VATICAN - Pope to Pauline Family: Preach Christ with prayer and all available media

Friday, 26 November 2021 religious institutes   consecrated life   laity   missionary animation   mass media   gospel  

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "This anniversary is an opportunity for the Church, and especially for all of you, to remember the great works that the Holy Spirit performed in and through Blessed Giacomo Alberione and the importance of his charism in the present context and perspective of the Church. With farsighted vision your Founder knew how to embody for the 20th century the necessity that the ‘Word of God might spread rapidly’ by using and appreciating the most effective tools and manners-of-expression offered by technological", said Pope Francis in his address to the delegates and members of the Pauline family, whom he received in audience on the 50th anniversary of the death of their founder, Blessed Giacomo Alberione on November 25, 2021.
In the audience, Pope Francis recalled "the figure of this exemplary witness of the Word", and underlined the importance of prayer, from which consecrated persons receive "the ability to examine the 'signs of the times' in relation to the apostolic projects to adapt to the situations and needs of the people of today "and invited them to look to the apostle Paul, whom the Blessed Giacomo Alberione regarded as" the true founder", "the inspirer, father and example, who in total devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel must be imitated". In this context, the Pope emphasized "the passion for the Gospel, because the Gospel cannot be lived without passion. The Gospel of words alone does not work: the Gospel comes from the heart, from passion ...". Finally, the Pope urged the Pauline family to appreciate the prophetic value of the testimony of their founder and "following his example and intercession" today "to use the media as a 'pulpit' for you, as he himself said, may Jesus Christ be made known to the men of our time with the means of our time". Finally, he reiterated the invitation not to forget prayer, which "is the most important means of communication", invoking the intercession of Mary, Queen of the Apostles: "May she accompany you on the streets of the world as apostles and apostles of the Gospel, always open to "learning from ordinary people", as Blessed Giacomo Alberione used to say". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 26/11/2021)


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