Annunciavit Nobis. Oct 2017 – Year XXII. N° 336

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Rome, October 28, 2017

Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles

Perpetual Professions and First Vows of the Servants of the Lord

The proper end of every institute of religious life is the total consecration of the soul to God, “which manifests in the Church a marriage effected by God, a sign of the future life” [1]. In this past month, six Servants of the Lord in different parts of the world gave testimony of this radical commitment to God in our Institute, by means of the profession of vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

On the 5th of October, in the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, cared for by the IVE priests in Hong Kong, the sisters María Zhu zhi Bei Pu and María Shan Dao zhi Mu, made their profession in the Holy Mass presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong, Msgr. Joseph Ha Chi Sing, OFM.

In the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” Cathedral in Uzbekistan, Sister Maria Uteshenie Kim professed her perpetual vows on October 8th, in the presence of Mother María Corredentora Rodríguez, General Superior of our Institute, various members of our Religious Family, and some friends and family members. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided by the Apostolic Administrator of Uzbekistan, Msgr. Jerzy Maculewicz, OFM.

In Taizhong, Taiwan, in the parish of St. Joseph, on October 15th, in a ceremony presided by Msgr. Martin Su Yao Wen, Bishop of Taizhong, the first two native vocations, Maria Tian Shi Bao Xi and Maria Dao Sheng zhi Mu, made their perpetual profession of vows.

 

On Sunday, October 22nd, Sister Maria Koningin van Vrede Timmermans professed her perpetual vows in the cathedral of San Bavo, in Haarlem-Amsterdam. The Auxiliary Bishop, Msgr. Johannes Willibrordus Maria Hendriks presided over the Holy Mass. Several priests concelebrated; among them was Fr. Diego Pombo, IVE, Spiritual Father of the SSVM and Fr. Franco Liporace, IVE, Provincial Superior of Northern Europe.

 

On that same day in Italy, in the chapel of the International Juniorate “St. Theresa of Jesus”, in Bagnoregio, two novices professed vows for the first time, thus becoming new Spouses of the Lamb. They are: Maria Benedetta della Croce Monares Ramírez; Marie de l’Eucharistie Ebelle Priso

 

Also, on the 6th of October, in Al Minyia (Egypt), Sister Mariam al Batul -Virgin Mary in Arabic- made her first profession of religious vows. The Holy Mass was presided over by Msgr. Butros Fahim, Bishop of Al-Minya.

[1] Constitutions, 24; Sacred Congregation for Religious and for Secular Institutes, Essential Elements In The Church’s Teaching On Religious Life As Applied To Institutes Dedicated To Works Of The Apostolate,  III, §4

 

Feast of St. John Paul II, Spiritual Father of theReligious Family of the Incarnate Word

Monday, October 23rd, a great number of the members of our Congregation present in Italy, together with some laity of the Third Order and friends, gathered together in the Basilica of St. Peter, to celebrate St. John Paul II, whose liturgical commemoration fell on Sunday this year. Drawn together with festive joy around one who we consider the “Spiritual Father” of our Religious Family, we participated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated on the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter. The ceremony was presided over by Fr. Gustavo Nieto, General Superior of the IVE. Here we publish the homily he preached for this occasion.

Dear all in the Incarnate Word, we find ourselves gathered here in this magnificent Basilica of St. Peter, under whose dome is kept the sacred relics of St. Peter, the first Pope; some relics of apostles, of the glorious martyrs, and those of an admirable succession of Holy Pontiffs. Also here in this majestic reliquary, are contained the remains (and this is particularly significant for us, being the motive of our gathering here today) of one of the most illustrious Pontiffs of the Church: our beloved St. John Paul II.

These same walls- the symbol of the Catholic Church and of the Primacy of Peter- which rise up in silent witness to the innumerable demonstrations and teachings of holiness left by the successor of Peter whom we celebrate today, are for us a propitious frame for our contemplation of the eloquent example of love and surrender to the Church which God, in His goodness, offered us in the person of St. John Paul II.

For this reason, from among the many aspects which could be mentioned regarding his fruitful life, I would like to reflect together with you about the Holy Father’s love for the Church; making reference to three traits that, even though they may have been common to many Roman Pontiffs, in some way characterize and distinguish the papacy of John Paul II from the rest, whether it be on account of his heroism or of his magnitude.

-I will refer in the first place, as the first trait, to the universal missionary spirit with which he exercised his Petrine ministry;

-Then, as a second trait, his untiring dedication to preserve and augment the unity of the Church, the principal work of every successor of Peter;

-And finally, as a third trait, the unconquerable strength and spirit with which he himself carried out these tasks, bearing witness to us and giving us a magnanimous and joyful example of the love of the Cross of Our Lord. For the love of the Church implies love of Jesus; and the love of His Cross is an inescapable condition for the love of Christ. This testimony has animated us all and so many others –and it continues to animate us- to work in the same manner… trying to imitate him… to have him as a model of what we are and what we do.

All of these elements are also fundamental principles of our spirituality and of our mission as consecrated persons, members of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word.

  1. Universal Missionary

John Paul II understood from the start that the call to be Successor of Peter was a call to a universal mission, simply because the Church is universal. He expressed this once on a day like today, 39 years ago, when in the homily of his pontifical inauguration he affirmed: “Today a new, Bishop comes to the Chair of` Peter in Rome, a Bishop full of trepidation, conscious of his unworthiness. And how could one not tremble before the greatness of this call and before the universal mission of this See of Rome!”[1].

St. John Paul II recognized as implicit in his call to be Universal Pastor, the call to “act in the name of Christ and in accord with the Him in the entire human realm where Jesus desired his Gospel to be preached and the saving truth announced, [that is, in] the whole world” [2]. And this is what he did. He was an untiring evangelist…a tenacious missionary…an indefatigable lover and divulger of the truth.

His universal solicitude not only traversed the terrain, but also his prodigious Magisterium. We could well say that there was hardly an aspect of theology and human life, ecclesial and social, that St. John Paul II did not encompass in his almost 27 years as pontiff, with his 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 45 Apostolic Letters, the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the reform of the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, with his innumerable discourses, homilies, letters and books.

He was, without a doubt, a global missionary. His 104 apostolic trips outside of Italy, and the 146 trips within this country [3], and the visits to almost every parish of the diocese of Rome, bear witness to the greatness of his desire to bring –in imitation of the Incarnate Word himself, albeit analogously– to all Christians and to the whole world [4], thoroughly completing the mission entrusted by Christ to the Apostles: make disciples of all the nations [5].

He recognized himself to be “the sign of Christ’s presence in the world, going out to meet men and women where they are: calling them by name, helping them to rise, consoling them with the Good News and gathering them into one around the Lord’s Table.”[6] No matter where he was, this is precisely what he did. Recalling this, it is always quite impressive, to see the vivid awareness that he possessed of the universal mission… until the ends of the earth.

John Paul II manifested to us and taught us his tireless missionary spirit, since he exercised his Petrine ministry –as he liked to repeat- moved by the sollicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum and dedicating all his energies to “be a sign of the great Friend (with a capital F) of us all” [7], as he once said to priests and religious. “In this mission, received from Christ, the Church must work tirelessly. She must be humble and courageous, like Christ himself and his Apostles. If she encounters obstacles, if she is criticized in various ways…she should not be discouraged. Most of all, she should not cease to proclaim the Gospel” [8].

How magnificently is his example raised before us, religious missionaries! The example of this man who knew no limits in order to love and serve Christ… because Christ himself has loved us even to the end [9]! And Christ himself said: I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you [10]. All of his richness consisted in giving himself to the Word [11] in his “mystical Body, the Church”[12].

In this resolution, he is shown to have been well founded, giving us a supreme example. John Paul II insistently repeated that evangelization requires holiness, and holiness requires the nourishment of the spiritual life [13]. This is why he dedicated much time to prayer each day. Likewise, whether in Rome or in his aposotlic travels, he prayed much: besides the Holy Mass, he recited the liturgy of the hours, prayed the Rosary, made an hour of Adoration –on Thursdays he made an extra hour of Adoration– he prayed the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. He frequently spent long hours of the night under the shelter of the Sacred Heart in the Eucharist. Thus he presented himself in prayer “before Mary and Joseph to ask for their assistance; in this way, together with them and with all those whom God entrusts to us, we can build a home for the Son of God –His Holy Church,” as he beautifully confessed in one of his books. [14]

Many testify, and many of us have seen it and confirmed it, how prayer was driving force of John Paul II’s life. Those of his closest associates affirm that John Paul II “he prayed for the whole Church, but not in any abstract manner. He habitually spoke of the ‘geography of prayer’ and on his desk he had a world atlas; each day he passed through the pages and chose a country or a diocese to pray for. This universal solicitude was manifested also in the numerous meetings with bishops from all over the world, whom he invited to lunch when they happened to pass through Rome, so that he could speak with them about the situation of the Church in every place. After many years of his pontificate, -his associates recount- he was very well aware of the strong points as well as the weaknesses of not only the dioceses, but also of its pastors”[15] and he prayed will even greater insistence.

In short, his example as “universal missionary” which we desire to evoke today, is undoubtedly for us who want “to be like another humanity of Christ, to carry out, with greater perfection, the service of God and men” [16], a beacon, a guiding light, a constant stimulus for our religious and missionary lives.

  1. The unity of the Church

The second trait which characterized John Paul II’s surrender and love for the Church is, from my point of view, the great assiduousness with which he dedicated himself to promote its unity. He knew how to rise up a living sense of communion- with him, and by means of him with all of the Church’s faithful spread across the world [17]. He was a man with a great capacity for inclusion [18], as Pope Benedict XVI wrote of him.

He considered it his own responsibility to fight for the cause of the Church’s unity, and with great courage undertook the task that Christ confided to Peter [19],  and inspired others to join in the initiative to achieve that union which Christ desired and explicitly prayed for. “Christ calls all his disciples to unity” [20], he emphasized. “Division “openly contradicts the will of Christ, provides a stumbling block to the world, and inflicts damage on the most holy cause of proclaiming the Good News to every creature’”[21], he wrote in his beautiful Encyclical Letter, Ut Unum Sint.

Unity which is built –he said- upon the truth above all else; a unity which was fostered not only among the Christians of other sects and ecclesial communities, but strengthened the bonds of unity within the Church itself.

In this regard, I would like to read to you a paragraph from a message he directed to priests and religious in the year 1982. It says: “the communion of minds easily is transformed into union of hearts, in a convergence of efforts for the same cause. A kingdom that is divided against itself cannot stand. A divided apostolate annihilates itself. And we know that it will be divided, if it yields to the temptation of exclusivism contrary to the just diversity of gifts and charisms or to the temptation of isolation, disinterested or closing oneself off in relation to the work of others, without being part of common pastoral programs or plans. .. Union in the forces of evangelization demands understanding; and this in turn is achieved through authentic dialogue” [22].

John Paul II taught us that the essential identity which Christ has given to his Church is precisely the Eucharist, memorial of the Lord. This is obviously stronger than all the divisions that men introduce. The most profound essence of the Church, that is to say, what is proper to Her, is not division, but unity [23], and this unity is effected by the Eucharist. That is why, for us, the unity of the Church is its own cause; it begins with the firm union of each one of us to the Incarnate Word and to each other in mutual love [24].

  1. Strength

Finally, the Holy Father, who we saw so many times embracing the cross, gave us signs of his immeasurable love for the Church through the sufferings that he, united to the tribulations of Christ, bore with heroic strength. St. John Paul II was, without doubt, a man of suffering, but of suffering born with dignity, with heroism and with joy. He himself said -I have repeated it many times- that he had set his life under the sign of the cross [25].

Certainly, throughout the centuries there have been many Pontiffs who served the Church with unfailing strength in the faith. Nonetheless, among all of these, the Polish Pope shined in a particular manner.

This is seen in so far as “they gave priority to their faith in their whole life and in everything they did; a bold and fearless faith, a faith strengthened by trials, a faith with the courage to follow generously every call from God” [26]. He [John Paul II] knew at his appointment -hearing in “the Church’s call the voice of Christ”- that within the call to “follow me”, was also implied “those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it”[27].

We know well, and he himself demonstrated, that the words which Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński addressed to him before his episcopal ordination were engraved upon his heart: “The bishop has the duty to serve not only through his words and through the liturgy, but also through offering up his sufferings. […] Lack of courage in a bishop is the beginning of disaster. Can he still be an apostle? Witnessing to the Truth is essential for an apostle. And this always demands courage. […] The greatest weakness in an apostle is fear. What gives rise to fear is lack of confidence in the power of the Lord; this is what oppresses the heart and tightens the throat. The apostle then ceases to offer witness. Does he remain an apostle? The disciples who abandoned the Master increased the courage of the executioners.”

How deeply these words were kept by the Polish Pope! To such a degree that even in his first homily he could tell the whole world: “do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power! …Do not be afraid!

John Paul II was convinced that “there can be no turning one’s back upon the truth, ceasing to proclaim it, hiding it, even if it is a hard truth that can only be revealed at the cost of great suffering. ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (Jn. 8:32): this i sour duty and our source of strength!”- he said. […] We have to bear witness to the truth, even at the cost of persecutions, even to the shedding of our blood, like Christ Himself” [28].

And likewise, without denying the difficulties and the crosses that the proclamation of and fidelity to the Incarnate Word implied, he exhorted: “Go everywhere with confidence […] know how to pronounce the word that gives light, because it comes from God with the power of the Spirit of Jesus. Never be discouraged by difficulties. Humbly take your part of the fatigue of the Church” [29].

And with an extraordinary spirit of faith and a long experience crucible of tribulation, this most worthy successor of Peter, although himself plunged in sufferings, knew how to give courage to all. As he told us: “We will certainly encounter trials. There is nothing extraordinary about this, it is part of the life of faith. At times our trials will be light, at times they will be very difficult, or even dramatic. In our trials we may feel alone, but God’s grace, the grace of a victorious faith, will never abandon us. Therefore we can expect to triumph over every trial, even the hardest.” [30]

This was his message, this was his example, and this will continue being the hope that he sought to rise in all: “The presence of evil is always accompanied by the presence of good, by grace. […]There is no evil from which God cannot draw forth a greater good. There is not suffering which he cannot transform into a path leading to him. […] all evil is present in this world partly so as to awaken our love, our self-gift in generous and disinterested service to those visited by suffering. In the love that pours fourth from the heart of Christ, we find hope for the future of the world.” [31]

Dear all: I would like to conclude recalling the words which John Paul II wrote in a poem dedicated to St. Stanislaw, and in this place… this basilica seems to be the most fitting place to do so: “The Church, my Church, born with me, not dying with me –nor do I die with it, which always grows beyond me, the Church: the lowest depth of my existence and its peak, the Church … the sacrament of my being in God who is the Father.” May his example of love and unconditional surrender to the service of the Church transform us, like him, into “other Christs”.

With a heartfelt plea, we entrust to our St. John Paul II today, in a very special way, our beloved Religious Family, our missions and our religious, that moved by the magnanimous and heroic example of this Holy Father, we may go forward with generous impetus and a decided commitment to serve our Mother the Church without limits of borders, being builders of unity and persevering with immovable firmness in the faith, imparting a coherent testimony to the truth, in all places.

And through her intercession, we ask this grace also of the Mother of the Incarnate Word, to whom the Great Holy Father was a tender and devout son and slave.

[1] St. John Paul II, Homily of His Holiness John Paul II for the Inauguration of His Pontificate (October 22, 1978), 3.

[2]Cf. St. John Paul II, General Audience, March 10, 1993.

[3] Holy See Press Office, “Short Biography of His Holiness John Paul II” (30/06/2005).

[4]Ibidem.

[5]Mt 28: 19.

[6]Cf. St. John Paul II, Rise, Let us be on our way. Part V, The Bishop in His Local Church, p.157.

[7] St. John Paul II, Discourse to priests and religious at Fatima, (05/13/1982).

[8]Cf. St. John Paul II, Memory and Identity, c.19, p.116.

[9]Cf. Jn. 13: 1.

[10] Jn. 13: 15.

[11] Cf. Directory of Spirituality, 52.

[12] Constitutions, 7.

[13]Cf. St. John Paul II, Homily on Pentecost, (06/3/2001).

[14]Cf. St. John Paul II, Rise, Let us be on our way. Part IV, p.144.

[15]W. Redzioch, Stories about St. John Paul II told by his close friends and co-workers: testimony of Pawel Ptasznik. [our translation]

[16]Constitutions, 254.257.

[17]Cf. St. John Paul II, Rise, Let us be on our way. Part V.

[18]J. Ratzinger, John Paul II: My Beloved Predecessor, p.5.

[19]Cf. St. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Ut unum sint, On commitment to Ecumenism, (25/05/1995), 4.

[20] St. John Paul II, Ut unum sint, 1.

[21] St. John Paul II, Ut unum sint, 6; Vatican Council II, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 1.

[22] St. John Paul II, To Priests and Religious in Fatima, (05/13/1982). [our translation]

[23]Cf. St. John Paul II, Memory and Identity, chp. 24, p150.

[24]Directory of Spirituality, 246; St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Creed, IX, 116.

[25]Joseph Ratzinger, John Paul II: My Beloved Predecessor, chp. 1. [our translation]

[26] St. John Paul II, Rise, Let us be on our way. Part VI, p.198-199.

[27]Benedict XVI, Homily for the Funeral Mass of the Roman Pontiff John Paul II, (04/08/2005).

[28] St. John Paul II, Rise, Let us be on our way. Part VI, p.190.

[29] St. John Paul II, Meeting with Religious men and women in Annecy, (10/7/1986). [our translation]

[30] St. John Paul II, Rise, Let us be on our way. Part VI, p.191.

[31] St. John Paul II, Memory and Identity, Epilogue, p. 166-168.

 

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