杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

杏MAP导航 Francis that many of those present were victims of 鈥渢he horror of the war, then political repression, persecution and exile鈥�. He lauded them, as he said they 鈥渞emained steadfast鈥� and 鈥減ersevered their faith鈥�.

鈥淣either the Nazi regime nor the Soviet regime could extinguish the faith in your hearts鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

These occurrences, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渄id not stop some of you from becoming priests, religious sisters, catechists or from serving the Church in other ways that put your lives at risk鈥�. He commended them, assuring them they 鈥渇ought the good fight鈥�.

Constancy in faith 

The 杏MAP导航 said that this 鈥渃onstancy in faith overcomes trials鈥�, and urged them to be consistent, saying that their work, 鈥渉owever perfect in those days, must also tend to perfection in today鈥檚 new situations.鈥�. He acknowledged that those who 鈥渄evoted body and soul鈥� to winning freedom鈥� for their native land now often find themselves 鈥渃ast aside鈥�.

This brought to light the fact that often today鈥檚 free men and women 鈥渟ubject the elderly to solitude, abandonment, lack of assistance, social exclusion and even poverty鈥� making those who fought to gain those rights 鈥渉onoured in words but forgotten in daily life鈥�.

He urged them not to lose hope, reminding them that 鈥淪aint James tells you nonetheless to persevere, not to give up鈥�. He told them to continue applying two forms of patience: 鈥減atient endurance and patient expectation鈥�. 鈥淚n this way鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥測ou will continue to build your people鈥�.

Perseverance in the face of adversity

杏MAP导航 Francis reminded them that because of their length of years they are 鈥渓iving witnesses of perseverance in the face of adversity鈥�, and that this is a gift to 鈥渞emind younger generations that the care and protection of those who have gone before us is loved and valued by God鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis also reminded the elderly that they are the 鈥渞oots of young shoots that need to flourish and bear fruits鈥�. In going back to his own roots, he concluded quoting a sonnet by the Argentine poet Bernàrdez: 鈥溾�檃ll the blossoms on the tree draw life from what lies buried underneath鈥欌��.