Walking together, using the infinite riches of the gospel that breaks patterns and sows hope. The Pope received the Union of Major Superiors of Italy and exhorted them to be builders of the Kingdom of God, in communion with other ecclesial realities, without losing their joy, boldness and devotion.
Mariangela Jaguraba Vatican News
Pope Francis received the participants of the General Assembly of the Union of Italian Superiors (USMI) in the Sala Clementina in the Vatican this Thursday (April 13).
These days the USMI is meeting for its 70th General Assembly on the theme “Towards the Synod, Witnesses of the Risen One”.
Regain the original freshness of the gospel
In his address, the Pope emphasized three aspects that this topic suggests. Regarding the first aspect, witnesses to the Risen Christ, Francis recalled that “the first witnesses of the Lord’s resurrection were the women, the discipleswho, with their boldness, keep reminding us that “Jesus Christ can break through even the boring schemes in which we try to imprison him and surprise us with his constant divine creativity”, because “Christ is the “eternal gospel”” and ” its wealth and beauty are inexhaustible”.
“These courageous women were amazed and encouraged by the power and light of the risen Lord and set out to seek him. They were fully aware of the importance of having the Lord alive in their hearts.”
Her attitude reminds us that when we have the courage to “return to the source and recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new paths emerge, creative methods, different forms of expression, more eloquent signs, words full of new meaning for today’s world”. .
If we ask ourselves, the Pope said, what are we going to do in this situation? and we pray to see what the Lord tells us in the Gospel: “From there comes inspiration and a new path emerges, sometimes a religious family emerges, sometimes decisions are made that seem frightening”. “SAlways walk boldly, see what the Lord is telling us today. It is true that each of you has your own charisma and in that sense you need to question yourself. With the spirit of the Founders in your heart, you must ask, “Lord, what shall I do today? What should we do?” Women are good at it, they know how to break new ground, they know how to hurt, they are brave‘ emphasizes Francis.
The synodal way is the Holy Spirit
Now let’s move on to the second aspect: on the synodal path. Elsewhere the Gospel says that “the women hurried away to tell the disciples.” “The presence of Jesus does not close us within ourselves, but spurs us on to meet others and choose to walk with them,” said the Pope.
These women have chosen not to keep the joy of encounter to themselves and not to walk the path alone: they have chosen to walk together with others.
“Because it is in a woman’s nature to be generous: that’s how it is. Sometimes there are some neurotics, but that’s a bit everywhere! But woman means giving life, opening paths, inviting others, walking together.”
We always remember that “to walk together” it is necessary to allow oneself to be formed by the Holy Spirit in a truly synodal mentality and to enter into a process of conversion with courage and freedom of heart”, because “synodality is the main path for the Church, called to be renewed under the action of the Holy Spirit and thanks to listening to the Word”.
According to Francis, speaking of the “spirit of the synod” can be a little scary and bring us close in other ways. Although, “the way in the synodal spirit is to listen, pray and walk. The synodal path is the Holy Spirit: he is the head of the synodal path, he is the protagonist“.
Call, faithful answer and hope
Finally, the third aspect: sowers of hope. “Today we miss that humble little virtue that is hope: we miss it very much. We have worldly versions like optimism, high common sense. No: hope, the smallest but strongest of all virtues that never disappoints. And you must be a sower of hope, which is not the same as a sower of optimism: no. The hope, which is something else,” he underlined.
“The encounter with the risen Jesus fills you with hope and “this requires being the leaven of God in the midst of humanity”, said the Pope. In other words, “it means proclaiming and bringing God’s salvation to our world that is often lost, that needs answers that encourage, give hope, give strength to the way”. “Call, faithful answer and hope, go forward with hope. “Let’s be realistic, but without losing joy, boldness and devotion full of hope,” Francis said.
Beware of diseases of consecrated life
Finally, the Pope urged religious “to be careful about the diseases of consecrated life, because they exist”. He singled out one: “The bitterness. That spirit of acidity inside. Bitterness is the devil’s liquor: The devil cooks us in it, with this liquor.”
“I’m not talking about optimism: optimism is a psychological thing. I’m talking about hope, about openness to the Spirit, and it’s theological. A religious vocation must follow this path. The bitterness, the acidity of the heart, is very harmful.”
Please, if you see a sister in this situation in the community, help her get out of this situation; help him get out of the situation of melancholic people who always think: “But it was better before! This is the devil’s elixir, this bitterness, the bitter substance. Please none of that, just let the Spirit give us that sweetness that’s a spiritual sweetness.