Francis receives the Sons of Charity and the Brothers of Saint Gabriel. and recommends some to look at the crucifix and the wounds of the poor, as the founder Magdalene of Canossa did, others to safeguard the varied internationality that distinguishes the order: uniformity kills, harmony, fruit of the Spirit, makes growth
Antonella Palermo – Vatican City
Pope Francis meets the “Canossian” Sons of Charity and the Brothers of Saint Gabriel and addresses them on the occasion of their general chapters and the anniversaries of the birth of the founders, respectively 250 years of Saint Magdalene of Canossa and 350 years of Saint Louis Maria Grignion de Montfort. He rereads their experience in the light of contemporaneity often marked “by selfishness and particularism”: Diversity, states the Pontiff, are precious gifts to be shared.
The general chapters, synodal events of grace
To both religious orders, the Pontiff reminds the importance of the Chapters which, quoting Blessed Pironio, are “family” events, but also Church events and “salvific” events, true “synodal events” of which he specifies the peculiarities:
Moments of grace, a Chapter is a moment of grace, to be lived first of all in docility to the action of the Holy Spirit, gratefully remembering the past, paying attention to the present – in mutual listening and in reading the signs of the times (see Gaudium et spes, 4) – and looking with an open and confident heart to the future, for personal and community verification and renewal, that is, past, present, future, they enter a Chapter, to remember, to evaluate and to move forward in development of the Congregation.
Religious people are not “firefighters”
Francis allows himself a joke to underline his message. He does so in light of the theme chosen by the Canossians for their discernment: “He who doesn’t burn doesn’t set fire”.
It makes me sad when I see religious people who look more like firefighters than men and women with ardor for setting fires. Please, not firefighters; we already have many.
Look at the crucifix and open arms towards the least
Remembering that the Canossians are present in seven countries with members of ten different nationalities, and that they are assisted by the Canossian sisters with an increasingly active and involved lay reality (this aspect of the involvement of the laity in an institute, considered very important for the Pontiff who, in fact, underlines it off the cuff), the Pope urges us to look at the courage of the foundress who worked “in a world no less difficult than ours”, to “make Jesus known and loved, who is not loved because he is not known” .
Saint Magdalene showed you how to overcome difficulties: with your eyes turned to the Crucifix and your arms open towards the least, the little ones, the poor and the sick, to care for, educate and serve your brothers with joy and simplicity. When the path becomes difficult, then, do as she did: look at Jesus Crucified and look at the eyes and wounds of the poor, and you will see that the answers will slowly make their way into your hearts with ever greater clarity.
Use courage
In the Chapter the religious of San Gabriele reflect on the theme “Listen and act courageously”. And the Pope focuses on these words, in particular emphasizing the courage he is talking about: “That apostolic parrhesia”. It is the courage “that we read, for example, in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. That courage. And the Spirit is there to give us that courage and we must ask for it”.
They are two attitudes – listening and courage – which require humility and faith, and which well reflect the spirit and action of Saint Louis Marie and Father Deshayes, who also left you a precious triptych as a compass for your decisions : “God alone”, the “Cross” – carved in the heart – and “Mary”. “God alone”, the “Cross” – carved in the heart – and “Mary”.
Internationality is good for the apostolate
The Brothers of Saint Gabriel are made up of more than a thousand religious people, engaged in pastoral assistance, human and social promotion and education – especially for the blind and deaf – in 34 countries. The Pope repeats again that it is the Holy Spirit who creates harmony, because he is its “master”. And, the Pope insists, again off the cuff: “Uniformity in a religious institute, in a diocese, in a lay group, kills! Diversity in harmony leads to growth. Don’t forget this. Diversity in harmony”. Thus was born the invitation to be prophets of welcome and integration:
To you too, then, Providence has given the richness of a varied internationality: it will do so much good for your growth and your apostolate, if you know how to live it by welcoming and constructively sharing diversity among yourselves and with everyone.
