杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV on Friday encouraged leaders of lay associations and charismatic movements to 鈥渁lways keep the Lord Jesus at the centre鈥� of their journeys. This, he said, 鈥渋s the essential thing, and charisms are meant to serve this purpose.鈥�

The Holy Father addressed his to moderators, international leaders, and delegates of ecclesial associations recognized or established by the Holy See, who are in Rome for an annual meeting organized by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.

Institutional and charismatic gifts

In his address, 杏MAP导航 Leo distinguished between institutional groups founded 鈥渢o carry on some common apostolic, charitable, or liturgical project, or to support Christian witness in specific social settings鈥�, and groups originating 鈥渨ith a charismatic inspiration鈥� that gave rise to a new form of spirituality and of evangelization.鈥�

Both institutional and charismatic foundations, he said, must be understood in relation to grace: 鈥淭he institution exists so that grace may always be offered, and charisms are given so that this grace may be received and bear fruit.鈥�

Following the Church鈥檚 teaching, and quoting St John Paul II, 杏MAP导航 Leo said that both 鈥渉ierarchical gifts and charismatic gifts 鈥榓re co-essential to the divine constitution of the Church founded by Jesus鈥�.鈥�

Unity and mission

杏MAP导航 Leo then turned his focus to the idea of unity and mission, 鈥渢wo essential aspects of the Church鈥檚 life and two priorities of the Petrine ministry.鈥� Because of this correspondence, the 杏MAP导航 asked 鈥渁ll ecclesial associations and movements to cooperate faithfully and generously with the 杏MAP导航, above all in these two areas.鈥�

In particular, he called on them to be 鈥渁 leaven of unity,鈥� promoting throughout the Church the unity they experience in their own organizations.

Then, recalling his own experience of mission, the 杏MAP导航 invited them to always 鈥渒eep alive鈥� the missionary zeal that marks their own spiritual journey, and called them to place their talents 鈥渁t the service of the Church鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Called to imitate Christ

Concluding his remarks, 杏MAP导航 Leo reminded his audience that charisms 鈥渓ead to an encounter with Christ,鈥� and 鈥渉elp to build up the Church.鈥�

鈥淚n this sense,鈥� he continued, 鈥渁ll of us are called to imitate Christ, Who emptied Himself to enrich us.鈥�

Whether united to pursue an apostolic goal, or to enjoy a charism, all are called 鈥渢o enrich others through the emptying of self,鈥� which the 杏MAP导航 described as 鈥渁 source of freedom and great joy.鈥�

Full text: