Pope Leo XIV celebrates Holy Mass at the opening of the General Chapter of the Augustinian Order (@Vatican Media)
Pope asks Augustinians to promote unity throughout the
Church and the world
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Holy Mass at the Church of St
Augustine in Rome, for the opening of the General Chapter of the Augustinian
Order, urging his brothers and sisters to pray for the gift of listening, being
humble and promoting unity.
By Christopher Wells
Pope Leo XIV began his homily for the Mass for the
Inauguration of the General Chapter of the Augustinians by inviting those
present to ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance in their work.
“The Holy Spirit speaks, today as in the past,” the Pope
said, emphasizing the importance “for the atmosphere of the Chapter, in harmony
with the centuries-long tradition of the Church, to be an atmosphere of
listening” to God and to others.
He invited those taking part in the Chapter to “live these
days, therefore, in a sincere effort to communicate and to understand” as a
“generous response to the great and unique gift of light and grace that the
Father of Heaven gives you by summoning you here, you specifically, for the
good of all.”
Pope Leo went on to emphasize the importance of humility, citing
St Augustine, who saw in the multiplicity of voices “an invitation to us to
make ourselves small in the face of the freedom and inscrutability of God’s
action.”
Instead of imagining that they have “all the answers,” he
invited them “to welcome with faith that which the Lord inspires” in order to
allow themselves to be taught and reminded by the Spirit of the words of
Christ.
Pope Leo celebrates
Mass for the inauguration of the General Chapter of the Augustinian Order
(@Vatican Media)
Promote unity
Finally, the Holy Father emphasized a final “point of
reflection” from the opening liturgy: “the value of unity.” He took up St
Paul’s words from the first reading, reminding those present that all have
received gifts “inspired by the Spirit” for the good of all.
Before highlighting this aspect of his message, the Pope
chose to speak English for those present "who understand English but don't
understand Italian," inviting everyone to pray for a gift of the Holy
Spirit.
"That you will be given indeed, not necessarily the
gift to understand or speak all languages, but the gift to listen, and the gift
to be humble, and the gift to promote unity -within the Order and through the
Order, throughout the Church and the world," he said.
“Let unity be an indispensable goal of your efforts,” he
continued in Italian, “but not only that: may it also be the criterion for
evaluating your actions and your work together, because what unites is from Him,
but what divides cannot be.”
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo said the liturgy to open
their deliberations invites them to make listening, humility, and unity “their
own, renewing the prayer we raised to the Lord at the beginning of the
celebration: May the Paraclete, who proceeds from you, O Father, illuminate our
minds and, according to the promise of your Son, guide us to all truth.”
Pope Leo celebrates
Mass for the inauguration of the General Chapter of the Augustinian Order
(@Vatican Media)
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