Animator Guidelines

MY TALENT IS MY WEAKNESS

Father Andrew Buczel, the co-founder of the Movement, knew that he was an empty vessel full only of “poisonous serpents.” He felt he could only offer harm to his group on his own. Therefore, he spent a half hour on his knees both before and after his meetings. My “talent” is my weakness. The animator must be the most willing to be weak – to share weakness, but also God’s redemption through Mary. It is important not only to tell others of our weaknesses, but also the good things that come from God’s grace. We should not tell of our weaknesses as a “technique” when we really don’t see them, but rather, we should always stand in truth!

PASSIVE FORMATION

Passive formation is oriented toward the conversion of our minds in order to see our lives as Christ sees them. When we decide to accept the way He looks at our life, we become united with Jesus through faith. We should come to each meeting for our conversion toward faith, as a participation in the way God sees things, as a participation in the truth about God, ourselves, and the world.

True faith is not supported by feelings, but by our mind and our will. Ultimately, it is a decision of our will. The goal of the sharing group is the growth of our faith, an increase in our desire to be united with Christ. We try to open up to see things as Christ sees them in order to be united to Him. The false image of God should gradually change so that the image of the merciful Father can be formed.

The graces that accompany the meeting will gradually open up our minds and incline our will to desire to live according to what we read. The goal of the meeting is not to learn something new, but to desire to adapt our lives to the Gospel.

The materials of our spirituality present how God acts in our lives in order to give us opportunities to convert. The Pope says that a Christian is a person who lives in state of constant conversion. The faith I have today is not enough for tomorrow. Faith is a dynamic process that either progresses or regresses.

1. God is talking to me. He desires my conversion and He tells me how He looks at me, at my life. He calls me to personal conversion.

2. I try to see my life in the light of what I am reading, trying to examine and question my way of looking at things, and how this is different from the way God looks at things.

3. I make a decision. The acknowledgement of the truth should lead me to contrition and gratitude and to the conviction that God loves me as I am.

ABOUT OUR FAITH SHARING MEETINGS

Since the meeting is for my personal conversion, I don’t share using expressions like “you,” “we,” “they,” “in the world”….

1. Try to maintain a posture of humility: we pray at the beginning of the meeting, asking Blessed Mother that this meeting would not be for curiosity of mind, for the desire of wanting to know, but for our conversion, and also for the grace of discovering what God wants to tell ME without judging others. We ask for the grace of wanting to meditate on these words so that they can make our desire for holiness grow. These dispositions are graces; that is why we ask for them.

2. The reading must be done slowly, trying to penetrate the deep meaning of every paragraph. It is not about accumulating knowledge but desiring to live what we read.

3. What is important is what grace does in each person. His action is very personal. It is not about getting to a general conclusion about a topic. With the same words, God tells something different to each one of us, that is why the meeting is not about discussing what is the right way or the correct interpretation. No one is a model for the rest. The animator should try just to help so that the sharing won’t take an incorrect road, sharing about things that have nothing to do with the topic, or about other persons, or about theoretical problems. The sharing must be as concrete about myself as possible. If the acknowledgement of my need of conversion is concrete then mercy will be concrete.

4. Nobody should pretend to resolve the problems of the rest.

5. Problems of conscience should be directed to a priest.

6. When we share, we should try to talk about the topic in a clear and concrete way, without criticism, talking about oneself.

7. When someone is sharing, it is important to listen because also through that sharing God can be calling me to something, as through all the events of my life.

8. WE ARE NOT THERE TO CONVINCE ANYBODY ABOUT ANYTHING! Patience is needed, with Mom. To convince is the work of the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus couldn’t convince Peter of the fact that he was going to betray Him. Jesus had to wait for the event, which was the work of the Holy Spirit. Every time we have that desire of trying to convince, we can give that ambition to Mary and run away praying to her, so that we will not wound others.

9. The grace given to someone who shares becomes a grace for all.

10. What is important is to attract the graces, and this is only possible with the posture of humility. Then, the method or scheme is less important.

THE MAIN DUTES OF AN ANIMATOR

1. To respond to the desire to live in communion with Jesus Christ through His Mother, Mary.

2. It is helpful to benefit from confession/spiritual direction offered through the priests that serve FNM and to participate in FNM retreats (for some people that would mean any local retreats). Everything depends on God’s Grace.

3. The five sentences Our Blessed Mother gave to St. Juan Diego (see FNM Creed #3) are guidelines for the attitude of an animator – beg for this attitude.

4. When needed, run the weekly meetings and pass on the schedules of FNM activities to the members.

GUIDELINES FOR ANIMATORS

PERSONAL

  • Desire personal holiness and sanctification

  • Recognize the need for:

    • Daily Eucharist, Adoration, Meditation

    • Spiritual guidance

    • Monthly confession

  • Try to participate in spiritual formation when possible, including:

    • Lent/Advent retreats

    • Animator retreats and meetings

    • Conferences by priests

ACTION

  • DISTRUST MY OWN THINKING (helps foster humility).

  • Entrust myself to the Blessed Mother daily.

  • Do not be afraid to ask questions when something isn’t clear.

  • Be faithful in small things (open the door, set up the chairs, facilitate the meeting).

  • Offer help and assistance to those who are in charge of an event.

REFLECTION

  • This is not about having a position…it is a position of formation. God is more concerned about YOU than about what YOU can do for others.

  • Families of Nazareth spreads and supports a spirituality: Communion of Life with Christ through Mary.

  • Through the help of our Blessed Mother, let our words and actions be a reflection of this spirituality, especially to those we interact with at our parishes.

The greatest gift we can give to others is our openness to allow Christ to bring us to holiness. They will be benefactors of His grace through us. We are truly connected vessels.