Parma,
25 January 1929 Feast of the conversion of St. Paul
In
omnibus Christus
The
Superior General of the
During
the visit I was able to tangibly experience God's protection and the efficacy of
the prayers of so many good people who prayed for me. Please join me in a prayer
of thanksgiving.
Looking
back on the fine days we spent together, I must congratulate you on the great
work which you have accomplished. I wish to thank you, along with
your Vicar Apostolic, for all of the kind attentions which you had for
me, they remain a treasured memory for the rest of my life. I cannot forget all
of the various functions I attended with your Christians, I cannot help but
admire their deep rooted piety and their clear profession of faith, which must
be doubly difficult at this time of internal struggle in China. Please thank
them for me and assure them that I pray for them every day that the Lord may
strengthen them in their desire to life a truly christian life, and that he may
abundantly reward the labors of those who sacrifice themselves for them in the
apostolic ministry.
Confident
in the power of divine grace, I trust that the visit produced good fruits. These
fruits will endure if you, while working for the sanctification of others,
nourish your spirit by meditation, the examination of conscience, spiritual
reading, frequent confession when possible, and especially by the devout
celebration of Mass from which we obtain strength, energy and every good.
Let
it never happen that while working for the salvation of others your own is
neglected, this should be foremost in your mind.
The omission of the exercises of piety, or to perform them perfunctorily,
experience teaches, is to slide backwards significantly without being aware of
it. I mention this because it is here that we discover the secret of apostolic
success and personal spiritual
profit.
During
the visit, I was aware that there were clouds disturbing the fraternal harmony
which should be ever present in your midst, hence, preserve peace in charity at
any cost, so that you may all be but one heart and one soul.
Be
ever united, as one, with the Vicar apostolic who rules the territory in the
name and authority of the Vicar of Christ. Show him love and respect, your
obedience should be prompt, generous, constant without remarks, observations,
complaints. Help make the burden of his episcopal cross lighter, in this way you
will have the blessings of God which will make your ministry fruitful. Never
forget the words of our constitutions: "missioners should remember that the
characteristics of the children of God are discipline, obedience, love, from
these depend order, harmony, prosperity of every society. Hence they should
nurture in their hearts and show by their deeds a profound veneration and
attachment for the August Head of the church, infallible teacher of truth, and
have due respect for bishops, successors of the apostles, who continue the work
of Jesus Christ on earth."
Be
united, as one, with the religious superior also. He represents the General
Direction of the Institute to which you gave your name. He is the unifying bond
between your ecclesiastical superior and the society to which you still belong
and depend for the preservation and nourishment of that spirit which should be
the life of your life as apostles of Christ. To him you owe obedience by virtue
of the vow which you made on profession day, and by which you sacrificed your
free will to God. This may be the greatest sacrifice of all, but it is also the
most meritorious and glorious.
Be
united also, as one, among yourselves, let your motto be: "all things done
in love". The love of Christ is to be the constant rule for your mutual
relationships. Always avoid murmuring, complaining, peculiarities, suspicions,
mistrust, these things extinguish the sacred flame and foment division to the
detriment of fraternal support and harmony which provide energy for doing good.
Mutual esteem, reciprocal support, salutary competitiveness foster greater union
of spirit. There is no place for distinctions between the old and the young, we
are all brothers in Christ Jesus.
I
also found some irregularities with regard to the evangelical poverty which we
vowed. Remember what is written in the constitutions: "The missioner ought
not to consider as personal whatever he uses for his keep, food, clothing, other
needs; such things belong to the Institute or to the Mission to which he
belongs, he should be satisfied with what he has been given for his personal
requirements." It is this effective and affective detachment which
constitutes the virtue of poverty which we must profess. Hence no one should
buy, exchange, sell things without due authorization, or else we are ignoring
our vow. No one should use gifts received except in conformity with canonical
regulations. We should be satisfied with the money received for our upkeep and
ministry, even though this may entail some limitations. A poverty which lacks
nothing is a paradox, a farce and such certainly does not please the Lord. Let
everyone give an account to the proper authority regarding his administration.
Remember
the particular goals to which our Institute tends, the preaching of the kingdom
of God among the infidels, all of our energies should be so channeled. Whoever
seeks different goals, no matter how praiseworthy these may be, is falling short
of his vocation. Let no one be drawn after other mirages, it is this unity of
purpose which guarantees the growth and success of our society. We consider
ourselves voluntary victims for the conversion of the poor infidels, hence, we
should treasure the sufferings, privations, setbacks experienced for this holy
cause, thus do we follow the example of generous apostles and martyrs who
preceded us in this glorious adventure.
Your
apostolate will be fruitful to the extent a that you confirm your work by your
holy example. People believe more what they see than what they hear, says the
proverb.
The
Chinese people enjoy a keener sense of observation than other people, you know
this better than I, nothing escapes their observation. May nothing ever be
observed in your conduct which stridently contradicts what you preach. This
would perhaps forever alienate from our faith, some who might be disposed to
embrace it, or cause others who have accepted it to abandon it. Be vigilant
then, as the Apostle tells us, to avoid every hint of evil, which might, in any
distant way, be of scandal or shock to souls.
I
do not wish to belabor this point, it suffices to recall the words of the
constitutions: "the missioner is to be always mindful that his conduct must
everywhere be a continual preaching, the eloquence of which stems from our
example. It will be so if, in all of his contacts, he thinks of how Christ would
have acted, the missioner is ever to be his follower and faithful copy. If we
follow this norm, we will always measure up to the role we have of being heralds
of the gospel.
May
the Lord bless you, grant you joy in your ministry, affirm you in your desire to
serve him for life in the vocation which you have accepted for the salvation of
souls and the preaching of the kingdom of Christ.
affectionately in Christ Jesus
+Guido,
Archbishop/Bishop
Superior General
