Text 1315, 59 rader
Skriven 2006-05-10 07:00:26 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

MISSIONS: COMMUNICATE DIVINE LOVE THAT LEADS TO SALVATION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 8, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received participants in
the general assembly of the senior council of the Pontifical Missionary Works.
The assembly is reflecting upon the theme of "the missionary mandate that Jesus
entrusted to His disciples."

"Your presence," said the Pope, "testifies to the Church's missionary
commitment on the various continents, while the 'pontifical' character that
distinguishes your association highlights the special link binding you to the
See of Peter."

After pointing out that, "following an intense period of aggiornamento," the
association was able to draw up and gain approval for its new statutes, the
Holy Father recalled how, ever since its foundation at the beginning of the
nineteenth century, the Pontifical Missionary Works "has realized that
missionary activity consists in communicating to our brothers and sisters the
love of God, as revealed in the plan of salvation."

"Through initiatives of effective and generous charity," he went on, "the Works
of the Propagation of the Faith, of St. Peter the Apostle and of the Holy
Childhood have spread the announcement of the Good News and contributed to
establishing and consolidating the Church in new territories. The Pontifical
Missionary Union of the Clergy has encouraged an increase of concern for
evangelization among clergy and religious.

"All this has led to a reawakening of faith and love among Christian people,
together with great missionary enthusiasm. ... Prayer and concrete support for
missions are seen today as being an integral part of every Christian's life,"
while "a responsible sense of sharing and communion involves faithful of all
communities in support for the needs of mission lands. This is an eloquent sign
of the catholicity of the Church."

"This intense missionary movement," he went on, "has developed over these years
into a promising form of missionary cooperation. You are significant witness
thereto because you contribute to nourishing everywhere that spirit of
universal mission which was the distinctive sign of your birth ... and the
force behind your growth."

At the end of his address, Benedict XVI called on his listeners to continue to
"provide this precious service to ecclesial communities," highlighting how the
"unity of evangelizing activity grows in the extent to which all activity has
as its reference God Who is love," and "Christ, in Whom that love finds its
supreme expression. In this way," he concluded, "your activity will never be
reduced to mere organizational efficiency or linked to particular interests of
any kind, but will always be a manifestation of divine love."
AC/PONTIFICAL MISSIONARY WORKS/... VIS 060508 (430)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)