Once
again the Holy Father stresses the essential missionary
nature of the Church. We in CFC-FFL are fortunate and privileged,
in that from the very start it was clear to us that we were
to be an evangelistic and missionary movement. Thus we pursued
rapid, massive and worldwide evangelization. It is still
the same today. Let us not slacken in our efforts, but rather
even intensify our work.
The pope also affirms evangelization is not a mere human
or social project. Some of our separated brethren claim
that they are doing the work of evangelization as they build
communities for the poor. We always insisted that Christ
must be at the very center of such a work. Again, in our
work with the poor, the proclamation of the good news of
salvation in Jesus is to take central place.
Finally, the Lord has been preparing us for greater work
by purification coming from oppression and persecution,
even coming from our separated brethren. Last year the Lord
emphasized redemptive suffering. We can only become effective
missionaries if we are growing in holiness and righteousness.
Our vision and mission in CFC-FFL are clear. Let us move
forward in the strength of God.
THE
CHURCH MUST NOT RENOUNCE HER MISSIONARY ROLE
VATICAN CITY, 14 MAY 2011 (VIS).- At midday today the Holy
Father received the participants in the General Assembly
of the Pontifical Missionary Works, which reports to the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
The Pope highlighted in his address that "the
Church must constantly renew her commitment to bringing
Christ to the people, to continue her messianic mission
for the coming of the Kingdom of God ... It is therefore
necessary to continue the work of evangelisation with renewed
enthusiasm ... to lead humankind to the true freedom
of the sons of God, against all forms of slavery. It is
necessary to cast the net of the Gospel into the waters
of history to lead mankind toward the land of God".
"But in order that there be a
decisive commitment to evangelisation, it is necessary
that all Christians and communities truly believe that the
'Word of God is the saving truth needed by all men in all
times'. If this conviction of faith is not deeply rooted
in our life, we are not able to feel the passion
and the beauty of announcing it".
After highlighting that "everyone
must be involved in this 'missio ad gentes': bishops,
priests, religious and laity", Benedict XVI remarked
that "it is necessary, therefore, to devote special
attention to ensuring that all sectors of pastoral care,
of the catechesis, of charity, are characterised by a
missionary element: the Church is a mission".
"A fundamental condition for announcing the faith is
to allow oneself to be completely encompassed by Christ,
Word of God incarnate", he continued, "as only
by being deeply rooted in Christ and his Word may one be
able to resist the temptation to reduce
evangelisation to a merely human, social project, neglecting
the transcendental dimension of the salvation offered by
God in Christ. It is a Word that must be testified
to and proclaimed explicitly, as without coherent testimony
it is less comprehensible and credible".
The Pope stressed that "the ministry
of evangelisation is fascinating and demanding: it
requires love for proclamation and bearing testimony, a
love so complete that it may lead
even to martyrdom. The Church must not forsake its
mission to reveal the light of Christ, to proclaim the good
news of the Gospel, even if this may lead to persecution.
It is a part of her very life itself, as it was for Jesus.
Christians must not be afraid, even if they are 'the religious
group which suffers most from persecution on account of
its faith'".
The Holy Father concluded by expressing his gratitude for
"the work in missionary promotion and formation"
of the Pontifical Missionary Works, which he described as
"a privileged tool for missionary co-operation and
for the effective sharing of personnel and financial resources
between Churches".
AC/ VIS 20110516 (470)
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil
1:21)
