VATICAN - "We all have the responsibility to bear witness to our faith", recalled Cardinal Filoni in Thailand

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 filoni missionary animation local churches

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Chiang Mai (Agenzia Fides) - "As Christians we have a mission of announcing Jesus as the Savior of the world, in accordance with our state of life. All of us have this responsibility to bear witness to our faith". This is what Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said in the homily at the Eucharist celebration which presided on Monday, May 20 in the Catholic Church of Assumption, Village of Mission Mae-Porn, Diocese of Chiang Mai, in Thailand (see Fides, 15/5/2019).
After having communicated the Holy Father Pope Francis’ fatherly greetings and spiritual closeness to those present, the Cardinal proposed some reflections based on the biblical readings of the day, in the context of the evangelizing mission of the Church, and therefore he underlined: "The Church continues the same mission of the Redeemer. She is the sign and instrument of salvation for mankind. Through the Church, the Lord entrusts his mission of proclaiming the Gospel to all the Christian faithful in different ways or capacities".
The Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery then recalled that Christians, like the apostles, are called to share the faith with those who do not yet know Christ: "They may be in your villages, work places, schools, hospitals, etc. In your conversations or contacts with them, you may find opportunities to present Jesus to them. Each one of you present here could make a resolultion to present Jesus to one or two persons who do not know him! This way of presenting Jesus is also a public profession of your faith".
In the mission of announcing Jesus, "the Holy Spirit accompanies you and guides you" like the apostles after Pentecost, assured Cardinal Filoni, who continued: "Strengthening of your life of faith is important for the work of evangelization. Regular participation in the Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations in the parish communities are important for the strengthening of your faith. Bible reading will help to know more about the love of God revealed in history, especially in the person of Jesus as the Son of God.
Your acts of love or charity towards the needy neighbours in your villages contribute to bearing testimony to the commandment of love".
Finally, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples recommended families to put Jesus at the center of family life: "Pray to Jesus always. The family that prays together lives together", and to entrust families to the maternal guidance and protection of the Blessed Mother, a "model of our Christian faith". Finally he invoked "the maternal intercession of the Blessed Mother, star of new evangelisation to accompany us in our Christian mission". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 21/5/2019)