A CALL TO PENANCE, ASCETICISM, DETACHMENT FROM THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning welcomed the Minim Friars, founded by St. Francis de Paola over 500 years ago, who are celebrating their General Chapter in Rome. St. Francis also founded the Minim Fathers and Minim Nuns.

In his speech, he highlighted their "glorious past history" as well as "the glorious history (you have) yet to build." Quoting from the Order's constitution, he said that, "following the example of your founder, your religious family 'proposes to give particular and daily witness to Gospel penance with a Lenten-like life, such as total conversion to God, intimate participation in the expiation of Christ and a call to the Gospel values of detachment from the world, of the primacy of spirit over matter and of the urgency of penance, which carries with it the practice of charity, love of prayer and physical asceticism'."

In particular, the Holy Father underlined the order's "fourth vow of perpetual Lent" and noted that the theme of their General Chapter "proposes contemplating anew the charism of Lenten penance, in the light of the challenges of today's world." He highlighted the importance of renunciation and penance, especially today when "the dominant tendency in contemporary society .... is to seek immediate gratification."

He urged the Minims to develop ever more deeply the spirit and charism of their founder, saying: "May your Order, after having overcome difficult moments in the course of its history, continue to be the light which illumines the penitents of the Church."

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