Pope Francis says "you become instruments of evangelization, through the universal language of works of charity" FULL TEXT
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FULL TEXT ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE MEMBERS OF CARITAS OF THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO (SPAIN)
Consistory Hall
Thursday, 5 December 2024
Pope Francis on Thursday greeted a delegation of members of the Caritas Toledo organization in Spain, who are celebrating sixty years of charitable service._________________________________
Dear Brother, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In receiving you in this house, I wanted to join in your thanksgiving for sixty years of charitable service in the Church of Toledo. A commitment that, as I was able to observe, goes beyond the concrete good that can be done for a person, taking on the challenge of being a driving force of change within society by spreading the spirit of charity and justice, to awaken in all those who have good will a more fraternal conscience. In other words, our fraternity sometimes falls asleep or does not grow, and when a more fraternal conscience is fostered it is to awaken and make it grow.
In this way, you are not only an example of civic spirit or philanthropy, but you become instruments of evangelization, through the universal language of works of charity. It is curious, works of charity do not need a translator, there is no dictionary to translate, it is universal language, the universal language of works of charity, everyone understands them, it is a language that is comprehensible to everyone, written with the testimony and effort of all the agents of Caritas, committed to Jesus Christ and his Gospel.
A goal, certainly high, which is achieved through the artisan work of each of those responsible for social-charitable action, starting from a human and spiritual formation that allows them to solidly confront social problems, always changing, in the light of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Without ever forgetting the spirit of collaboration and synodality with so many pastoral realities that make up the whole of the diocesan Church.
Sisters, brothers, I encourage you to continue forward in this effort, always learning from the Lord, in the living book of prayer, and the reading of his Word, in the living book of the experience of the sacraments, and by listening attentively to the voice of your Pastors and their presence in the Eucharist and in those you serve. One thing I ask of you is that you be teachers of this wisdom, of this wisdom that the world needs so much. Foolishness is impressive, foolishness is bought and sold, and the prices are not sales, clearance prices, they are seasonal prices, expensive prices. And, please, I ask you to pray for me.
May Jesus bless you in every person who has nowhere to lay his head, and may the Holy Virgin always accompany those who have not found anyone to welcome them.
TO THE MEMBERS OF CARITAS OF THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO (SPAIN)
Consistory Hall
Thursday, 5 December 2024
Pope Francis on Thursday greeted a delegation of members of the Caritas Toledo organization in Spain, who are celebrating sixty years of charitable service._________________________________
Dear Brother, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In receiving you in this house, I wanted to join in your thanksgiving for sixty years of charitable service in the Church of Toledo. A commitment that, as I was able to observe, goes beyond the concrete good that can be done for a person, taking on the challenge of being a driving force of change within society by spreading the spirit of charity and justice, to awaken in all those who have good will a more fraternal conscience. In other words, our fraternity sometimes falls asleep or does not grow, and when a more fraternal conscience is fostered it is to awaken and make it grow.
In this way, you are not only an example of civic spirit or philanthropy, but you become instruments of evangelization, through the universal language of works of charity. It is curious, works of charity do not need a translator, there is no dictionary to translate, it is universal language, the universal language of works of charity, everyone understands them, it is a language that is comprehensible to everyone, written with the testimony and effort of all the agents of Caritas, committed to Jesus Christ and his Gospel.
A goal, certainly high, which is achieved through the artisan work of each of those responsible for social-charitable action, starting from a human and spiritual formation that allows them to solidly confront social problems, always changing, in the light of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Without ever forgetting the spirit of collaboration and synodality with so many pastoral realities that make up the whole of the diocesan Church.
Sisters, brothers, I encourage you to continue forward in this effort, always learning from the Lord, in the living book of prayer, and the reading of his Word, in the living book of the experience of the sacraments, and by listening attentively to the voice of your Pastors and their presence in the Eucharist and in those you serve. One thing I ask of you is that you be teachers of this wisdom, of this wisdom that the world needs so much. Foolishness is impressive, foolishness is bought and sold, and the prices are not sales, clearance prices, they are seasonal prices, expensive prices. And, please, I ask you to pray for me.
May Jesus bless you in every person who has nowhere to lay his head, and may the Holy Virgin always accompany those who have not found anyone to welcome them.
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