Pope Francis received regular Cistercians in the Vatican and encouraged them to experience greater poverty, both spiritual and material, as useful tools in the hands of God.
(Vatican News Network)Pope Francis received on October 17 the members who attended the regular Cistercian Congregation in the Vatican, encouraging them to follow Jesus on their journey of faith, “to be with him, to obey him and to do his will”. On this journey, the Pope observed, each person lives together in community in his own way, in a unique and unrepeatable experience, just like the 12 apostles, who are always with Jesus and walk with him. “They did not choose, but they were chosen by God”, the Pope underlined. “Due to their diversity, weakness and pride, it is not always easy to live in harmony”.
The Pope stressed that we too can have challenges in community life. At the same time, our joy in this community life never ceases to amaze us, even if imperfect and different from one another, we are called together to walk together on the path of following the Lord.
The Pope explained that a “regular Cistercian” is one who opens his heart, goes out to meet others and is constantly converted, explaining the name of the order, “Ordinary”. This also applies to groups, not to abide by the rules, but to be an “outgoing, hospitable and evangelizing” group. This approach also demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit, who bestows “all sorts of great gifts and ways of living as one huge ‘symphony'”. It requires us to walk together, to be in the same heart of the Church, which is love.
The Pope went on to say that there is no communion without conversion, and therefore conversion, both individual and collective, must be the fruit of the cross of Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit.
The pope praises the diversity of the regular Cistercians. Today the experience of the encounter with diversity is a sign of the times, the Pope said, and in the contemplative life the witness of the Cistercians has contributed a lot, and they have also deepened the diversity of their interior life, of prayer and of spiritual dialogue. .experience and contribute a lot. Thus, this evangelized “symphony” is enriched with deeper and more creative resonances.
The Pope concluded his speech by encouraging regular Cistercians to experience greater poverty, both spiritual and material, in order to be more useful to the Lord. Finally, the Pope invites them to continue their work in the broader apostolic service, always with lively hope.
Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn
