VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received the National Confederation of "Misericordie" of Italy, an association of charitable groups that currently comprises 700 confraternities covering the entire national territory. They were accompanied by numerous groups of blood donors, known as "Fratres."
The confederation, "the oldest form of organized voluntary work in the world," has more than 100,000 volunteers, said the Pope, and he recalled how they are "permanently committed to social work and healthcare. ... With your presence and activities you contribute to spreading the Gospel of God's love to all mankind."
"Today too - indeed even more so in our own time marked by so many human and spiritual challenges - how necessary it is for Christians to proclaim with works the merciful love of God! ... So many people do not readily welcome Christ and His demanding teachings, yet they are not insensible to the witness of those who communicate His message through the concrete witness of charity. Love is a language that reaches directly to the heart and opens it to trust."
"Your association represents a typical example of the importance of conserving one's own 'Christian roots' in Italy and in Europe. Today, the 'Misericordie' are not an ecclesial group but their historical roots remain unmistakably Christian. The name 'Misericordie' itself express this, as does the fact that at your origins lies the initiative of a saint. And the roots, in order to continue to produce fruit, must remain healthy and strong."
The Pope went on to observe that for this reason the confederation offers its members "periods of training and formation to dedicate more profound study to the human and Christian motivations of your activities. The risk, in fact, is that voluntary work can be reduced to mere activism. If, on the other hand, the spiritual dimension is kept alive, [voluntary work] can communicate to others values well beyond what is materially necessary: it can offer people in difficulty the gaze of love of which they have need."
Finally, Benedict XVI praised the "important educational function" of the "Misericordie," which contribute to "maintaining an awareness of the most noble values such as fraternity and disinterested assistance to those in difficulty." He also highlighted how, especially for young people, volunteer work can be "a school of life that helps them to give meaning and a more exalted and fruitful value to their lives ."
The Pope concluded his address by recalling that tomorrow, February 11, is the 15th World Day of the Sick, dedicated this year to the terminally ill. And he called upon Mary, Mother of Mercy, to "watch over all your confraternities. ... May she help you to undertake your mission with genuine love, thus contributing to spreading throughout the world the love of God, source of life for all human beings."
AC/VOLUNTEER WORK/MISERICORDIE VIS 20070212 (490)
The confederation, "the oldest form of organized voluntary work in the world," has more than 100,000 volunteers, said the Pope, and he recalled how they are "permanently committed to social work and healthcare. ... With your presence and activities you contribute to spreading the Gospel of God's love to all mankind."
"Today too - indeed even more so in our own time marked by so many human and spiritual challenges - how necessary it is for Christians to proclaim with works the merciful love of God! ... So many people do not readily welcome Christ and His demanding teachings, yet they are not insensible to the witness of those who communicate His message through the concrete witness of charity. Love is a language that reaches directly to the heart and opens it to trust."
"Your association represents a typical example of the importance of conserving one's own 'Christian roots' in Italy and in Europe. Today, the 'Misericordie' are not an ecclesial group but their historical roots remain unmistakably Christian. The name 'Misericordie' itself express this, as does the fact that at your origins lies the initiative of a saint. And the roots, in order to continue to produce fruit, must remain healthy and strong."
The Pope went on to observe that for this reason the confederation offers its members "periods of training and formation to dedicate more profound study to the human and Christian motivations of your activities. The risk, in fact, is that voluntary work can be reduced to mere activism. If, on the other hand, the spiritual dimension is kept alive, [voluntary work] can communicate to others values well beyond what is materially necessary: it can offer people in difficulty the gaze of love of which they have need."
Finally, Benedict XVI praised the "important educational function" of the "Misericordie," which contribute to "maintaining an awareness of the most noble values such as fraternity and disinterested assistance to those in difficulty." He also highlighted how, especially for young people, volunteer work can be "a school of life that helps them to give meaning and a more exalted and fruitful value to their lives ."
The Pope concluded his address by recalling that tomorrow, February 11, is the 15th World Day of the Sick, dedicated this year to the terminally ill. And he called upon Mary, Mother of Mercy, to "watch over all your confraternities. ... May she help you to undertake your mission with genuine love, thus contributing to spreading throughout the world the love of God, source of life for all human beings."
AC/VOLUNTEER WORK/MISERICORDIE VIS 20070212 (490)
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