Apr 10, 2021 | FORUM, NEWS
During one of the meditations on the text from the Gospel according to St. John, I noticed the sentence written there: “And there was a division in the crowd because of him” (Jn 7:43). This Word has worked in me in the context of the Year of Unity that we are currently living in our Congregation. I saw the unity and divisions running through the history of salvation, through the history of mankind, through every human heart. I saw the great desire of Jesus himself expressed to the Father in a prayer shortly before the Passion “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ”(Jn 17:21). The unity of the disciples is an eloquent testimony of God’s love for man. About the Love which knows “what is hidden in man” (Jn 2: 25b) and tends decisively towards “gathering the scattered children of God into one” (Jn 11:52). Likewise, our unity in the communities and the works we conduct is a testimony to God’s presence here and now.
This great desire for unity includes the truth about sin, which has been divisive since the dawn of human history (Gen 3: 1f). It separates man from God. It causes discord even among the people closest to each other. It destroys harmony with nature and touches the very heart of man, making in it a deep rupture of original sin first, and with time personal sins … Often, external divisions are only an image of what is happening in people’s hearts, souls and minds. St. Paul writes about how sin influences the way we think: “Because, although they knew God, they did not worship Him as God or thanked Him, but vanished in their thoughts and their mindless heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools ”(Rom 1: 21-22). At the same time, the same Apostle grieves over his inner tear despite all his devotion to the service of the Gospel: “Wretched man I am, who will set me free from the body that leads to death?” (Rom 7:24). In these words, he recognizes his own sinfulness, not only from the first stage of life as a zealous Pharisee, but also after joining the community of the Church. How much humility there, how much truth …
During my biblical and life reflections, the words from the Letter to the Ephesians came to my mind about the two races of humanity divided by the wall of hostility which Jesus thus broke down, making us one (cf. Eph 2: 14-16). And though it speaks of Jews and Gentiles,
The inspired word is up-to-date and also applies to modern man, and it is you and me. Hostility, fueled by fear – most often for oneself, resentment or lack of forgiveness, still makes it difficult to build good interpersonal relationships on which unity is based. This also applies to the relationship with oneself and also with God.
The one who heals the wounds of our broken hearts and does not extinguish the wick with a faint flame (cf. Is 42: 3), who teaches to build bridges instead of building walls is Jesus Crucified and is risen. His Heart is also hurt, but because of our sin – mine and yours. He allowed himself to be hurt, pierced, opened. And just like to St. Tomas, he also addresses us with an invitation: “Put your finger here and see my hands. Lift up your hand and put it to my side, and do not be an unbeliever but a believer! ”(Jn 20:27). And faith works miracles. Miracles happen today. Unity in diversity is also one of these miracles. Touching the Heart of Jesus, staying with Him, immersing ourselves in Him, we experience the healing of our divided hearts and … we fulfill the will of Father Founder: “Strive for unity.”
The Mother is closest to the Son’s Heart. It was under her Immaculate Heart that the human Heart of God was shaped, uniting two so different natures. Therefore, let Mary, who is also our Mother, the Mother of the Church, obtain for us the grace of internal unity, that is, unity with God by living in grace – in freedom from sin, especially the deliberate, planned, and willed one. May she also obtain for us the gift of unity with people, of sisterhood through “God’s love poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom 5: 5).
Sr. M. Michaela Musiał
Apr 3, 2021 | NEWS
With the empty tomb of the risen Christ, make yourself aware of it well,
that you have to be a loser to win,
be poor to give something to people,
disappear to last,
be useless to be useful to someone
live in the dark to become light,
die to live,
love and continue suffering.
When it seems like it’s all over, that’s when it all begins.
Fr. John Twardowski
Apr 3, 2021 | NEWS
I would like to invite you to a common spiritual visit to the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Let’s approach the beautiful sculpture of the Pieta by Michael the Archangel. Let us contemplate the mother who holds in her arms the body of her son, tortured, humiliated, covered with spit and traces of the whip strikes. His hands are pierced and his forehead is torn with a crown of thorns. Yet a mother holds her son’s body with great gentleness and infinite delicacy. Her young mother’s face is focused, painful and calm at the same time. Without understanding, she adores the son, so beautiful, though mocked, the son who is her God. Like Mary, let us recognize the face of Christ in the disgraced face of the Church. Neither our sins, nor our betrayals, nor our Luke warmness, nor our infidelities can distort the Church. It remains the exquisite beauty of the saints. He remains young as God’s youth. Let us be able to love the Church and embrace her with the gaze of faith with which Mary embraced the dead Jesus whom she held in her arms. Let us weep for the Church, let us suffer for the Church if we have to, but let us always treat her with that loving and Marian tenderness which Michelangelo’s work so aptly expresses.
Card. Robert Sarah
Excerpt from the book: “The evening is coming and the day is nigh”.
Apr 2, 2021 | NEWS
And he himself, carrying the cross, went out to the place called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus in the middle. Pilate also wrote a title of the guilt and had it put on the cross. And it was written, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” [Jn 19: 17-19]
The death on the cross was one of the most infamous and painful deaths known to antiquity, reserved for the worst members of society and presented as a warning to all. But history is also full of the innocent deaths of those who have fallen victim to violence and the interests of power. Jesus also dies innocent. He tastes the bitter consequences of human sin, but breaks down his power: he responds to hatred with love, to injustice with forgiveness, to insults with prayer. He saves the world with his Cross.
All your life, Lord, was a total gift given always and to everyone,
until you let yourself be picked up on the cross.
In the face of your gift,
I think of my own life that is never fully given
my “yes”, never firm and full.
I find myself weak, selfish and timid.
From your Cross comes a ray of light which tells me about life
that when you died, you gave me the greatest gift.
Fiorenzo Salvi
Giampietro Polini
Apr 1, 2021 | NEWS
And when he had washed their feet, put on his garments and took his place again at the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me “Teacher” and “Lord” and you say it well because I am. So if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash each other’s feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ”
In the evening of Holy Thursday we begin the Easter Triduum, remembering the Last Supper of Jesus with the disciples in Jerusalem. He prays with them, breaks the bread and shares the chalice. With these gestures He anticipates the gift of Himself on the cross and illuminates its meaning. He then washes disciples’ feet so that they can understand the new way of life that He is giving them. Every time we take part in the Eucharist, we sit at table with Him, as at the Last Supper.
Lord Jesus,
at your Last Supper you give us the sacrament of your love.
We are called to your table you feed us with your Word,
and the gift of your body and blood.
Stay with us and invite us again to become your witnesses in the world
to wash the feet of the poor, the humble and the needy.
Let us imitate you every day, without sparing ourselves, and only out of love.
Florenzo Salvi
Giampietro Polini
