ASIA/INDIA - Indian edition of the encyclical 'Dilexit nos' presented, which inspires compassion

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New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - The Indian edition of Pope Francis' new encyclical "Dilexit Nos", published on October 24, aims to bring the message of Christ closer to Catholics in India and "enrich the spiritual journey of the faithful thanks to the focus on the universal and intimate nature of divine love", said the General Secretariat of the Indian Bishops' Conference during the presentation of the encyclical, which has already been translated and published by the in-house publishing house, so that the Indian faithful "can appreciate its spiritual benefits and can be inspired with joy in their lives".
At the presentation, which took place yesterday, November 3, in New Delhi, the Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference and Archbishop of Delhi, Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, also reminded the faithful of the 350th anniversary of the apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, an event still celebrated by the Catholic Church today as a testimony to Christ's perennial love for humanity. "The encyclical," he stressed, "invites the baptized to immerse themselves in the heart of Christ, which Pope Francis describes as the incarnation of the tangible and transforming nature of God's love, a love deeply rooted in the realities of daily life, both in moments of hardship and struggle and in those of silent contemplation." Indian Christians, he hoped, "can draw inspiration from the heart of Christ." The Archbishop also underlined the special importance of the message of Pope Francis' encyclical for India: this message touches "the diverse social and cultural landscape of the country and nourishes a spirituality marked by mercy and compassion," he said.
An example of a person who has witnessed the merciful love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus throughout her life in India is Sister Marienie of the Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel (founded in India in 1870), who died of cancer in Kerala last October 21 at the age of 58. The nun, who was very devoted to the Sacred Heart, had become the 'Amma' (mother) of hundreds of mostly Muslim women in the Malappuram district of Kerala and dedicated herself to their social development, education, professional, human and spiritual support. The nun had been in charge of the 'Fatimagiri Social Service Centre' since 2010. She helped the women in the villages in their daily lives, both in emergency situations (after floods or natural disasters) and with regular educational programs that significantly improved the lives of women and their families. The Bishop of Calicut, Varghese Chakkalackal, remembered her as "a consecrated woman who, filled with the love that emanates from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, touched people with her love and brought compassion and healing to everyone she served". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 4/11/2024)