The Same Missionary Society. Inspired and Heartened New Ways by Pope Francis
The Same Missionary Society. Inspired and Heartened New Ways by Pope Francis

Summary/Abstract: The author attempts to present briefly the image of the Church, which Pope Francis not only proclaims but, more notably, exemplifies with his life. Referring to personal experiences, the author links the practical involvement of the Society of the Divine Word to these images of the Church. It seems that the most visible examples are the concrete lives of the missionaries. In this way, the author would like to provoke new questions in the search for further development of this undoubtedly great heritage of the SVDs. It can also be an incentive to read the «signs of the times» boldly. While being sensitive to the ever-changing situation of the world and emerging new challenges, one should not forget that there are tenacious and current values that always belong to the essence of missionary presence among people. Such awareness can save us from the trap of focusing on quick and, therefore, immediate results, because we are not the last instance of evangelization, and it is not on us that the fate of Christianity ultimately depends on. In our dealings with people it is not simply about creating short-lived enthusiasm in them. What matters more is to have the courage to offer them the real hope, grounded in the everpresent truth of Jesus Christ. Therefore, mentioning specific examples, it seems reasonable to claim that the Divine Word missionaries are still genuinely trying to leave a lasting imprint on the people entrusted to their care. At the same time, the author is convinced that they can leave such a trace only through a Christian life with depth, which consequently means “as profoundly human as possible”. Such life of missionaries was the beginning of an encounter of many people with Christ in the past and can initiate such a meeting today. The author is not at all original, but he follows the thought of one of the most outstanding contemporary theologians, Josef Ratzinger: “God is known thanks to people who know him, and the way to God always leads by a person who is already close to God”. Equally, Pope Francis through his words and actions helps many people in their encounter with Christ. His example may be for some missionaries a confirmation of the validity of their previous way of proclaiming the Gospel. For others this is an inspiration. For those who are discouraged on their way they are in need of help to rediscover the precious value of missionary life.

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