POPE FRANCIS TO THE MISSIONARIES •
Pope Francis surprised more than 3,000 young people and adults who were taking part in the Fourth National Meeting of Missionary Groups in Santiago de Estero by giving them a message. He encouraged them to “continue building a Church that reaches out, solidarity groups that work to transmit this joy that the Lord has placed in our hearts.”
Francis reminded the participants gathered at the Quimsa club “to be missionary, before announcing, communicating, it is necessary to see. See this Jesus who made himself small to attain our frailty, who took on our mortal flesh to dress it again with his immortality and who lives daily by going out to meet us, to walk with us and to extend his hand of friendship in difficulty.”
“Do not stop praying, praying for one another, to support each other with prayer, and see how Jesus, through you, and despite your frailty, will work miracles before all the peoples,” he said.
Francis also asked them to learn how to “gaze like Jesus.” “A gaze of tenderness, of understanding and of mercy that allows us to touch the Lord’s wounds in the flesh of our brothers in need. See Jesus in another purifies the heart, freeing it from selfishness, of all ulterior motives, of all passing desires.”
Pope Francis’ complete text
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you warmly and I unite myself spiritually with the celebration of this Fourth National Meeting of Missionary Groups. May we always remember that we cannot show others that which we ourselves have not seen and heard. Therefore, in order to be a missionary, before announcing, communicating, it is necessary to see. See this Jesus who made himself small to attain our frailty, who took on our mortal flesh to dress it again with his immortality and who lives daily by going out to meet us, to walk with us and to extend his hand of friendship in difficulty.”
Dear brothers and sisters, never forget the call, the first meeting with Jesus, the joy in him which you received when you first heard the call, perhaps from your parents, from your grandparents, from your catechists or teachers. Do not stop praying, praying for one another, to support each other with prayer, and see how Jesus, through you, and despite your frailty, will work miracles before all the peoples.
Also do not forget that the mission, which in addition to being a love for Jesus, is a love for his people. Let us allow ourselves to be gazed at by Jesus, but let us also learn how to gaze like Jesus. A gaze of tenderness, of understanding and of mercy that allows us to touch the Lord’s wounds in the flesh of our brothers in need. See Jesus in another purifies the heart, freeing it from selfishness, of all ulterior motives, of all passing desires.
I hope that these brief reflections encourage you to continue building a Church that reaches out, solidarity groups that work to transmit this joy that the Lord has placed in our hearts.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Cape Town South Africa
