LOVE FOR THE POOR IS ALSO EXPRESSED THROUGH EDUCATION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 27, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from John Paul II to the Religious Teachers of Our Lady of Sorrows who are presently celebrating their general chapter, the theme of which is: "Towards the third millennium, with the joy of the Resurrection, to construct unity in diversity."

In the message, which is dated July 22, the Pope recalls that the foundress, Blessed Elisabetta Renzi, "strongly felt the call to witness God's particular love for His smallest and most needy creatures; and she responded with prophetic intelligence, becoming a mother, educator and helper. The Church has always considered education to be an essential part of its mission and the synod on consecrated life clearly highlighted this. Consequently, I warmly invite you to treasure your original charism and your traditions, in the knowledge that preferential love for the poor finds a privileged expression in the services of education and training."

After making reference to Blessed Renzi's motto, "Ardere et Lucere," the Holy Father concluded by calling upon each individual Religious Teacher of Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as "the whole institute, to burn and shine with divine love and radiate it to your brothers and sisters, especially the poorest, wherever Providence calls you to live and work."

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