PERSEVERE IN YOUR CHARISM OF SERVING THE POOREST OF THE POOR

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul to Sr. M. Nirmala Joshi, superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, on the occasion of their eighth General Chapter. In the Letter, written in English and dated February 3, he recalled that this was the first such meeting "since the death of your dear foundress, Mother Teresa."

"Christ's Church on earth proclaims the Gospel to everyone, but she turns to the poor with special tenderness and compassion," wrote the Pope. "Christian love is not simply an act of charity, it is also an encounter with Christ Himself in the poor. Love of Christ, therefore, means love of the poor; and for consecrated persons this means embracing a life of poverty." He said that their "lives eloquently proclaim that God is the true wealth of the human heart."

The Holy Father encouraged the Missionaries of Charity "to persevere in faithfully living out your charism of serving the poorest of the poor. For in so doing you will continue to be a shining example for people today, especially the younger generation, who find themselves in situations not just of material need but also of spiritual impoverishment."

He then reminded them of the importance of continuing formation, saying that "this takes on even greater significance for Institutes such as yours which exercise their apostolate in a wide range of cultural and social settings. The initiative, creativity and zeal of the Missionaries of Charity must always be guided by the original inspiration of the Institute, as it is embodied in widely varying contexts."

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