VATICAN - Cardinal Filoni at the sending forth Mass of missionaries: evangelizing is to grow in faith

Monday, 30 May 2016 filoni   pontifical mission societies   local churches   missionary animation  

Bucaramanga (Agenzia Fides) - "The mission to evangelize must be a constant encouragement not to be happy with mediocrity, but to continue to grow in faith" recommended Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, during the sending forth Mass of missionaries which he chaired on May 28 at the conclusion of the XII National Missionary Congress of Colombia.
"Authority does not come from science or doctrine, but from the Holy Spirit which governs our history and guides our steps - the Cardinal said in his homily commenting on the liturgy of the day -. God is the source and the source of all authority. Becoming one with Him, one obtains authority, because the Lord communicates and lives within the Church, and gives it the power, authority, science and wisdom".
Citing the Evangelii Gaudium, the Prefect of the Congregation said that "we evangelize even when we try to face the different challenges that may arise", since "truth is at times inconvenient, and cannot vary depending on the circumstances. The scribes and Pharisees want to accuse Jesus of abuse of authority and did not allow him the right to reveal to the world the truth and proclaim the new law of love". Then, addressing the messengers for the mission, he said that they will often be confronted with narrow-mindedness, blindness, prejudice "of those who do not know or recognize Christ, the Way, Truth and Life, but have the presumption to judge even God" and "the consequence of this attitude may be indifference or persecution".
Since the II Vatican Council, evangelization has experienced "major structural changes due to the changes of cultural models", to the point that "sometimes one can have the impression that the proclamation of faith does not inspire enthusiasm, especially if, as a result of some forms of dialogue that marginalize the Gospel and the attention to the religious and cultural traditions, forgets that the Church, by its nature, is missionary. " The multitudes recognize Jesus’ authority and power, and bear witness, make it a joyful announcement, a "Gospel". The Prefect of the Congregation invoked God, through the intercession of Saint Laura Montoya, "the gift of living a truly evangelical faith and the joy of announcing, with great spiritual authority, his Word among men". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/05/2016)


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