10/04/2013, 00.00
VATICAN - ITALY
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Pope : Assisi, a community should listen to the Word, walk together, bring the Gospel to the margins of society

Meeting with priests, religious and members of pastoral councils , Pope Francis indicates how to make the Church grow. The margins of society also exist in families where the children do not know how to make the sign of the Cross. To the Sisters of St. Clare : "The Convent is not a purgatory but a family".

Assisi ( AsiaNews) - Listen to the word of God, walk together in brother and sisterhood, proclaim the Gospel in the margins of society, which are not only places, but people and without " being blocked by prejudices , habits, mental or pastoral rigidity, the 'it has always been done this way". Because "the Church is growing but not through proselytism , the Church does not proselytize, the Church grows by attracting through the witness of its members".

This, for Pope Francis, must be the "path" of a Christian community, indicated during his meeting this afternoon with the clergy, consecrated persons and members of pastoral councils of Assisi.

A joint meeting after lunch that the Pope ate with the poor in the Caritas center of the Donegiani square in Santa Maria degli Angeli. From there it went to the Eremo delle Carceri, or St Francis Hermitage, to pray in the Saints cell.

To the priests , religious and laity in parishes, whom he met in the Cathedral of St. Rufino , the Pope then traced the path of a community that really wants to call itself Christian . Starting with the foundation: "one Spirit , one baptism , in the variety of charisms and ministries. What a great gift to be Church , to be part of the People of God in harmony , in a communion of diversity , which is the work of the Holy Spirit , because the Holy Spirit is harmony and fosters harmony. "

A concept that the Pope then developed on during the next visit to the convent of St. Clare . Speaking to the sisters he urged them in their contemplation of Jesus, to a universality of prayer, a community life that is " family life " . " The convent is not a purgatory but a family ", "because when the life of the community is the family, it is the Holy Spirit who dwells in the community."

In San Rufino , speaking of " some aspects of community life ", " the first thing is to listen to the Word of God. The Church is this : the community that listens with faith and love of the Lord who speaks ."

"I think we can all improve on this aspect a little: we must all become listeners to the Word of God, be less abundant in our words and listen to the abundance of His words . I think of the priest, who has the task of preaching . How can he preach before opening his heart to listen in silence, with his heart? He'll preach these endless , tedious homilies, in which no one understands anything. I think of mothers and fathers, who are the first educators : how can they educate if their consciousness is not illuminated by the Word of God, if their way of thinking and acting is not guided by the Word , How can they be of example to their children ? This is important because then mothers and fathers complain about their children, but did they speak the Word of God, or whatever they heard on the news? And I think of catechists , of all educators: if their heart is not warmed by the Word , how can they warm the hearts of others, children , youth, adults? Do not just read the Scriptures , we must listen to Jesus speaking in them , you have to be transmitters, tuned into the Word of God, be transmitters! And the Spirit of God that makes the scriptures come alive , helps us understand it in depth, in  its true and full meaning . "

"The second aspect is that of walking, journeying. It is one of my favorite words when I think of the Christian and the Church." " I think this is truly the most wonderful experience that we live : to be part of a people on their journey through history , along with his Lord , who walks among us ! We are not isolated , we do not walk alone, but are part of ' one flock of Christ, walking together . "

" Here I still think about you priests , and let me include myself with you. What could be better for us than walking with our people ? I think these pastors who know the name of the people of the parish, went to find them, there was one that would say: I know the name of the dog of every family, beautiful, that is most beautiful ! I am always saying to walk with our people , sometimes in front , sometimes in the middle and at times behind : in front , to guide the community , in the middle, to encourage and support ; behind , to hold it together , so no one gets left behind , and also because the people have "nose " to find new paths on the journey , the " sensus fidei . " what could be more beautiful ? " .

" But the most important thing is to walk together, working together , helping each other , to say sorry, acknowledge one's mistakes and ask for forgiveness , but also accept the apologies of others forgiving - how important is this ! Sometimes I think of the marriages that break down after so many years of broken: ' we didn't understand each other any more, we had grown distant'. Perhaps they were not able to say sorry, maybe they were not able to forgive. I always say to newly-weds to follow this advice : argue all you want, let the dishes fly... but let the sun set on an argument without forgiving each other".

"The third aspect is mission : proclaiming even in the outskirts. I want to emphasize this , because it is an something I experienced when I was in Buenos Aires : middle-class households where there were children who could not make the sign of the cross , here these are the outskirts where there is no God . "

" Do not be afraid to go out and meet these people, to these situations. Do not be blocked by prejudices , habits, mental or pastoral rigidity, the 'it has always been this way! ' . But you can go to the outskirts only if you carry the Word of God in your heart and walk with the Church, like St. Francis. Otherwise we carry ourselves, and this is not good, it does not help anyone ! It is not we who save the world : it is the Lord. "

 

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