Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shanghai (Agenzia Fides) - In the footsteps of the Patron Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who exercised an authentic spirituality, you too exchange daily dialogues with the Lord through prayer and exercise charity: this is the recommendation of Bishop Joseph Shen Bin, of the Diocese of Shanghai to the faithful during the solemn mass on July 27 which marked the opening of the celebration of the patronal feast. More than 2,000 faithful were present in the cathedral with the priests and religious of the deanery.
The Bishop also conferred the sacrament of Confirmation on about sixty adults. The community present was visibly moved. Indeed, after many years, the diocese of Shanghai celebrates with its bishop the patronal feast of the cathedral dedicated to St. Ignatius.
In his homily, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin invited the faithful to make three reconciliations: to reconcile with the Lord, to reconcile with people and to reconcile with creation “to purify ourselves deeply, to eradicate inner poverty; to broaden our horizons by opening ourselves generously to others; to invite the Lord to remain in our daily life and bring us true happiness and peace.”
He then exhorted the dozens of faithful who had just received Confirmation to “follow the example of St. Ignatius; fill your lives with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. With your concrete life, practice love and virtue and show more and more the glory of the Lord.”
The words of the Bishop, the songs of the Hymn and the emotion of the entire community came together in a single chorus of praise to the Lord that has resonated in this church for more than hundreds of years, traveling through time and space, until it reaches the depths of the fervent hearts of the faithful. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 29/7/2024)
