Dear Mother General, dear sisters!

I am pleased to welcome you; you have come from far away, from Brazil, but also from other parts of Europe, on a pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Your presence is even more meaningful at this time, on the eve of the Jubilee year that will begin on 24 December.

In this regard, we find full harmony with the Gospel passage that shows us Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth, and which inspired the founding of your Institute: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … He has sent me … to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Lk 4:18). But even this year that is about to end has been truly a year of grace for you: in July you celebrated the fortieth anniversary of your founding – you are young! – in conjunction with the fourth General Chapter, in which you elected the group that will guide your religious family for the next six years.

This is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of the daily commitment to the service of evangelization and the propagation of the Word of God. The Word of God must reach everyone. Do not forget this: everyone. Indeed, proclaiming the Gospel to the entire world is the mission of all Christians. They are the words of Saint Paul, which should resound in the heart of every baptized person: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16).

At times we see consecrated men and women – not you! – who, instead of proclaiming the Gospel, engage in constant gossip. But gossip is the opposite of proclaiming the Gospel, because this chatter is always a condemnation of others, of that man, that woman… Instead, the Gospel is always a welcome: “Come, come”. If at times it happens that one of you lapses into chatter, please help her come out of it as soon as possible.

In your Institute, this missionary impetus to evangelization in various contexts is closely linked to contemplation and a life of prayer, following the ancient and beautiful Carmelite tradition.

O Senhor vos abençoe e que Nossa Senhora Aparecida vos guarde! Amen.

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 6 December 2024