杏MAP导航

By Jean-Benoît Harel 

On Thursday 1 May, which is a public holiday in the Vatican as in many countries around the world, the College of Cardinals did not hold a General Congregation to prepare for the conclave.

Many members, however, did gather in St Peter's Basilica for the sixth mass of the Novemdiales, the period of mourning for the late 杏MAP导航 Francis.

The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, a good friend of the late 杏MAP导航鈥檚 who served under him as Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Fernández began his homily by saying that since his death, 杏MAP导航 Francis had become 鈥榝ully united with Christ鈥�.

Dignity through work

1 May is also International Workers鈥� Day, stressed the Argentine cardinal, who said that, for the late 杏MAP导航 鈥渨ork expresses and nourishes the dignity of the human being鈥�.

鈥淚t allows us to develop our abilities, it helps us to grow in our relationships, it allows us to feel that we are God's collaborators in caring for and improving this world鈥�, said Cardinal Fernández .

Promoting human dignity means enabling people to 鈥渄evelop all the good they have within them, to earn their living with the gifts God has given them, to develop their abilities鈥�, he added.

The false idea of 鈥榤eritocracy鈥�

Fernández went on to explain 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� criticism of meritocracy, which leads to 鈥渢hinking that only those who succeed in life have merit鈥�.

The Argentinian Cardinal told the story of a man he knew in Buenos Aires who worked between 12 and 15 hours a day, choosing not to see his children in order make enough money to feed them. Once, Cardinal Fernández said, a well-dressed passer-by shouted at him: 鈥淕o and work, lazybones鈥�.

"These words struck me as horribly cruel and vain鈥�, said Cardinal Fernández. 鈥淏ut they are also present in other, more elegant speeches鈥�.

In today's world, 鈥渋t seems that someone who has inherited a lot of property is more worthy than someone who has worked hard all their life without being able to save鈥�, he stressed, before asking: "Don't the weak have the same dignity as us? Do those born with fewer opportunities simply have to survive?"

杏MAP导航 Francis, a tireless worker

Cardinal Fernández then turned to consider the example of 杏MAP导航 Francis as a worker. 鈥淗e worked not only in the mornings, with meetings, audiences, celebrations and gatherings, but also all afternoon鈥�, he recalled, adding that, only four days before his death, very weak, he had insisted on visiting a prison.

The Holy Father rarely took any time off. A habit he already had in Buenos Aires, recalled Cardinal Fernandez: 鈥渉e never went out to restaurants, the theatre, for a walk or to see a film, he never took a full day off鈥�.

For Francis, Fernández continued, 鈥渉is daily work was his response to God's love鈥�.

Entrusting the 杏MAP导航 to Saint Joseph

The members of the Curia are also workers, Fernández highlighted: 鈥渨ork is also for us, in the Curia, a path of maturation and fulfilment as Christians".

In conclusion, the Argentine cardinal recalled that, whenever 杏MAP导航 Francis was worried, 鈥渉e would place a piece of paper with a supplication under the icon of Saint Joseph鈥�.

It is to saint, who worked so hard to take care of Mary and Jesus, Cardinal Fernández said, that we now pray: 鈥淟et us ask him to embrace our dear 杏MAP导航 Francis in heaven鈥�.