杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

杏MAP导航 Francis on Thursday met with Mercedarian Fathers, (members of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy) who are celebrating 800 years since the foundation of their order. The order was founded in 1218 for the redemption of Christian captives.

Following Christ

The 杏MAP导航 addressed the Fathers, saying that first of all he wished to 鈥減ut before your eyes that first love which you express with the vow of redemption鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 reminds the Fathers that 鈥�following Christ means giving life in order to save souls.鈥�, going on to say that 鈥渨e all know the importance of following Christ鈥� although, he says, at times 鈥渞ather than follow Him we approach our lives as though He were the one who has to follow us.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 explains that following Jesus is not a question of methodology, but of letting 鈥淗im precede us and set the pace for personal and community walks.鈥�

Those who follow Christ, the 杏MAP导航 continues, do so by giving life. This, the 杏MAP导航 says, 鈥減uts us before the central truth of our religious consecration鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 goes on to say that 鈥淭rusting in the Lord means to surrender ourselves to Him without reserve鈥�, explaining that 鈥渢he surrender of one's life is not optional, but is the consequence of a heart that has been 鈥榯ouched鈥� by the love of God.鈥�

Do not be tempted

鈥淧lease鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 continues, 鈥淚 ask you not to allow yourselves to be dragged along by the temptation to regard your sacrifice and your dedication as an investment for personal gain.鈥� Instead, he urges the Fathers to strive to render their oblation and consecration to the service of God and men, a reality by 鈥渓iving the joy of the Gospel, the charism of redemption鈥�.

鈥淭oday鈥� continues the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渁s in other eras of history, the Christian is threatened by this triple enemy: the world, the devil and the flesh鈥�. Though they are often camouflaged, their consequences are evident; they 鈥渘umb the consciousness and cause a spiritual paralysis that leads to inner death鈥� says the 杏MAP导航.

Be bearers of redemption

杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to tell the Mercedarian Fathers that 鈥渁s members of a redeeming order鈥�, they 鈥渕ust first experience in [them]selves the redemption of Christ to help [their] brethren discover the God who saves鈥�, and invites them to continue to be 鈥渂earers of the Lord's redemption to prisoners, refugees and migrants, to those who fall into the trap of human trafficking, to vulnerable adults, to orphaned and exploited children... Bring God's tenderness and mercy to all who are discarded by society.鈥�

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 urges them 鈥渘ever to grow tired of being instruments of freedom, of joy and of hope.鈥�