put our own interests and problems above all else. We should never be
incapable of 'showing mercy' towards those who suffer. Our hearts should never
be so wrapped up in our affairs and problems that they fail to hear the cry of
the poor. ... Reaching
out to others and opening our hearts to their needs can become an opportunity
for salvation and blessedness.
"'Being concerned for each other' also entails being concerned for their
spiritual well-being. Here I would like to mention an aspect of the Christian
life, which I believe has been quite forgotten: fraternal correction in view
of eternal salvation.
Today, in general, we are very sensitive to the idea of charity and caring
about the physical and material well-being of others, but almost completely
Subject: VISnews120207
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
silent about our spiritual responsibility towards our brothers and sisters.
This was not the case in
the early Church. ... Christ Himself commands us to admonish a brother who is
committing a sin. ... The Church's tradition has included 'admonishing
sinners' among the spiritual works of mercy. It is important to recover this
dimension of Christian
charity. We must not remain silent before evil. I am thinking of all those
Christians who, out of human regard or purely personal convenience, adapt to
the prevailing mentality, rather than warning their
brothers and sisters against ways of thinking and acting that are contrary to
the truth and that do not follow the path of goodness. Christian admonishment,
for its part, is never motivated by a spirit of accusation or recrimination.
It is always moved
by love and mercy, and springs from genuine concern for the good of the other.
... In a world pervaded by individualism, it is essential to rediscover the
importance of fraternal correction, so that together we may journey towards
holiness. ... It is a
great service, then, to help others and allow them to help us, so that we can
be open to the whole truth about ourselves, improve our lives and walk more
uprightly in the Lord's ways".
(2) Being concerned for each other: the gift of reciprocity.
"This 'custody' of others is in contrast to a mentality that, by reducing
life exclusively to its earthly dimension, fails to see it in an
eschatological perspective and accepts any moral choice in the name of
personal freedom. A society like ours
can become blind to physical sufferings and to the spiritual and moral demands
of life. This must not be the case in the Christian community!"
"The Lord's disciples, united with Him through the Eucharist, live in a
fellowship that binds them one to another as members of a single body. This
means that the other is part of me, and that his or her life, his or her
salvation, concern my own
life and salvation. Here we touch upon a profound aspect of communion: our
existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins
and our acts of love have a social dimension. This reciprocity is seen in the
Church, the mystical
body of Christ: the community constantly does penance and asks for the
forgiveness of the sins of its members, but also unfailingly rejoices in the
examples of virtue and charity present in her midst. ... Christians can also
express their membership in
the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of
the poor. Concern for one another likewise means acknowledging the good that
the Lord is doing in others".
(3) To stir a response in love and good works: walking together in
holiness.
"These words of the Letter to the Hebrews urge us to reflect on the
universal call to holiness. ... The time granted us in this life is precious
for discerning and performing good works in the love of God. In this way the
Church herself continuously
grows towards the full maturity of Christ. Our exhortation to encourage one
another to attain the fullness of love and good works is situated in this
dynamic prospect of growth.
"Sadly, there is always the temptation to become lukewarm, to quench the
Spirit, to refuse to invest the talents we have received, for our own good and
for the good of others. All of us have received spiritual or material riches
meant to be used for
the fulfilment of God's plan, for the good of the Church and for our personal
salvation. The spiritual masters remind us that in the life of faith those who
do not advance inevitably regress".
"In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and
fidelity to the Lord, may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one
another in charity, service and good works. This appeal is particularly
pressing in this holy season of
preparation for Easter".
___________________________________________________________
PROMOTING A CHURCH CULTURE OF SUPPORT FOR ABUSE VICTIMS
VATICAN CITY, 7 FEB 2012 (VIS) - An international symposium entitled
"Towards Healing and Renewal" began yesterday evening in Rome's Gregorian
University. The event, which will run until 9 February and brings together
bishops and religious superiors
from all over the world, aims to relaunch the Church's commitment to
protecting minors and vulnerable people from child abuse. During the opening
session a message was read out, sent in the Holy Father's name by Cardinal
Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone S.D.B. to Fr. Francois-Xavier Dumortier S.J., rector of the
Gregorian.
In his English-language message, Cardinal Bertone notes that, "as His
Holiness has often observed, healing for victims must be of paramount concern
in the Christian community, and it must go hand in hand with a profound
renewal of the Church at every
level. ... The Holy Father therefore supports and encourages every effort to
respond with evangelical charity to the challenge of providing children and
vulnerable adults with an ecclesial environment conducive to their human and
spiritual growth. He
urges the participants in the symposium to continue drawing on a wide range of
expertise in order to promote throughout the Church a vigorous culture of
effective safeguarding and victim support".
The Pope also prays to the Lord that the symposium may help the Church "to
respond in a truly Christ-like manner to the tragedy of child abuse".
___________________________________________________________
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