The Pontiff, without a prepared speech, has invited the Neocatechumenal Way to continue to be a “gift of the Spirit”, with an evangelization that is respectful of cultures and that walks with the bishops
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not mine: it belongs to Jesus Christ. It adapts to different cultures, but it is the same. Faith grows, faith becomes inculturated, but faith is always the same, ”Pope Francis said today in his speech, without prepared sheets and spontaneously to 5,500 members of the communities of the Neocatechumenal Way.
No wheelchair. Francisco arrived at the Nervi Hall today on foot; he used the cane to move to the chair where he presided over the audience. At the start of the meeting this Monday, June 27, 2022, Kiko Arguello83 years old, effusively greeted the Pontiff and thanked him for having agreed to send “these families” on mission, hundreds present in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican.
Arguello has given the news to the Pope that the Archdiocese of Madrid has opened the diocesan cause for the canonization of Carmen Hernández (1930-2016), who was a Spanish catechist, initiator – along with Argüello of the Neocatechumenal Way. The cause has more than 16 thousand documents.
The Archdiocese of Madrid approved the request to open the diocesan phase for the cause of canonization that seeks to prove the “heroic virtues” necessary to establish the sanctity of life of the initiator of the Way.
Carmen Hernandez
Hernández’s evangelization mission began with Argüello at the end of the 1960s among gypsies, marginalized people and criminals on the outskirts of Madrid, and later continued with missionary families. An ecclesial reality that reaches parishes, youth, sports fields, between Bishops and universities.
Hernández in his personal writings wrote: “I am nothing from nothing.” I only seek eternal life. I only want you (Jesus)”. The cause of Canonization is supported by more than 1,500 testimonies of graces and favors received, many of which refer to “inexplicable” cures of illnesses.
Carmen Hernández died on July 19, 2016, at the age of 85, her grave is in the seminary Redemporis Mater of Madrid, where it has been visited over the years by at least 40,000 people, who have left more than 25,000 requests for prayer and intercession. The private audience with the Pope lasted more than an hour.
Evangelism
The history of evangelization…consists in the fact that “everyone” is equal in faith: “I believe in God the Father, in the Son and in the Holy Spirit, in the Son who became incarnate, […]the same faith. But everything in the way of their own culture or the culture of the place where the faith was preached”, expressed the Pope, while his words had as a background the image of fathers and mothers of the Way who participated in the event, while they had their children in their arms.
430 families were sent on mission today by Pope Francis to be witnesses to the love of Jesus in countries like Russia, Estonia, China, etc. In addition to the seminarians from Macao who will go to China to continue their mission.
Faced with the phenomenon of atheism, the crisis of moral, cultural and philosophical values, Argüello said that it was wonderful that God had aroused a missionary spirit in entire families, together with their children (many of whom are still small) to go and evangelize in “secularized” countries. ” and “poorest” to bring the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
“These brothers, leaving their own home, friends and their own land, are ready to go to other countries to evangelize,” said Argüello, “offering their lives to others.” In the front row were the Ukrainian missionary families.
“Everything in the Church, nothing outside the Church”
In the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican, songs, joy, invocations to the Holy Spirit, prayers, psalms and the Gospel sung with guitars were heard.
“This missionary spirit, of letting oneself be sent, is an inspiration to all of you. I thank you for this and I ask you for docility to the Spirit who sends you, docility and obedience to Jesus Christ in his Church, ”said the Pope in his speech.
“Everything in the Church, nothing outside the Church. This is the spirituality that should always accompany us: preach Jesus Christ with the power of the Spirit in the Church and with the Church”, the Pope expressed in his speech without leaves in hand.
“And the one who is the head – let’s say – of the different Churches is the bishop: always go ahead with the bishop, always. He is the head of the Church, in this country, in this state….
Ahead. Cheer up! Thank you for her generosity. Do not forget the gaze of Jesus, who has sent each one of you to preach and obey the Church. Thank you very much!”.
The Pope said it before the missionary sending to the Neo-Catumenal families, while his words had as a background the image of fathers and mothers of the Way who participated in the event, while holding their children in their arms.
Also present were Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell and members of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, as well as the international Camino team; Father Mario Pezzi and María Ascensión Romero.
Neocatechumenals: Carmen Hernández, in the process of beatification, announces Argüello to the Pope