The Oratory of
Divine Love: On
e
apostolate of the Confraternity of penitents
The Oratory of Divine Love is an apostolate
encouraged by the Confraternity of Penitents.
Begun by Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, the
Oratory is a way for Catholics to meet together
weekly in small groups, for one hour in one
another's homes, to discuss the relationship
between Scripture, Church doctrine, and the
Catechism. Each week, readings in both the
Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church
are provided along with a reflection, prayer,
and questions for discussion. Oratorians
are to be totally loyal to all the teachings of
the Catholic Church, the Pope, and the
Magisterium and are to participate in the
spiritual and corporal works of mercy,
preferably with the poor.
Oratorians do not live a Rule of Life as
members of the Confraternity of Penitents do.
However, they study the Catechism and Scripture,
as penitents do in their novice formation, and
they engage in the works of mercy, as penitents
are called to do. Belonging to an Oratory
is a way for a penitent to share his or her
faith with other Catholics, who may not be
penitents, and to come to understand even better
the teachings of the Church.
SAINT CATHERINE OF GENOA, FOUNDER OF THE
FIRST ORATORY OF DIVINE LOVE
The first Oratory was begun by Saint
Catherine of Genoa, a wife, mother and mystic
who died in Genoa, Italy, in 1510.
Although she wanted to become a cloistered nun,
Catherine's wealthy parents married her to a
wealthy patrician Guiliano Adorno. Guliano
was unfaithful, violent, and a spendthrift.
After suffering silently for five years, and
trying to hold to her faith, Catherine decided
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," and adopted
worldly airs to try to win her husband's
affection. This cost her dearly for she
lost her religious fervor and , when Catherine
was twenty-six, she decided to have recourse to
divine assistance.
On the the eve of the Feast of St. Benedict,
1473, Catherine prayed, "Saint Benedict,
pray to God that He make me stay three months
sick in bed." When she told her sister, a nun,
about this prayer, her sister advised her to go
to confession. In confession, Catherine
was overwhelmed by her sins and also by the love
of God for her. Drawn back to the path of
devotion, she had a vision of our Lord carrying
His cross, which caused her to cry out, "O Love,
if it be necessary I am ready to confess my sins
in public!"
Catherine's mystical ascent, severe
mortifications, fasting, and fervor persisted.
A group of religious people, the first
Oratorians, gathered about her to be guided into
a Spirit-filled life. Eventually her
husband was converted, became a Franciscan
tertiary, and agreed to live with Catherine in
continence.
Catherine and Giuliano and those who followed
them cared for the sick in the city hospital and
the poor in their homes. Catherine became
director of the hospital of Pammetone in 1490.
Her Oratorians were instrumental in nursing
plague victims in 1493 and in bringing the
teachings of Christ to a country falling away
from the faith. Catherine wrote two
mystical works, Dialogue between the Soul and
the Body and Treatise on Purgatory.
Her feast day is September 15.
THE ORATORY TODAY
Jerry and Yolanda Cleffi, Directors of the
Oratory of Divine Love, are Friends of the
Confraternity of Penitents. Father
Benedict Groeschel, CFR, has been an encouraging
supporter of the Confraternity, in its original
foundation as the Brothers and Sisters of
Penance and now under its current name as the
Confraternity of Penitents. On April 30,
2005, in Stamford, Connecticut, at the first
weekend retreat for the Oratory of Divine Love,
Father Benedict gave the Confraternity of
Penitents his blessing with his prayer that the
Confraternity "would always follow the spirit of
Saint Francis."
The Confraternity of Penitents supports the work
and goals of the Oratory of Divine Love.
We encourage penitents to consider founding a
small oratory in their own locales. Only
three to six people are needed to begin an
Oratory, and Oratorians do not have be CFP
members. Weekly reflections, an outline
for an Oratory gathering, the history of the
Oratory, and much other information are on this
link.
We pray that God may bless and use the
Oratory of Divine Love to spread the good news
of our faith across the world. We thank
the Cleffi's and Father Benedict for their
prayers for the Confraternity of Penitents and
offer them our prayers in return. May God guide
us always into closer union with Himself.
Confraternity of Penitents
520 Oliphant Lane
Middletown RI USA
02842-4600
401/849-5421
bspenance@hotmail.com
copenitents@yahoo.com
