The Cardinal Secretary of State addressed Renewal in the Holy Spirit on the occasion of his national Convocation, which concluded yesterday in Rimini. In his speech last Saturday, the cardinal recalled the importance of rediscovering the “driving force of the Holy Spirit in the path of evangelization”
The Osservatore Romano
«May these days that you are experiencing truly be a favorable opportunity to rediscover the driving force of the Holy Spirit in the path of evangelization, but above all the obedience that is due to him to follow the paths that he indicates to the Church to still be today, with the Gospel, salt of the earth and light of the world.” This was the appeal addressed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the over eight thousand participants in the 46th National Convocation of the cenacles, groups and communities of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit (RnS), which ended yesterday, 28 April, in Rimini . «This responsibility which a baptized person cannot delegate to anyone must be for each of you a true vocation to follow and a mission to live – continued the cardinal in his speech on 27 April – The path of evangelization allows Christ’s disciples to to be witnesses of an announcement that involved them so much that they wanted to share it with everyone, so that the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts of those who welcome it”.
The fire of evangelization
«Certainly we evangelize, we take on the mission because Jesus told us – declared Cardinal Parolin – but we become evangelizers only when we feel that there is an urgency within us, a fire that burns inside us , and we feel the urgent need to pass it on to others.” “If all the children of the Church really felt this need in this way – he hoped – we would really be able to set the world on fire like the first Christians did”. According to the Secretary of State “we must welcome within ourselves the strength of the spirit, to make our voice heard by God in a coherent and effective way”. «We don’t know what or how to ask when we are before God, which is why the Spirit intercedes for us. He truly acts as a bridge between us and the Father. In prayer he is the mediator and asks what is best for us, doing it in the language of God which is that of love” “The discovery of our weakness in not knowing how to pray – said the cardinal – must not at all lead to discouragement. On the contrary, it needs to become an experience of praise, of thanksgiving, because the Spirit comes to our aid.”
The occasion of the Jubilee
Cardinal Parolin concluded his speech by hoping that «the next Jubilee will be an opportunity, a kairos that God offers us to return to Him, to rediscover the fire of the Gospel, to savor hope again and prepare ourselves once again to welcome the presence of God in us, to overcome evil in all its forms and become witnesses of light and love”. Finally, a reference to the theme that guided the Convocation: «These days of your meetings found their meaning in Jesus’ response: “When you pray, father”. There is no more beautiful prayer than this one that Jesus himself taught us.”
