杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淲ithout the Holy Spirit, all zeal is vain and falsely apostolic,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said at Wednesday鈥檚 . 鈥淚t would only be our own, and would not bear fruit.鈥� Due to lingering health issues, the Holy Father鈥檚 reflection was once again read by an assistant from the Secretariat of State.

In recent weeks, the 杏MAP导航 has been reflecting on the 鈥渆ssential characteristics鈥� of the proclamation of the Gospel, which is joyful, addressed to everyone, and relevant to our times.

The final characteristic, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, is the need for the proclamation to take place 鈥渋n the Spirit,鈥� the 鈥減rotagonist鈥� of evangelization, who is responsible for the spread of the Gospel.

However, 鈥渢he primacy of the Spirit should not induce us to indolence,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, adding, 鈥淐onfidence [in the Spirit] does not justify disengagement.鈥� Instead, the Holy Spirit inspires the Church鈥檚 mission, which should imitate the 鈥渟tyle鈥� of the Spirit, marked by creativity and simplicity.

Pastoral creativity

杏MAP导航 Francis warned that, in an age like our own, it is easy to retreat from pastoral outreach, taking refuge 鈥渋n safety zones鈥� that are 鈥渢emptations that disguise themselves as fidelity to tradition鈥� but are often 鈥渞eactions to personal dissatisfactions.鈥�

Instead, 鈥減astoral creativity, being bold in the Spirit, ardent in His missionary fire, is the proof of fidelity to Him,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

The simplicity of the Spirit

Proclamation in the Spirit is also marked by simplicity, 鈥減recisely because the Spirit takes us to the source, the 鈥榝irst proclamation鈥�,鈥� the revelation of the Father鈥檚 infinite mercy. This 鈥榝irst proclamation鈥� 鈥渕ust be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, quoting his own words in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium.

杏MAP导航 Francis invited the faithful to allow the Holy Spirit to be the source of all our being and our work. The Holy Spirit 鈥渆nlivens and rejuvenates the Church,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith Him we must not fear, because He, who is harmony, always keeps creativity and simplicity together, inspires communion and sends out in mission, opens to diversity and leads back to unity.鈥�

And he concluded his reflection with the prayer, 鈥淐ome, Holy Spirit!鈥�