"RENEWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT," A GIFT FOR THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope received representatives of the group "Renewal of the Holy Spirit", on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of their presence in Italy.

In his address, John Paul II indicated that the group "can be considered a special gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church in these times. Born in and for the Church, it is a movement in which, by the light of the Gospel, one may experience the living encounter with Jesus, faithfulness to God in personal and community prayer, trust in His word, the rediscovery of the Sacraments, as well as courage in trials and hope in tribulations."

The Pope went on to say: "On this special occasion, I would like to bless especially three of your projects:" the foundation of "a missionary community linked to the diocese of Chisinau, Moldavia; ... spiritual animation in Marian sanctuaries, ... that gives you the opportunity to help pilgrims to deepen their faith and engage in spiritual reflection" and the "'Burning bush' project, which is an invitation to incessantly adore, day and night," the eucharistic mystery.

The Pope concluded by emphasizing that all their evangelizing activities "tend to promote a constant growth of holiness in the people of God. ... The Church needs saints, and the more we allow the Holy Spirit to make us like Christ, the more saintly we and the world become. This is the secret of the regenerating experience of the 'effusion of the Holy Spirit,' a typical experience that characterizes the path of growth proposed by the members of your groups and communities."

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