Gratuitous Love

Striving To Grow in Virtue

Gathered together with our sisters in Christ. 

In solidarity striving for a more virtuous life. 

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Treasure our January Virtue Party each year.

Opportunity to support each other we hold so dear. 

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Our hearts are open to the Holy Spirit as guide.

Virtue, prayer partner, saint to be at our side. 

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Virtues go deeper than values and goals. 

They are God's offer to all of graces untold.

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My virtue this year,  grow in Gratuitous Love. 

Means so much more than a smile or hug.

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Serving those in need with no recompense. 

To some this may make very little sense.

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Morning prayer, Gratuitous Love is my heart's sway.

At night I ponder how tomorrow's a better day.

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St. Bernard highlights foundations Christ's teachings laid.

"Love that does not know how to give freely is not love but trade.”

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Jesus’ Parable of the Banquet:

“He said also to the one who had invited Him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’ ” Luke:14

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Last week, a Catholic lay charism that I am a member of, Regnum Christi (Christ the King), held our annual Virtue Party. It's a fun event as we gather as friends and as sisters in Christ. It also serves as a wonderful opportunity for  spiritual growth. We eat, we drink, we pray, we share testimonies, we laugh, we cry, and we think about ways we can grow together in faith, hope and love. Often its the recent sorrows we share that draws us even closer. 

The heart of the evening is to discover our new Christian virtue, prayer partner and a saint to focus on for the year. The random draws we make, adds to the fun and solidarity in discovering each other's spiritual challenges for the year. It also provides an opportunity to be open and docile to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We know each other well enough to be able to appreciate the synchronicities and ironies in what we each draw. Such a fun and fruitful way to begin the New Year.