杏MAP导航

By Sophie Peeters

Addressing participants of the largest student association in Switzerland on Monday, 杏MAP导航 Francis offered words of encouragement to the group, saying the makeup of different generations and backgrounds of the students in the association is 鈥渧ery positive鈥� as it is a crucial point of dialogue between generations.

The right to study, the 杏MAP导航 continued, should not be 鈥渢aken for granted鈥�, as there are numerous people around the world, especially women, who do not have the access to education.

鈥淟et us thank God that we have been able to study and that we have been able to do so freely,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis remarked.

A student as a pilgrim

In his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis said there is a beautiful analogy between being a student and a pilgrim, as both are on a 鈥渏ourney鈥� 鈥� although studying specific subjects have definite objectives, the study as a 鈥渉uman attitude鈥� can always be cultivated without due course to an end.

Being a student, the 杏MAP导航 added, means having the desire to learn as a path, to have the 鈥渟pirit of the disciple, always, at every age.鈥�

Education to learn the love of God

Education, the 杏MAP导航 reflected, is a way to accompany someone into a new being, opening us 鈥渢o the fullness of life in communion with God鈥� and with others.

Quoting Fr. Romano Guardini, a German priest and philosopher, 杏MAP导航 Francis said education is a tool to 鈥渟erve, help, liberate鈥� the meaning of the 鈥渕ystery of birth鈥�, being liberated with the full knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ.

Quest for truth

At the conclusion of his speech, 杏MAP导航 Francis offered a challenge to the students, asking them to reflect on who they are as 鈥渟tudents of the Word of God.鈥�

Do they, as people on this quest for truth, seek God and are they 鈥渆ager to listen to Him, to ask Him questions, and to meditate on His words and deeds?鈥� the 杏MAP导航 asked.

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by saying that only Jesus can give us life in abundance by offering us the 鈥渨ords of eternal life; a Father who knows us better than ourselves.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis urged Swiss students to ask for the intercession of St. Nicholas of Flüe, so that their association may 鈥渁lways be passionate seekers of the true, the good, and the beautiful.鈥�