杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Meeting members of the Calasanzian Family in the Vatican on Thursday, as the congregation celebrates its anniversary on the eve of the Jubilee of Hope, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged them to remain rooted in their founder鈥檚 charism of education and respond to modern challenges with courageous faith and holistic care for individuals.

During the audience in the Clementine Hall, he highlighted the importance of courageous docility to divine Providence and the holistic growth of the human person, values embodied by St. Joseph Calasanz, the universal patron of Christian popular schools.

鈥淵our Founder鈥� did not hesitate to disrupt his life鈥檚 plans to dedicate himself to the street children he encountered,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, noting how the Pious Schools emerged not from rigid planning but from the 鈥渃ourage of a good priest who allowed himself to be moved by the needs of others.鈥�

Thus, he invited the whole Calasanzian Family to embrace similar courage and adaptability in addressing today鈥檚 challenges, especially in responding to new forms of poverty, with particular attention for the evolving needs of society, asking, 鈥淲hat are the new poverties of our times?鈥�

Courage and trust

鈥淒o not be afraid to venture into new paths,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, challenging the group to even revise existing models while maintaining the same trust in Providence that defined their origins.

鈥淏y remaining faithful to your roots, you will keep your charism alive,鈥� he said.

Holistic education: A prophetic mission

杏MAP导航 Francis also reflected on the prophetic nature of the Pious Schools' approach, which integrates spiritual, intellectual, and practical education. He described this as fostering unity among the 鈥渢hree intelligences鈥濃�攖he mind, heart, and hands.

鈥淗elping young people achieve this synthesis is very urgent today,鈥� he said, expressing concern over the fragmentation of human relationships in modern society.

Reflecting on an anecdote about a family dining together while engrossed in their mobile phones, the 杏MAP导航 lamented, 鈥淭his is terrible 鈥� a lack of humanity.鈥�

He called for prioritizing genuine, face-to-face relationships over virtual interactions, saying, 鈥淟ook each other in the eye; don鈥檛 just talk through the phone.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 commended the Calasanzian Family for their commitment to holistic education, which he described as a vital 鈥渃harismatic talent鈥� entrusted to them by God.

Asking them to continue fostering harmony within individuals and communities, he said, 鈥淭his integral educational style is a treasure for the good of all.鈥�

Walking together in faith

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his address by praising the unity and collaboration among the members of the Calasanzian Family鈥攃onsecrated men and women, laypeople, and clergy.

He noted how their collective efforts, inspired by the Holy Spirit, embody the Church鈥檚 mission of walking together in service to others.

鈥淚t brings me great joy to see how all of you鈥� have felt the need to 鈥榖e family,鈥欌�� the 杏MAP导航 said, linking their mission to the example of Christ and the communal nature of the Church.