Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Today, as in the past, missionary activity requires courage. It is quite easy to speak about mission, but living it demands much more commitment. Being present in the world as it is today, enthralled by the mirage of money and power, overrun with violence, to be present with the power of the Gospel requires a good dose of courage. The concept of mission is one of the many which in recent times have changed meaning. In the past, especially following the great geographical discoveries, missionary activity meant the activity of the Church among peoples not yet evangelised. Theological renewal, from the beginning of the last century, produced a different interpretation. This new vision led to an ecclesiological reform of the concept. In fact mission was seen as an element of self-identification. The Church realises that she cannot be herself unless she is missionary. If on the one hand the Church realises she is missionary by nature, on the other, the concept of mission is no longer restricted to the non evangelised world, it has assumed a pastoral character with regard to the faithful who already believe in Christ, to increase their faith and render it ever more mature and develop their life in God so as to gradually lead them to perfect fusion with the Lord.
"The pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature, since it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that she draws her origin, in accordance with the decree of God the Father.” (AG 2; cfr LG 2-4). Before becoming ours, missionary activity is the work of God. Before being a task to achieve, it is love to receive. The Church does not exist by herself, or for herself she is the extension in time and space of the presence of Christ and His mission.
She is called by nature to move out of herself and go towards the world as a sign, a channel, a presence of God's love and salvation. Missionary activity is the heart of the Church, it pervades her, it is her reason for existing, it is a reflection of Christ's love and its task is to irradiate this same light to all men and women.
The Church therefore is called to continue God's work, this is her foundation, the Sacrament of God's presence for mankind, she is called to proclaim Jesus Christ, the good news for the world, light and hope in the midst of the questions which trouble it, a new meaning which offers a key to the quest. Mission does not go together with fear, it demands to go out into the open, to walk, it is a response to a call. (1- to be continued) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2007; righe 29, parole 447)
