OBLATES OF THE CHILD JESUS CELEBRATE 330 YEARS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 2, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed 150 Sisters, Oblates of the Child Jesus who, he noted, "are celebrating the 330th anniversary of your founding in 1672 in Rome by Anna Moroni and 12 young girls who consecrated themselves to Christ with the idea of following Him and serving Him in 'small things', especially through catechesis and the education of young people."

He also remarked on their "desire to meet the Successor of Peter, to whom you are linked for more than three centuries by the much appreciated service you offer in the Pontifical Sacristy. ... Your spirituality ... makes you treat the holy things necessary for the liturgy with the same love with which the Virgin Mary wrapped the newborn Child and placed him in the manger."

"'Living the spirituality of Bethlehem," the Pope went on, "reaching the likeness with the Word Incarnate': this is your Congregation's charism, entirely linked to the mystery of the Incarnation. ... Your foundress was in love with the Child Jesus and was deeply transported by love for the Crucifix, which she defined her 'only book'."

John Paul II remarked that, "faithful to your charism, you can answer the new challenges of education and evangelization, favoring ... catechesis and youth pastoral." He added that "dedicating itself to the education of children and young people is an apostolic priority which the Church has never renounced nor will she renounce it."

"You, dear sisters," he concluded, "cooperate in this mission with multiple initiatives: catechesis, ... parish works, retreats for young people and other proposals for the youth ministry ... and by supporting families in difficult situations, from visiting poor families to welcoming pilgrims."

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