Inspired by Father Fugao’s experience, the Little Sisters of Jesus came to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis on the occasion of the religious general meeting. The Pope invites them to accept the challenge of Christ’s love, to abandon their consciousness and habits of self-centeredness, and to “treat all people with charity, gentleness and humility.”
(Vatican News Network) On the morning of October 2, Pope Francis received the nuns of the Little Sisters of Jesus in the Privy Council Hall of the Apostolic Building. Searching for God, bearing witness to the Gospel, loving a life of obscurity: these three elements characterize the spiritual experience of Father Charles de Foucauld and guide Pope Francis in his address to the sisters.
Regarding the search for God, the Pope emphasized how important it is to worship before the tabernacle and cultivate listening to the Word, so as to “open one’s heart to the way of God.” The Pope said: “Jesus has given you His love, and now it is up to you to accept the challenge of this love, to abandon the awareness and habits of self-centeredness, self-perceived solutions, and even a certain pessimism. The enemy always tries to hint at this sentiment, especially in those who live a consecrated life.”
When it comes to witnessing the Gospel, the Pope pointed out that this means spreading the Gospel to others “through words, works of charity” and the “fraternal presence” of the community. The Pope mentioned to the sisters the example of Father St. Fogo, who “cares for others and helps those in need without waiting for them to ask for it: this is a sign of your love for the Bridegroom, a characteristic of your solicitude for the weakest, God. It is present to them.” In short, a witnessing heart is one that “treats all people with love, gentleness, and humility.”
The final element is “love of obscurity.” The Little Sisters of Jesus were founded about 20 years after the death of Father Fugao. The Pope emphasized to the sisters that “the way of the Incarnation, the way of Nazareth, this is the way pointed out by God, who was willing to humble himself and serve The humble share life and become children”, therefore “the way of obscurity is the way of God”.
“This is wonderful and important: the way of obscurity is the way of God. You are not a nun for advertising. The more unknown you are, the more extraordinary you are. The more unknown you are, the more extraordinary you become. You To continue to cultivate a love for this life is a powerful prophecy for our age, tainted by appearances and appearance.”
The Pope finally encouraged the nuns to maintain their “simplicity and generosity, love for Christ and the poor”, “faced with the shortage of vocations, the closure of some convents, and the increase in the average age of nuns”, because this ” When it comes, it will bear fruit.”
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2023-10-02 14:45:09