17.
"The spirit of the Societyis essentially based upon prayer and the interior lifesince we cannot glorify the adorableHeart of Jesus worthilyexcept inasmuch as we apply ourselvesto study His interior dispositionsin order to unite and conform ourselves to them."
(Abridged Plan 5).
18.
Jesus calls usto a personal encounter with Him.He wants to make known to usthe feelings and the preferences of His Heart.
19.
In the Gospelthrough His words, His attitudes,His relationships with people,His way of relating to all created things,we discover His Heartwholly given to the Father and to all people.
20.
In prayer we come to Himwith everything that touches our life,with the sufferings and hopes of humanity.We learn to remain in silenceand poverty of heart before Him.In the free gift of ourselveswe learn to adore and to abide in His love.
21.
The Spirit dwelling within usgradually transforms us, enabling usthrough His power to remove whateverhinders His action.The Spirit unites and conforms us to Jesusand makes us sensitive to His presencewithin ourselves, in others and in all that happens.Thus we learn to contemplate realityand to experience it with His Heart,to commit ourselves to the service of the Kingdomand to grow in love:
"Have this mind among yourselveswhich was in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:5).
22.
This contemplative attitude permeates our whole being,helping us to live ever more united to Christin our relationships, our tasks and our ministry;it becomes a powerful forceof conversion and transformation for mission.In welcoming God's wordMary gave Christ to the world.In receiving the life of Jesuswe give ourselves with Him so that all may have life.
23.
Prayer, the contemplative outlook on the world,union with Christ in daily livingmake us grow in the interior life,so that in all circumstances we seekto glorify the Heart of Jesus.
24.
The Society's call to contemplation,a compelling love written in our hearts by the Spirit,makes us seek and cherishprolonged times of prayer.Our relationship with Christ is nourishedby the study of Scripture, by reading,reflection and daily examen,all of which are necessary for the deepeningof our inner life;this relationship is further strengthenedby periodic renewal and an annual retreat.
25.
Within this common vocation,each one receives her own unique call.We respond to it personallyin and through our diverse cultures.The demands of mission and our spiritual backgroundnecessarily influence rhythms and forms of prayer.Desiring to keep God at the centre of our liveswe are drawn to give one hour each day to prayer,without this time being considered in any sense a limit.Each religious finds her own rhythm of prayerand will decide how best she is to be faithfulto what Christ asks of her and of the Society.She will discern the method and style of her prayer-lifewith a person of her own choice,with the agreement of the provincial or someonedelegated by her.
The Society offers its members the means necessaryfor their life of prayer, according to their needs:among others - spiritual direction- reflection with a religious of the Congregation- help from the community- the assurance of the necessary time andspace for prayer.
We are invited to say the rosaryand to adopt the forms of Marian devotionproper to the country in which we live.
26.
The community takes to heart the needto create a climatewhich favours experience of God,sharing among ourselves and with others.Each day our life together is strengthenedby community prayer.We share the Word of God,say the Morning and Evening Prayer of the Churchunless we have been dispensedfrom this by competent authority,and adopt forms of prayer which help usto grow in faith, hope and love.The Feast of the Sacred Heart is for usa time to renew and deepen our common spirituality.On that day, in a spirit of thanksgiving,we renew our vows in union with the whole Society.
27.
Knowing our weaknessand our involvement in the sin of the world,we participate often in the sacrament of reconciliation.We joyfully welcome God's mercywhich renews our heartsand moves us to restore communion.We prepare ourselves for this sacramentby the daily examen. (Canon 664)
28.
Whether we pray alone or with others,our prayer is that of the People of God.In the local churchwe celebrate the mysteries of the life of Christ,the feasts of Mary and of the saints,aware that we are members of one Body, the Church,which worships God in prayer and song.
29.
The Eucharist is the culmination of this ecclesial prayer.As far as we can, we participate in it actively every day.By receiving the Body of Christ,we unite ourselves to His prayer of thanksgivingand to His offering of Himself to the Fatherfor the life of the world.Gradually, the Eucharist makes us become more trulyBody of Christ, broken to give birth to a new humanity.