Our Way of Being and Existing
God created man in his image and likeness, the Book of Genesis tells us (cf. Gen 1:27). Thus, we are sealed in his image. That is the very reason why the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (cf. Jn 1:14), to give us back what we have lost because of sin. With Jesus’ coming among us, our humanity has become part of the definition of the second Person of the Divine Trinity.
In the infinite mercy of God, he made us in his image and likeness while Lucifer, the bearer of light and the most intelligent among the angels, not. He was not created in the image and likeness of God while we yes and through our baptism we are sealed in Jesus’ most holy name. We are incorporated intimately in his person. For this reason, that humanity has become an object of envy of the devil. St. Hannibal Mary affirmed that: the infernal enemy has fought and will always fight where he finds the Name of Jesus (RCJ-FDZ, Festa del Nome di Gesu’, p. 58). Let us not be surprised then if we are always under attack by this infernal enemy and his legions.
There is nothing to worry and afraid of here. We are sealed in the name of Jesus. We believe what he told us: I will do whatever you ask for in my name (Jn 16:23). Asking in the name of our Lord means asking through his divine merits, which can obtain everything from the eternal Father (RA, p. 70) the Fr. Founder said.
St. Hannibal Mary had a long history of devotion to the most holy name of Jesus. He was still a deacon; even before encountering Francis Zancone at the Avignone slums he had already preached. In fact, we have his prayer on the efficacy of this prayer dated on November 3, 1877 (cf. RCJ-FDZ, Festa del Nome di Gesu’, p.40). This conviction of his is based on the bible, in Jesus’ life itself.
Jesus’ whole life on earth was an uninterrupted union with the Father. The whole of Jesus’ life was a continual adoration, a continual prayer… (RCJ-FDZ, Festa del Nome di Gesu’, p. 50). It is in this, that we unite our prayer to that of the Eucharistic Lord, because he is the Immanuel, the God-with-us, as the Prophet Isaiah tells us (cf. Is 7:14). He is exactly the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, indeed, the God-with-us is in the Eucharist. We unite our prayer to the self-offering of Jesus in the Eucharist in as much as it is the memorial of his life. Our prayer as Rogationists therefore is and will always be Eucharistic.
Our Rogationist Prayer is always eucharistic because vocations are to be sought all the times in the name of Jesus. Rogate ergo in nomine Meo should become our daily bread. We have to pray always in this way if we want that our prayer would become effective (RCJ-FDZ, Festa del Nome di Gesu’, p. 55) the Fr. Founder exhorted his sons and daughters. This is not therefore of secondary importance for us rather it is our way of praying, our way of being and existing.
The Father Founder would like his sons and daughters to celebrate the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus forever saying: this great devotion to the most holy, adorable name of Jesus must be in force and fervor in our institute forever, dedicating January to his name, celebrating the feast on Jan. 31… (RA, p. 72).
Fr. Marcelino Diaz II, RCJ is the responsible and Novice Master of the Rogamina Community. The community seeks to be follow the command of unceasing prayer for vocations being guarded and guided by a monastic-contemplative lifestyle.