven Touches?
- Three Habits of a Fruitful Christian Life
