Pope: The true Christian lives of prayer and mission. It's like breathing!
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The life of a true Christian is marked by two moments, just like breathing. And just like breathing, the two moments are the same and give life: "The first is praise, prayer, which is the inward breath. And then comes the outward breath, which is represented by mission", said, Francis Pope this morning receiving members of the "Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships," in Rome on the occasion of the XVI International Conference on the theme: "Charismatic Praise and worship for a New Evangelization".
The Pope addressed the very nature of the Charismatic movement. Starting from the concept of unity in diversity, " Unity does not imply uniformity," the Pope said. "It does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way. Nor does it signify a loss of identity. Unity in diversity is actually the opposite: it involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all members of the Church. You know how to listen, accept differences, have the freedom to think differently and express it! With all due respect to the other who is my brother. Do not be afraid of differences!".
Soon after, citing the opening phrase of the booklet with the names of the community and which speaks of the work of the Spirit, Francis said: "The Church needs the Holy Spirit! Every Christian, in his life, needs to open his heart to the sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, promised by the Father is He who reveals Jesus Christ, leads us to a personal encounter with Him and thus changes our lives. Do you experience this? Then share it! And to share it, you have to live it, to witness this".
The third topic was about the importance of praise, prayer: "Some time ago I heard this example, which I think is very appropriate: breathing for humans. Breathing is made up of two stages: inhaling, the intake of air, and exhaling, the letting out of this air. The spiritual life is fed, nourished, by prayer and is expressed outwardly through mission: inhaling and exhaling. When we inhale, by prayer, we receive the fresh air of the Holy Spirit. When exhaling this air, we announce Jesus Christ risen by the same Spirit. No one can live without breathing. It is the same for the Christian: without praise and mission there is no Christian life".
Along with the prayer of praise - "which the charismatic
movement has brought to the attention of the Catholic world -"there is intercessory
prayer, which today is a cry to the Father for our fellow Christians persecuted
and murdered, and for peace in the our shocked world".
After greeting Pastor Traettino - a "friend who I visited a while ago"
- the Pope appealed for the Catholic Fraternity: "Do not forget your roots,
do not forget that the Charismatic Renewal is by its very nature ecumenical. [...]
spiritual Ecumenism, pray together and proclaim that Jesus is the Lord together
and take joint action to help the poor, in all their poverty. Today the blood
of Jesus, spilled by the many Christian martyrs in various parts of the world, challenges
and encourages us to unity. For the persecutors, we are one! Ecumenism of the blood".
Remember, the Pope concluded: "Search for the unity which is the work of
the Holy Spirit and do not be afraid of diversity. The breath of the Christian that
always allows in the ever new aid of the Holy Spirit and breathes it into the
world. Prayer of praise and mission. Share your Baptism in the Holy Spirit with
anyone in the Church. Spiritual ecumenism and ecumenism of the blood. The unity
of the Body of Christ. Prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom to come! One Bride".
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