It was a tiring
journey accepted with commitment, prayer and joy, the 1,300 km from the Oltrepò
Pavese to the Vatican, to be there, present at the audience which Pope Francis
gave to the Chapter Members meeting at Montebello (Pavia).
In the morning at 9.30 am, all gathered
in the church of Sant’Anna in the Vatican for the Mass presided over by the new
Superior General Fr Tarcisio Vieira with the new Councillors.
Also present were the Invited Guests of
the Orionine Family to the General Chapter, led by the Mother General, Mother Maria Mabel Spagnuolo, Rita Orrù, General
Responsible of the Orionine Secular Institute, and by Javier Rodriguez Mendez, General Coordinator of the Orionine Lay
Movement.
The
homily of Fr Tarcisio was simple and beautiful. He took his lead from the
Gospel of the day which presented the fig tree and the temple, both without
fruit, without life. A temple full of
leaves, merchants and attractive items, with apparent glamour, but without
fruit. Jesus curses, that is, recognises
the evil, of that fig tree and of the sterile temple.
“A
Congregation, “one tree with many branches”, but without fruit, would certainly
be a magnificent Congregation, giving a good impression, attractive to the eye,
solid, perhaps fascinating” said Fr Tarcisio, “but
it would be without outreaching force, not able to spread the knowledge of
Jesus Christ, the Church and the Pope, especially among the people, to unite
the people to the Apostolic See, through the apostolate of charity. It would be a Congregation which would have
lost its life and service of God and people.
It would be a Congregation without fruit”.
The new Superior General then thanked Fr
Flavio Peloso and all his Council for having guided the Congregation during
this six-year period for having maintained its quality, its effectiveness in
producing abundant fruits of charity and fidelity to the charism and spirit of
Saint Luigi Orione.
“We must continue to ask ourselves,
‘what can I do, what must I do so that the Congregation may be a beautiful tree
with many fruits?’” Fr Tarcisio
exhorted. “What can we do, we of the
Chapter, to renew our drive for holiness and apostolate in the Church guided
today by Pope Francis? And if it should
happen that we Orionines, personally and as an institute, should continue as
before, without renewal and change, even in the Church guided by Pope we would
be that tree without fruit”.
He concluded, “We have come here in order to listen to the word of the Pope; and as it is occurring in the middle of our
Chapter, his word will be a sure point of reference for our way into the
future. Let us remember the words of Don
Orione, “always follow, in absolutely everything, his teaching, not only in
matters of faith and morals, but in everything which he, as Pope teaches and
commands….even his suggestions, advice and wishes”. We are all of the Pope, from our head to our
feet. We belong to the Pope inside and
out, with total unity of mind, heart, action, works and life with whatever the
Pope desires”.
During the celebration in the church of
Sant’Anna, which was run by the Orionines from 1904 to 1929, the new General
Council, made, as prescribed, the Profession of Faith and the Oath of
Fidelity. Then there was some free time
to enjoy the festive atmosphere which always surrounds St Peter’s Square and
its surroundings. At 11.30 am, the 63 Members of the General
Chapter passed through the Bronze Door and were guided to Sala Clementina.
At
12.30 pm the audience with Pope Francis (l’udienza di Papa Francesco) began in an intimate and
friendly atmosphere (there were no other people present) which touched the
hearts of all profoundly. During the final
greeting, he spoke to everyone personally, listening and giving a word and a
smile to each and every one.
Here are the words of greeting which Fr Tarcisio
Vieira addressed to Pope Francis and which are followed by the talk of Pope
Francis (discorso di Papa Francesco).
“Your Holiness,
The Sons of Divine Providence, gathered at the 14th
General Chapter, which is being held near Tortona, in the places of St Luigi
Orione, have come to ask your Word and your Blessing for the Chapter which is
still proceeding.
The theme is “Servants of Christ and the poor”: fidelity and prophecy in dialogue with the
fringes of poverty and evangelization. In
this perspective we are reflecting and promoting the journey of conversion of
the Congregation in fidelity to the founding charism and to the way indicated
in the Church today by Your Holiness by your words and authoritative example.
Dear Holy Father, be assured that you can count on
the total, filial affection of all my Confreres and of the entire Orionine
Family, of the people and very many poor people who, in our houses and
activities, bless God and the Church for the good that they receive in the name
of God and of the Church. For our part,
we renew not only our obedience, not only our respect, but our filial love, and
our unity in intention and action with your every word and desire, venerating
in you, Successor of Peter, the “Sweet Christ on earth”.
We assure you of our daily prayers and together with
us, from Heaven, St Luigi Orione, who belonged “totally to the Church and the
Pope”.
We ask your Fatherly
Blessing.
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