Pope to women religious: dialogue with all, recognizing the uniqueness of each one
XV General Chapter of the St. Catherine of Siena Union of the Missionaries of the School, Pope urges women religious to dialogue
(by Edoardo Giribaldi – Vatican City)
Realize and bear witness to the common vocation to holiness. To transmit it to new generations, through professionalism and preparation, but above all authentic happiness.
The one that comes from dialogue that excludes no one, that lives every encounter with “sunny gratitude” of one’s neighbor and his “sacred uniqueness.”
Holiness, preparation and affability are the three terms Pope Francis reflects on with the participants of the 15th General Chapter of the St. Catherine of Siena Union of School Missionaries, received Jan. 4, in the Clementine Hall.
READ THE FULL TEXT OF POPE FRANCIS’ ADDRESS HERE
“Creative responses” to today’s questions
Francis began by recalling the centenary of the founding of the Dominican congregation, founded in 1924 by Venerable Luigia Tincani. Its legacy consists in the search for “creative answers” to the questions of our time and is reflected in the theme chosen by the women religious for their meetings: “Understanding the present in order to understand together the future of the Union on its journey with the Church.”
Understanding the present, understanding it, in order to understand the future; on the way, not standing still – the dead are standing still! -, on the way with the Church. It is beautiful!
The common vocation to holiness
To the “indifferent of faith” and the “distant” must come the conviction of a common “vocation,” according to the Pope. That to “holiness,” a challenging, if not frightening term, but the “essential” goal of all existence.
Holiness is a joyful thing, holiness attracts, holiness is spiritual joy. It is true that it is not easy to find holiness, but with God’s grace we can do it. How important this mission is today, especially for young people!