Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Benedict XVI's testimony and a conclave held in Lent "are great gifts for the universal Church, which is called to reflect on the mystery and pray for the Cardinals who are called to elect a successor to the Pope Emeritus." This is the response sent by the superior of Mumbai's cloistered Carmelite monastery, Sister Gemma, to Cardinal Bertone's appeal contained in a letter to the religious of the world for "special prayers" for the Church.
In
her reply, Sister Gemma says: "We feel privileged to fulfill this request
of prayer for the Church, and assure Cardinal Bertone that we will pray for the
cardinals in conclave. During this period, we will intensify our prayers and
works of charity, asking the
Holy Spirit to guide the choice the cardinals are called to make. "
"Since
we received the letter - the religious explains to AsiaNews - we have held
an hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every evening. On a personal
level, each Carmelite is making personal sacrifices for the good of the
Conclave. Via internet we have all adopted a cardinal for whom to pray.
"
"This
morning - she continues - we celebrated a special Mass for the election of the
pope. We prayed that the cardinals gathered may be guided by the Holy Spirit to
discern the signs of the times for the Church and for the world. This Conclave comes
as a time of
grace for the universal Church, since it is the first to be held during Lent
since 1829. And Lent is the springtime of the Church. "
These
days, she adds - "we are witnessing, in an unprecedented way, the strength
of the last blessing of Pope Benedict XVI that the presence and power of the
Spirit may envelop them. The Pope Emeritus' words were beautiful and full of
faith: the Church is awakening souls, and we can see it in these particular
times. "
"The
international community - concludes Sister Gemma - is full of expectations.
When our beloved Pope Emeritus announced he would give up his ministry, he
spoke with great wisdom of health and the human inability. This wisdom has
become a force for the
church, and has embraced the whole world. God has created something new. "