Cardinal Sfeir appeals for a new beginning to religious life
Beirut (AsiaNews) Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir made an "urgent appeal" to all religious in Lebanon that they may begin a process of spiritual renewal that would lead all believers to the path of holiness.
The Patriarch spoke on the 50th anniversary of the death of the venerable servant of God, Fr Jacques Haddad, a capuchin who founded the Congregation of the Holy Cross that now counts some 300 nuns around the world. The anniversary also marks the Congregation's first centennial.
Lebanese President Émile Lahoud, the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Mgr Luigi Gatti, and the Superior General to the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Mother Rita Makhlouf, attended the ceremony as did many prelates, ministers, priests, men and women religious as well as a thousand faithful.
The occasion gave Patriarch Sfeir the opportunity to meet President Lahoud, his second meeting of the last ten days.
Sources close to the Patriarch told AsiaNews that during their tête-à-tête both parties listened to each other and expressed their respective wish to see the country overcome the current crisis through democratic means, far from any bellicose attitudes.
The Patriarch spoke about the fundamental principles that inspired the consecrated life Fr Jacques Haddad, principles that he also preached: "My beloved daughters, love Christ through His poor brothers".
Cardinal Sfeir said that Father Jacques was a model of holiness and simplicity. Father Jacques, he said, "was a man of God, who entrusted all his deeds to Divine Providence, who sought special attention for those who most needed charity and their brothers' love".
Father Jacques's mission remains indispensable today to serve the poor, the marginalised, the sick and the invalid who suffer from mental or physical handicaps.
Cardinal Sfeir also spoke about Father Jacques's special affection for his fellow priests. "He founded the Maison du Christ Roi, a hospice for old and sick priests in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Beirut," the Patriarch said, "because he believed it was necessary to provide his fellow priests who had spent a lifetime in the service of the Church with a place where they could live out their last years in serenity and tranquillity before their final journey into the beyond."
Although Fr Jacques Haddad was poor in material terms, he was rich in spiritual terms like his charismatic father, Saint Francis of Assisi; he was a man faithful and totally respectful of his religious vows and gave everything for the love of God and of his brothers.
The Cardinal said he hoped he would soon see Father Jacques elevated to the honour of the altar like Charbel Makhlouf, Saint Rafqa al-Rayes and Saint Nimatullah Youssef Al-Hardini, devout children of the Maronite Church, "because the Church and the country need honest witnesses".
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