VATICAN CITY, JUN 10, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul welcomed various groups of pilgrims this morning in the Paul VI Hall, including faithful from several Italian dioceses, senior citizens from Santa Maria del Cedro, members of the Verona Association of Heart Transplants and the Sisters, Handmaidens of the Virgin, Mother of God.
Addressing the Polish Sisters in their language, he recalled that they were founded 150 years ago by Blessed Edmund Bojanowski, whom the Pope beatified during his June 1999 trip to his homeland. He said that Blessed Edmund "loved God and loved man. He was a man of prayer. His great love for mankind, manifested through heroic acts, was born from a profound union with God through prayer. From this he drew the strength to serve man. That love grew in him, on his knees, to produce fruit."
Through the life and works of Blessed Edmund, affirmed the Holy Father, "God wishes to tell you that holiness, aiming for holiness, is the most important task of consecrated persons. ... You are called to give a personal and community witness of holiness." He urged them to "imitate Christ Himself, who was totally submissive to the will of the Father; imitate Jesus in His prayer, to which He dedicated long hours; imitate Jesus in His love for mankind."
"At this point," stated the Pope, "I wish to underline your service, full of self-denial, towards those in need. ... In dozens of countries on all continents, you care for children, the ill, persons who are elderly, alone or poor. ... Today's meeting is a special occasion for me to tell you of my gratitude for this apostolate of charity, which is the most efficacious proclamation of Christ to the world."
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