“The spirituality of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini”, meeting at the Theological Study

Finally, after the long pause imposed by the pandemic, the Lenten meetings to prepare for Holy Easter finally resume, organized by the Association Lane of the Saint-Placido Cortesean association which aims to spread Christian thought and culture inspired by the charism and teachings of Saint Anthony of Padua, and which promotes the memory and remembrance of the Venerable Father Placido Cortese.

Next appointment scheduled for Thursday 7 April in the Theological Study Room for the laity of the Basilica of Sant’Antonio (8.45 pm)the meeting The spirituality of Carlo Maria Martini Cardinal, former Archbishop of Milan, a report on the Cardinal’s spirituality outlined by His Excellency Monsignor Francesco Giovanni Brugnaro Archbishop emeritus of Camerino-San Severino Marchewho received his presbyterial ordination from Cardinal Martini on 18 December 1982.

“I met Carlo Maria Martini in 1972, when he was still Rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1972 – he explains His Excellency Monsignor Francesco Giovanni Brugnaro – and it helped me a lot in my vocational discernment; he ordained me a priest for the Diocese of Milan and sent me to Rome to study Biblical Theology; on my return, he entrusted me with the post of chaplain at the State University of Milan. Again thanks to him, I returned again to Rome, to the Congregation of the Oriental Churches, as responsible for the formation of Eastern Catholics until my appointment as bishop of Camerino-San Severino Marche.

Therefore, I can only draw from my personal journey, accomplished thanks to his closeness and his support, the profile of a man who was certainly a great master of textual criticism: in fact he participated in the revision of the Greek texts of the New Testament. He was a unique personality; it is no coincidence that he was chosen by Pope John Paul II in 1979 to become archbishop of Milan.

A second aspect to highlight – continues Monsignor Brugnaro – is his being ‘man of Ignatius’, a man with a completely ‘Ignatian’ formation according to the spirituality of the Society of Jesus who fully lives the mission at the service of the Church, in obedience profound to what the Church proposes. The third aspect to highlight, outlining this very important and full figure, is that Cardinal Martini used the Bible to learn to be a Pastor, to take care of the faithful, of neighbors as well as those far away, immersing himself in the problems of his contemporaneity. , Milan and Italy at the time with terrorism, bank corruption, the difficult political situation.

In 2002 Carlo Maria Martini resigned due to illness. He wanted to live in Jerusalem but then returned to his Milan continuing, despite the worsening of his conditions, to be for many a great spiritual father; becoming a friend of many people in the evangelical sense, that is, to take care of the adventure of the life of others, recognizing the works of the Spirit, allowing everyone to meet God’s will in peace. And in this perspective he was also able to put his own disease.”

“It is really important for us to be able to return to the usual calendar of cultural meetings promoted by the Association, continuing the journey undertaken by our President Nicola Alberto De Carlo, who passed away last November 2021 and to which all our gratitude goes – he comments Anna Soatto, Vice President of the Association Lane of the Saint-Placido Cortese -. In this dramatic moment that saw first the pandemic and now the war in Ukraine, we felt even more strongly the need to gather as a community to respond to the senselessness of violence with the power of prayer and the depth of reflection. This is what we can do in our personal sphere of action: keep a heart attentive to the needs of those around us, capable of bringing trust and hope. “

Free admission subject to availability