Reparational Groups

Courage Reparational Groups

“Christ’s death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (Jn 1:29), and the sacrifice of the New Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the ‘blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’ (Mt 26:28). This sacrifice of Christ is unique; it completes and surpasses all other sacrifices.  First, it is a gift from God the Father himself, for the Father handed his Son over to sinners in order to reconcile us with himself. At the same time it is the offering of the Son of God made man, who in freedom and love offered his life to his Father through the Holy Spirit in reparation for our disobedience.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 613-14)

By his self-sacrifice on the Cross, Our Lord paid the price of our redemption, and offered his own sacred Body and Blood as a “peace offering” for our offenses against God.  This perfect act of reparation continues in the sacrifice of the Mass, which makes present in every time and place the one sacrifice of Christ crucified.

The Catholic Church teaches that those who believe in Christ can share in his work of reparation*, for their own sins and for those of others, by their devout participation in the Holy Mass and in other works of prayer and charity.  Pope Pius IX referred to this “duty of honorable satisfaction or reparation” to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a necessary response to Christ’s love for us:

“The creature’s love should be given in return for the love of the Creator . . . [and] to the same uncreated Love, if perhaps it has been neglected by forgetfulness or violated by offense, some sort of compensation must be rendered for the injury, and this debt is commonly called by the name of reparation”  (Miserentissimus Redemptor, n. 6).

Because the Church’s teachings on chastity and sexuality are so neglected in the modern world, some members of Courage join together for prayer to make reparation particularly for sins against chastity.  By sharing together, in person or over the phone or Internet, in prayers like the Holy Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Holy Hours in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament, these Courage Reparational Groups make intercession on behalf of the whole world, and receive grace themselves for their daily strivings to be chaste and holy.

Courage Reparational Groups meet in several countries:

CANADA
Please send an email to Alan at charityclaritychastity@yahoo.ca for more information.

UNITED STATES
(New York)
Call Vera on (347) 210-1127
Email ourladygc@yahoo.com

THE PHILIPPINES
(Manila)
Call Brother Rollie on 0928-506-6974
Email Father Daniel Healy at manila@anawim.com, with COURAGE in the subject line.
Write to the Anawim Community, 17 Marcus Aurelius Street, Italia 500, B.F. Resort Village, Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Website: http://courageph.blogspot.com
Listserv: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/courageph

If you would like to start a Courage Reparational Group in your area, please contact the main Courage office.

*Please note that the spiritual practice of reparation is not the same as the psychological technique known as reparative therapy.  For more information on Courage International’s position on therapy, please see the FAQs.