杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

Meeting with young people assisted by the 杏MAP导航 John XXIII Community Association on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis praised the intuition of Fr. Oreste Benzi, the Italian-born priest who founded the community in 1968 to assist people on the margins of society.

Members of the community鈥攁n international association of the faithful of pontifical right鈥攕trive to share their lives with the poor and oppressed, living with them 24 hours a day.

God鈥檚 loving gaze

The 杏MAP导航 noted that each of the children present for the audience has their own name, saying that each person is a unique individual whom God knows by name.

鈥淕od knows us each by our name and face,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ach person is a unique son or daughter of God, and a brother or sister of Jesus.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis added that those who assist the children are also called to look at each child with the eyes of God.

We know, said the 杏MAP导航, that we can only achieve the perfection of Christ鈥檚 loving gaze in the fullness of heaven, but we are still called in this life to seek to embrace the love of God as well as we can.

Smile as a blossom of love

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to consider how a child reacts when they are welcomed into a community with open, loving arms.

A smile comes naturally when they are welcomed with love, he said. Even though the child may have developmental issues, they still smile, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淲hy?鈥� he wondered. 鈥淏ecause they feel loved and welcomed exactly as they are.鈥�

Something similar happens when a newborn child is first placed in their mother鈥檚 arms, since they already seek to return that smile looking down on them.

Families built on Christian love

The 杏MAP导航 then noted that each child at the audience shares the experience of living in a care home, like those run by the 杏MAP导航 John XXIII Community.

When confronted with children who behaved badly, Fr. Benzi loved the children like God does and sought to fill their lack of parental love with the love of a community.

鈥淭his experience has proliferated in Italy and other countries,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd is characterized by being welcomed into a home of people who truly welcome them as children regenerated in Christian love.鈥�

In such a welcoming home, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, there is space for all sorts of children, including those with disabilities, the elderly, foreigners, and 鈥渁nyone who needs a stable place from which to start over.鈥�

Sharing love and praying constantly

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the children to respond to the love they have received with both prayer and the desire to share that love with others.