杏MAP导航 Francis presents the Works of Maestro Fiorito: a great dream that will bear fruit
By Vatican News
In his Preface to the Writings of Jesuit Fr Miguel Angel Fiorito, 杏MAP导航 Francis himself describes the edition as 鈥渁 source of consolation for us who have been nurtured by his teachings for many years. These Writings will do a great good to the Church as a whole鈥�.
The 杏MAP导航 decided to present the 5-volume collection personally, visiting the Jesuit General Curia on the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, and discussing the figure of Fr Miguel Angel Fiorito SJ, the man he considers his spiritual father.
A Master of dialogue
杏MAP导航 Francis began his presentation by calling Fr Fiorito a 鈥渕aster of dialogue鈥�, someone who spoke little, but who listened a lot: 鈥渁 listening capable of discernment, which is one of the pillars of dialogue鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. Fr Fiorito practiced and taught 鈥渄ialogue between teacher and students, dialogue with authors and texts, with history and with God鈥�.
He was a professor of philosophy but he loved spirituality, confided the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淚t was he who taught us the way of discernment鈥�. He had a way of 鈥渁wakening the passion to dialogue well, with oneself, with others, and with the Lord鈥�.
Fr Fiorito's writings 鈥渄istill spiritual mercy鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis: they offer 鈥渢eachings for those who do not know, good advice for those who need it, correction for those who are wrong, consolation for those who are sad, and help to preserve patience in desolation鈥�.
A Master of listening
杏MAP导航 Francis described Fr Fiorito鈥檚 style of listening in detail: how it inspired students to confide in him and ask his advice. He favoured the attitude of not leaning towards one side or the other, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渟o that it is the Creator and Lord Himself who communicates to the person鈥�.
The Jesuit Master had a way of "staying out" of issues without 鈥渢he slightest shadow of partiality鈥�. 鈥淗e listened to you in silence鈥�, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, and instead of speaking, 鈥済ave you a piece of paper that he took from his library鈥� that was reminiscent of a pharmacy. Fiorito resembled a wise pharmacist of the soul鈥�.
Out of that library came not only remedies but, 鈥渢hings of the Spirit that had been waiting for the right question, for the fervent desire of someone, who found there the treasure of a discreet formulation that would direct him, that he could put into practice with fruit for the future鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航.
A Master of patience
杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted the patience of his former spiritual director: 鈥淲ith the stubborn, with the 鈥榟ard-headed鈥�, he had a lot of patience鈥�.
The 杏MAP导航 then cut short his own prepared remarks, and concluded with some personal memories of Fr Fiorito. Comparing 鈥淢aestro Miguel Ángel Fiorito鈥� to the tree planted alongside the water (an image from Psalm 1), the 杏MAP导航 said he 鈥渁llowed himself to be contained in the minimal space of his role at the Collegio Massimo di San Giuseppe鈥� and there he put down roots, and bore fruit and flowers鈥� in the hearts of us disciples of the School of the Exercises鈥�.
鈥淚 hope that now, thanks to this magnificent edition of his Escritos, which reach the heights of a great dream, he will put down roots and bear flowers and fruits in the lives of many people who feed on the same grace that he received and was able to communicate discreetly [by] giving and commenting on the Spiritual Exercises鈥�.
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