OUR FOUNDING VISION TODAY: DEEPLY MOVED BY THE SUFFERING OF THE MOST ABANDONED

Where the Church is already established, our commitment is to those groups it touches least.

CC&RR, Constitution 5

Pope Francis in “The Joy of the Gospel” gives us  a powerful illustration of these words. I use a few of his statements for our reflection today. Had Eugene been around today, I believe that he would have written the same:

193   We incarnate the duty of hearing the cry of the poor when we are deeply moved by the suffering of others.

210   It is essential to draw near to new forms of poverty and vulnerability, in which we are called to recognize the suffering Christ, even if this appears to bring us no tangible and immediate benefits. I think of the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned, and many others. Migrants present a particular challenge for me, since I am the pastor of a Church without frontiers, a Church which considers herself mother to all.

211  I have always been distressed at the lot of those who are victims of various kinds of human trafficking.

212  Doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence, since they are frequently less able to defend their rights.

213  Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us.

215  There are other weak and defenseless beings who are frequently at the mercy of economic interests or indiscriminate exploitation. I am speaking of creation as a whole.

216  Small yet strong in the love of God, like Saint Francis of Assisi, all of us, as Christians, are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live, and all its peoples.

pope-francis-joy-of-gospel-

Source: http://www.stfrancisholland.org/node/1308

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4 Responses to OUR FOUNDING VISION TODAY: DEEPLY MOVED BY THE SUFFERING OF THE MOST ABANDONED

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Last night we interred the ashes of my friend. Pablo had spent many years living in South America – he was a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. When he returned to Canada it was to parish work and serving his community in several ways. Still he found time to ‘go out’ – once a week he presided at Mass at a large shelter for the homeless and for the volunteers who worked there. At the same time he was the director of a residence for retired Oblates. And he was adept at finding a subject or topic that he would introduce to people, setting up gatherings and reflections presenting opportunities for many of us that we might not otherwise have had. He looked for ways to serve his brothers. He had a big heart (and yet it took me a long time to recognize that for it took me a long time to stop struggling with him – my problems not his). And if some of us wanted to ‘do’ a little extra he could be relied on to present possible opportunities.

    I suppose that there were plenty of churches nearby that all could have gone to and we would all have done okay without another question posed or discussion set up. Pablo though helped to feed us – many of us who had served the Church and others – many who were certainly not forgotten but who sometimes were no longer ‘touched’ as were those that they had served.

    I look back and realise how over time I came to like and to love him dearly – with all of his weaknesses and strengths.

    This morning as I have sat here, occasionally focusing on the rising of the sun over the river I have seen brilliant colours streaking across the skies – blurred with the lines of the river and the land, running behind the silhouettes of dark trees. The sun itself is a great orange ball just above he the distant shoreline and it causes a shimmering line of colour to the edges of streaks of clouds. It will continue to rise in the skies, the deep orange ball will diffuse as it continues to mount the heavens and then it will provide warmth for the day, it’s light will be over and around in all. And as it becomes quite ordinary without distinct shape or colour it will touch all of us.

    Pablo never became ‘less’ when he went from serving his beloved Peruvians to serving his brothers and all of us here in Canada. His service took on a different hue, with borders and frames that were less defined. He saw in many of us areas of poverty that were not always touched, here in his place where the church already exists. A little like the sun will do in the passing hours of this day.

  2. peg hanafin says:

    Dear Fr Frank, I love reading all your articles. They are so inspiring and gives a greater understanding of all the missionary work being done. I was extremely disappointed you are not coming to Dublin. I had my heart set on meeting you ascI loved a retreat you gave in Emmaus in 2012 with the Cross and the pointing fingers. That experience lingers with me still. Of course we all readvyour contribution to Facebook. Keep up the good work to keep our spirit massaged with nice thoughts to ponder on. God bless you.
    Peg Hanafin

    • franksantucci says:

      Good to hear from you, Peg. Thanks for the encouragement about the Eugene-massage!
      To the best of my knowledge I am due in Dublin on Saturday July 16 for:

      Do I Have a Spirituality?
      “Spirituality” is a word that we tend to apply to saints and mystics – but never to ourselves. We will explore the concept of spirituality and the key phases in its development. Then, looking at Eugene de Mazenod’s life and spirituality as an example, each participant will be invited to begin to work at expressing their own spirituality.

      • franksantucci says:

        Peg, just discovered today that Dublin is not happening. Sorry about that. Looking forward to meeting some other time.

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