HOLY FATHER WELCOMES MISSIONARIES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 2000 (VIS) - The Pope this morning welcomed the missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, who are in Rome to celebrate their congregation's General Chapter. In a Message he consigned to the order, he recalls that it was founded in France in 1838 by Fr. Pierre-Marie Mermier, who "was prompted by the spiritual needs of French society in his own time."

"Following the upheavals of the early years of the 19th century," he writes, "the consequent decline of religious knowledge and practice called for a determined missionary approach to rouse people from their apathy and urge them to be converted. Inspired by St. Frances di Sales' simplicity, benevolence and confidence," Fr. Mermier committed the first priests to "work in the spirit of the saintly bishop of Geneva."

Noting that the congregation today "is present in many parts of the world, and continues to grow and make progress," John Paul II underlined how "today, more than ever, people need to hear the message of salvation ... and to welcome into their lives the mercy of God Who makes us His adopted children and heals the wounds of our hearts. All Christ's disciples should have a deep sense of the need to pass on to others the light and joy of the faith.

The Message urges the missionaries "to be attentive to the new challenges of our times," to be "committed to an intense life of prayer" and to "trust in God's Providence. ... In the field of education you must bear radical witness to the values of the Gospel, and instruct young people in the ways of unselfish commitment and holiness. ... In serving the poor, you must be simple and austere in your way of life, and you must love them in a dedicated and self-giving way, as Christ did."

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