VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Message to Msgr. Luigi Moretti, spiritual director of the National Italian Union for the Transport of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines, on the occasion of UNITALSI's national meeting in Rimini, Italy, to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The Message was dated February 26.
The Pope said it was "meaningful that this anniversary falls in the Year of the Rosary, given that the origins of UNITALSI are tied to the Marian Shrine of Lourdes. It was precisely in that place, blessed with Mary's presence, that your founder, Giovanni Battista Tornassi, found light and comfort. He had gone to the grotto at Massabielle with the intention of taking his life, following a physical and spiritual suffering that had wasted him away, but he was struck by the loving and disinterested work of the volunteers. He also had a clear awareness of his own vocation to serve those who suffer, a vocation that was supported and encouraged by the secretary of the bishop who led that pilgrimage, Father Angelo Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, today elevated to the honor of the altars."
The Holy Father expressed his appreciation to the UNITALSI volunteers, saying that, thanks to them, many people have gone to Lourdes and received from Mary "light and comfort" for their pain and trials.
Urging them to persevere in their work, he asked them "to proceed with generosity, disinterest and a spirit of service. Learn from the school of the Gospel to be workers of peace, justice and mercy wherever the Lord calls you. Answer God's love, strong in the awareness that He loved you first." He also asked them to do everything in the spirit of charity, rooted in prayer and the sacraments.
MESS;ANNIVERSARY UNITALSI;...;MORETTI;VIS;20030228;Word: 300;
No comments:
Post a Comment