APOSTOLIC ACTION
Evangelization and human promotion
- 1. The Heart of our evangelization mission
is the announcement of Christ: we are, always and everywhere,
joyful witnesses to the glory of the Risen Christ,
to tell everyone about the Gospel of Hope
with the strength of faith.
- 2. And in looking at Him we live
in evangelical radicality, simplicity, poverty and Franciscan joy,
the mission of Evangelization and human promotion
for the most disadvantaged and needy,
especially for the little ones and the youth[1].
- 3. So, we walk in the History
“with the spirit and zeal of an apostle and missionary”[2] of Mother Miradio,
animated by a profound desire
to work for the glory of God so that he “is praised and loved”[3].
The Spirituality of Insertion
- 1. Our missionary life is nourished and sustained
by a strong spirituality of insertion
in the living conditions of the people,
of presence amongst people, solidarity,
compassion and maternal tenderness,
of the protection and women promotion,
of fraternity and equality.
- 2. Lived with humility and meekness of the beautitudes[4],
it becomes a challenge and prophecy against any form of dominance and power.
The territory, new work
- 1. “On the mysterious ways of God’s Providence”[5]
we are asked the same “spirit of active charity”[6]
of Mother Miradio, whose words reveal:
“The voice of the people moves me and disarms me”[7].
For this we are urged to offer, without counting the cost,
and with a merciful and loving heart,
our gifts of nature and grace spreading them
abundantly and without sparing,
at the feet of our brothers and sisters[8].
- 2. We inhabit the territory as a theological place[9]
where God lives. It is the new work
in which we are called to live and witness
the spirituality of the Incarnation[10].
- 3. For this we work “for the salvation of the souls
and for the spiritual and physical good of the people”[11],
with that trait of proximity, proper to our Charism,
modelled on the way of Jesus.
Missionaries of charity
- 1. We are “missionaries of charity”[12]
always and everywhere in the land of our origin and beyond the borders of our homeland.
- 2. With ardent missionary action
we announce the Gospel of peace, of justice and mercy[13],
by taking on the guidelines of the New Evangelisation[14],
tenacious and patient in facing difficulties and trials,
open to collaboration with all those
who sincerely seek the Kingdom of God,
respectful of the culture and the richness of every People.
Loving as Mary
- 1. In the desire to be loving
like a mother[15], always and towards everyone,
we look at the Heart of the Mary Immaculate, our model[16],
to learn the traits of a discreet and ardent missionary style,
attentive and close to human situations,
the expression of fully productive femininity.
- 2. Like Her, Mother and Disciple of the Son,
we want to offer an attentive and solicitous presence
in the local Churches where we live;
we want to serve our brothers with the same loving availability
with which She accompanied Elizabeth,
followed the growth of Jesus,
participated at the wedding of Cana
and supported the first steps in the Church.
Journey with the Church in the New Evangelization
- 1. In virtue of the indispensable missionary dimension[17]
of our religious life,
we are inserted into the Ecclesial journey[18] of the New Evangelization[19]
of the men and women of our time.
- 2. In this context, and in full harmony
with the missionary passion[20] of Mother Miradio,
the ultimate goal and purpose of our Apostolic action,
in every place and every time,
is “the glory of God and the common good”[21].
Preferential option for the poor
Aware that predilection for the poor
belongs to the heart of the Gospel,
we want to promote justice and respect
for the dignity of every person and every People,
placing ourselves next to the little ones and the poor[22],
icon of the Lord[23],
by taking care of what the world neglects[24].
Educational charity
- 1. We are called to educate
the conscience of children and youth
“to the true, the good and the beautiful”[25]
through “the formation of the heart
and instilling in them sentiments of love”[26]
so that they can contribute to building a better society[27].
- 2. That is why, we accompany the young generations
through an educational charity
that does not transmit notions, theories or behaviour patterns
but raises questions,
offers meaningful answers and contributes in creating
a new human and Christian culture[28].
General Apostolic Project
- 1. Let us all converge
in a common General Apostolic Project[29],
expression of the union of spirit
in mutual charity.
- 2. This commit us to promote organization,
the cooperation and sharing of energies,
skills and resources,
so that the mission realized is unitary,
lived in creative fidelity to our Charism
and in the respect of the sane Traditions
of the Congregation.
Works and Services
- 1. At the school of “great social action”[30]
unfolded by Mother Miradio[31],
we continue to choose the poor,
we nourish our availability to the Ecclesial service,
taking care of the educational mission
for little ones and the young people.
- 2. We cultivate a profound closeness
to the person and his story
through schools, communities for minors,
communities for the elderly,
community of insertion
and all those works and services
that allow us to make significant
the foundational intention of Mother Miradio.
- 3. The works and services
in the field of socio-educational charity
and Evangelization,
are signs of an evangelical presence
at the service of the primacy of God and of the person.
For this we dedicate ourselves to them
with professional competence,
attention of the heart[32],
sense of gratitude and sharing[33].
Signs of times
- 1. The presence of the Holy Spirit invites us
to allow ourselves to be provoked by voices from History,
by the pleas of the poor and of the society
often wounded and confused.
This History, which belongs to us,
in which God is present and operates,
is the place where we experience Grace,
where to serve humanity is seeking the Glory of God.
- 2. Faithful to Mother Miradio’s foundational inspiration
and with dynamic fidelity to our mission,
“as needed according to need”[34],
we adapt their forms to new situations
and in different contexts[35].
[1] Cfr. Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 25th August 1918.
[2] Cfr. Mons. Alberto Costa, 19th December 2013.
[3] Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 9th September 1925.
[4] Cfr. Mt 5, 1-12.
[5] Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 22th April 1919.
[6] Ibidem.
[7] Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 19th July 1922; cfr. Es 2, 23-25.
[8] Cfr. Mt 26, 10-13.
[9] Cfr. Gv 1, 11-14.
[10] Ibidem.
[11] Madre Miradio, Cardito, 6th November 1904.
[12] Madre Miradio, Secondigliano, November 1926.
[13] Cfr. Mt 5, 1-12; cfr. VC 33.
[14] Cfr. VC 81.
[15] Cfr, Tess 2, 7.
[16] Cfr. Constitutions 1926, 123.
[17] Cfr. VC 72.
[18] Cfr. VC 74.
[19] Cfr. Synod on the New Evangelization, October 2012.
[20] Cfr. Mons. Alberto Costa, 19th December 1926.
[21] Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 23rd March, 1921.
[22] Cfr. VC 82; Santo Domingo 178; Cfr. Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 25th August 1921.
[23] Cfr. Mt 25, 31-40.
[24] Cfr. Constitutions 1926, 2.
[25] Madre Miradio, Palma Campania, 22nd April 1919.
[26] Constitutions 1926, 261.
[27] Cfr. Constitutions 1926, 261; cfr. Madre Miradio, Sapri, 1912/1913.
[28] Cfr. VC 96-98.
[29] General Apostolic Project, Religious Franciscan Sisters of St Anthony, 2011.
[30] Madre Miradio, Secondigliano, November 1926.
[31] Cfr. Madre Miradio, Secondigliano, November 1926.
[32] Cfr. Constitutions 1926, 255-259.
[33] Cfr. DCE 31.
[34] Madre Miradio, 25th August 1918.
[35] Cfr. VC 37; cfr. RdC 13; cfr. PC 20.
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