Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides) - “Dear ordinands, you will soon say and repeat the greatest word a person can say: ‘Yes, I will". The supreme act of your freedom; this act give birth to your I. Because the I is generated not by the intelligence, or the emotions but by freedom, the exercise of the will.” With these words Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, addressed three candidates for the priesthood and three for the deaconate all members of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo whom he ordained in 23 June in the Basilica of St Peter's in Chains in Rome.
“However this great word, ‘I will', is preceded by ‘yes’ -Cardinal Caffarra continued-: you have answered a call which came first. And now you have left behind forever that autonomy which leads man to boredom in life and you have entered the truth of human existence which assures your happiness. The awareness you have of this evening and of self must be filled to the brim with your mission. This perfect coincidence in your conscience of your identity and your mission is the same as your lived virginity and lived obedience”.
Commenting the readings on the vigil of the Feast of the Birth of St John the Baptist Cardinal Caffarra said: “John's identity is revealed to his father. It is through the father and in the experience of a paternity, sealed by the Word of God, that John realise his identity and his unique mission. It is sweet to think how Zachariah must have explained to his young son the reason for his life, his being. However Jeremiah and John have something in common to which I would call your attention. I could summarise it like this: the mission content of the self awareness of both Jeremiah and John. There is not other path to reach self-awareness except that of the entrusted mission.”
In his greeting to the Cardinal Archbishop of Bologna, Mgr Massimo Camisasca, superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo, manifested the joy of such an important day and recalled the long years of friendship which bind the Cardinal and the Fraternity. “This is a dramatic moment for our country: we wish to be present above all with the work of education- Mgr Camisasca said-. With our presence in Bologna we intend to carry on the work which don Giussani placed at the centre of his every word and deed: the education of young people as the privileged path to carry to the whole world and to every individual person the announcement and the company of Christ.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/6/2007; Righe 33 - Parole 462)
