THE BETTER PART

A CHRIST-CENTERED RESOURCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYER

Prepared by Fr. John Bartunek, LC, S.Th.D.

RCSpirituality.org

Produced by Coronation
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OVERVIEW
THE BETTER PART

SUMMARY MATERIALS NEEDED

This Study Circle Guide is only a pointer to a ready- šš At least one copy of the book, The Better Part.
to-go resource perfect for ongoing study of the four Ideally, each participant would have a personal
Gospels: The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource copy. But the relevant sections for each session
for Personal Prayer. This book was designed from the could also simply be photocopied and distributed.
beginning to be useful for individuals, small groups,
and even classrooms. It provides sufficient structure šš OPTIONAL: At least one copy of the Catechism of
for effective small-group meetings, but avoids an the Catholic Church. At the end of each Unit in The
overabundance of stifling material. Better Part, relevant articles from the Catechism are
referenced. Reading these together can add a lot
It focuses on understanding the four Gospels from the to the discussion and study. It may be a good idea
point of view of what do these sacred texts reveal to me for one participant (or for the moderator) to read
about Jesus Christ and how to know, love, and follow him all the references before the meeting, so as to be
more completely? able to identify the one or two that would most
stimulate the group discussion.
The book provides various types of explanations of
the Gospel texts – apologetics, historical, theological, šš OPTIONAL: “The Better Part Group Study Guide”
spiritual—all woven together in a format designed to published at www.SpiritualDirection.com and
foster greater and better informed love for Christ and available there as a free download. This is a
his Church. leader’s guide that explains how to use The Better
Part in a group discussion setting that emphasizes
encountering Christ more than simply studying
CATEGORIES OF INTEREST the Gospels. This Guide incorporates many of the
principles used in the traditional Regnum Christi
Catholic Doctrine; Bible; Prayer and Spiritual Growth; Encounter with Christ, but it does not include the
General review of a life-event. This Guide is short and
extremely helpful for any small group activity. We
recommend that everyone read through it.
RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Using The Better Part for a Study Circle can happen in
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
any number of ways. You can choose to use it for any
specified period of time (a semester, Lent, Advent, Anyone. Since the Gospel passages themselves
etc…), or in an ongoing way (once a month, every are included in the book, and since the focus of the
week, every two weeks). The Better Part contains 303 discussion is always on the Gospel passages, this
Units, each of which has enough content for an entire resource can be fruitful for beginners in the faith (even
session, so there is no shortage of material. for inquirers) as well as for proficients and those who
are advanced.
The number of sessions may be related to the choice
of content. Since all four Gospels (with commentaries) The questions for reflection and discussion at the end
are included in this book, you can use it to study one of each Unit reflect the Christ-centered and apostolic
Gospel, or to study together the Gospel passage for nature of the spirituality proper to the ecclesial
the upcoming Sunday (good to do during Advent or movement Regnum Christi, but nothing in them would
Lent or the Easter season, for example, as a way to exclude or confuse any Catholic (or Christian, for that
intensify other regular meetings, like the “Encounter matter) who is eager to know, love, and follow Jesus
with Christ”), or any other combination of slicing and more completely.
dicing. Flexibility reigns in this resource.

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This resource is also useful as a tool for evangelization. NOTES
It makes it easy to start a faith-sharing group for
inquirers into the faith.

It is also an excellent resource for bringing a work-team

together for spiritual enrichment—for example, a group
of teachers during their annual faculty meeting days, or
the office staff of an institutional apostolate.

HOW MUCH HOMEWORK?

None. The resource is entirely self-contained. Each
Unit consists of quotations from the saints, a Gospel
passage, a four-part Christ-centered commentary,
questions for reflection and discussion, and references
to the Catechism.

Ideally, at least the moderator would preview the Unit

being studied, and prepare their own answers to the
questions. But even this is not strictly necessary.

The structure of a study session using this resource

could be this simple (although individual groups could
adjust it as they see fit):
1. Opening prayer
2. Reading aloud the Gospel passage
3. Either:
šš Time for silent reading and reflection of the
commentary
šš Reading aloud together the commentary, then
allow time for silent reflection
4. Discussing the passage and the commentary, either
using the questions for reflection and discussion,
or simply diving in according to the spontaneous
reaction of the participants.
5. Conclusion
šš It is a good idea to vocalize at the end
the major discoveries or insights that the
discussion brought about.
šš It can also be a good idea to finish by
vocalizing some personal commitments that
can help the participants inject into their
daily lives the wisdom they discovered in the
passage. These commitments can be reviewed
at the beginning of the next session.
šš Concluding prayer

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 CONTACT US
Please visit our website, www.RCSpirituality.org for
more Study Guides and other spiritual resources.

If you liked this Study Guide on The Better Part, please

help sponsor future Study Circle Guides by making a
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Study Circle Guides are a service of Regnum

Christi and the Legionaries of Christ. www.
RegnumChristi.org & www.LegionofChrist.org

Produced by Coronation. www.CoronationMedia.com

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