杏MAP导航

By Sr. Bernadette Mary Reis

杏MAP导航 Francis received in audience members of the Congregation of the Stigmata, or the Stigmatine Fathers, on the occasion of their General Chapter. In prepared remarks, the Holy Father called on them to bring the fire of God's love to the Christian community. But after hearing the greeting of the Superior General, the Holy Father departed from his prepared text.

Fraternity
 

He said he was touched by the theme of fraternity. Fraternity, 鈥渋s a grace, and without prayer, this grace is not obtained,鈥� he said. Concrete prayer for another is what makes fraternal life a miracle. 鈥淧lease safeguard fraternity. This does not mean that everyone has to be friends,鈥� he said.

Mercy comes through the door of Christ鈥檚 wounds
 

The 杏MAP导航 then focused on the name of the Stigmatines: 鈥淭he Lord鈥檚 stigmata, the Lord鈥檚 wounds鈥攖his is the door from which mercy comes.鈥� Everyone is wounded, the 杏MAP导航 said. It is only when the Church, when a Congregation is aware of its wounds that 鈥渨e are brought to knock at the door of mercy; the Lord鈥檚 wounds.鈥� And those who are not aware of their own wounds caused by sin do not understand Jesus鈥� wounds. The 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥淎 鈥榳ounded鈥� sinner finds forgiveness, peace and consolation only in the wounds of the Lord, nowhere else.鈥�

The Holy Family
 

The third theme 杏MAP导航 Francis touched on was that of the Holy Family. 鈥淚 like that passage from Luke which says that Mary went 鈥榠n haste鈥� to help her cousin,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t would be good to insert this in the Litanies: 鈥極ur Lady who went in haste, pray for us.鈥欌�� Joseph was a meek man who received messages in dreams the 杏MAP导航 continued. Some say it is obvious that Joseph was old because he suffered from insomnia. 杏MAP导航 Francis joked that 鈥渋t was a psychological problem: he was scared because, every time he went to sleep, his plans were changed!鈥� Joseph鈥檚 meekness and patience, coupled with Mary鈥檚 hastiness, helped to raise the Son of God.

Prepared remarks: Fire an image of God鈥檚 love for us
 

In his prepared text, which was distributed to the Stigmatines following the audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis used the image of fire, taken from Christ鈥檚 words in the Gospel, 鈥淚 have come to cast fire on the earth. How I wish it were already ignited!鈥� (Luke 12:49). That fire, he said is God鈥檚 love for us. He then invited those participating, to 鈥渞ekindle within yourselves and your communities the fire of the Word of God.鈥�

Evangelize through the joy of your life
 

杏MAP导航 Francis continued, 鈥淚n the Bible God is compared to fire, but he is the fire of love, which conquers peoples鈥� hearts not with violence, but respecting each one鈥檚 freedom.鈥� He highlighted the way in which their Founder announced the Gospel鈥攈umbly and joyfully after the example of Jesus鈥� own style of evangelizing. It is 鈥渢hrough the joy of your life,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, that 鈥測ou can lead people to conversion, to communion with Christ.鈥� In fact, it is precisely the 鈥渇raternal community of missionaries鈥� that confirms their proclamation of the Gospel because it has been 鈥渢ested by fire,鈥� he said.

Reawaken faith
 

Thus, the 杏MAP导航 called them to 鈥渂ring this fire into the Christian community, where the faith of so many people needs to be reawakened.鈥� Above all, he asked them to go out to announce the Gospel 鈥渢o the poor, and to those who do not feel loved by anyone鈥濃�攖he sad, the depressed, prisoners, the homeless, immigrants, and those fleeing from war. Lastly, he reminded them to pay 鈥渟pecial attention to the family鈥� after the example of St Gaspar, who transmitted to his sons 鈥渁 love for the Holy Spouses, Mary and Joseph.鈥� After asking them to pray for him, 杏MAP导航 Francis imparted his blessing on those present and on their entire Congregation, and left them with the words: 鈥淢ay the Lord always inflame your mission with the fire of the Holy Spirit!鈥�

The Stigmatine Fathers were founded in Verona, Italy in 1816 by St Gaspar Bertoni. Theirs is a specifically missionary vocation at the service of the Bishops, the proclamation of the Word of God, and the formation of young people and clergy. They are present in 15 countries and number about 400 members.