Director of Caritas India: Mother Teresa, the compassionate face of the Church
For Fr. Frederick D'Souza the nun who will be canonized next September 4, has transformed the experience of the Church. The diaconate is not only service, but sacrifice and gift of self.
Delhi (AsiaNews) - Mother Teresa of Calcutta is "the compassionate face of the Church" and the "role model for millions of Caritas workers worldwide", says Fr. Frederick D'Souza, director of Caritas India speaking to AsiaNews a few days ahead of the canonization of Mother Teresa, which will take place in St Peter's Square at the Vatican next September 4th.
"In a few days - said Fr. D'Souza - Mother Teresa will be elevated as a saint of the Catholic Church. This is an honor and a recognition that was already in the hearts and minds of millions of people worldwide. Many people have written about her, some recognizing her as 'the Apostle of Mercy'; others criticizing her work as she had conquered the imagination of many people.
It is thanks to her that the works of mercy have been revitalized in the Church and through her this profound witness to the love of God has revived the faith of the people.
Liturgy, kerygma (announcement), diakonia (service) are the three basic characteristics of the Church's life. The ministry of the mandate received from the apostolic community, has suffered many interpretations and suffered emphasis and attention [unbalanced]. Mother Teresa has not onlycomprehensively revitalized the spirit of the diaconate, but gave it a new meaning: the diaconate is fruitful only if it is accompanied by sacrifice and self-giving.
Caritas, which expresses the ministry of the diaconate in the Church celebrates this important ecclesial event because Mother Teresa continues to inspire millions of Caritas operators worldwide.
These workers are often on the frontiers of natural or man-made disasters, or even war, risking their lives, bringing relief, aid, assistance. May the spirit of Mother Teresa help the Caritas Confederation to be the compassionate face of the Church ".
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11/02/2019 12:06
