TO SERVANTS OF THE VISITATION: ATTEND TO THOSE WHO NEED US

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a message written on September 8 by John Paul II to Sr. Maria Vincenza Minet, superior general of the Congregation of the Servants of the Visitation, and to the religious of the same order who celebrated their fourth general chapter at the St. Francis and Holy Cross Resort in Acerno, Italy.

Making reference to the theme of this meeting, "Our charism in a world that is changing," the Holy Father encourages their desire to "look with prophetic value at the future in order to understand better what the challenges and hopes of the Church and the world are."

Afterward, recalling that the charism of the order is rooted in "the admirable mystery of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth," he says that the nuns are inspired by that Gospel scene "when you work with abandoned children as well as when you put yourselves at the service of the elderly and sick in the parishes or in mission countries."

"The example of the Virgin requires that we are constantly up to date and in touch with the difference historical, geographical and cultural demands. In a world that is changing, your charisma should not vacillate, on the contrary it needs that 'imagination of charity', to which I made reference in the apostolic letter 'Novo millennio ineunte', in order to be effective and to bring about abundant fruits."

"To be servants of the Visitation," he concludes, "means ... to attend to those who need us; this is the commandment that Christ gave each disciple and that you have taken on as the ideal and goal of your experience and your community service."

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