Spiritual exercises: Spotlight on Christ not the
Church
(Vatican Radio)
The priest leading the spiritual exercises for Pope Francis and the Roman Curia
says the Church must not shine the spotlight on herself but instead on Christ.
Father Ermes Ronchi’s reflections came during his meditations on Tuesday
morning that were delivered at the ‘Divin Maestro’ centre in the town of
Ariccia, south of Rome, where the Pope and the Roman Curia are spending their
Lenten retreat.
The inspiration
for Tuesday morning’s reflections by Father Ronchi came from the gospel account
of where Peter professes his faith in Christ as the Son of God. Noting that
this was preceded by Jesus asking the disciples who they thought He was, Father
Ronchi said in this way Christ is not giving lessons or suggesting replies
based on what other people say about him but instead is urging his apostles
to look inside their own hearts. Jesus wants to know if his disciples
have opened their hearts to God who is living inside them. Our hearts,
explained Father Ronchi, “can be the cradle or the tomb of God.”
He went on to
say that Jesus also warned his apostles that following him means an appointment
with a man on the Cross. Christ spills his own blood not that of anybody else
and he doesn’t sacrifice other people, just himself.
Turning to the
Church’s role, Father Ronchi said we are “the mediators between God and
humanity.” Like John the Baptist, we must prepare the path and then step
to one side. He said “think of the beauty of a church that does not shine the
spotlight on herself” but instead on Christ, and warned that we still have some
progress to make on this point.
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