|
Report to the Chapter: Introduction
Br Giacomo Bini, ofm
Minister general
Dear Brothers,
May the Lord give you peace!
In a spirit of gratitude to the Lord, who has convoked us, and aided by the Spirit, who enlightens our minds and warms our hearts, let us begin the work of the General Chapter.
Welcome to this fraternal gathering, an evident sign of our identity, a sign that is in search of a meaning, a “bodily presence”, a response. It will be what we, together, will formulate in these days, verifying and projecting our life in the Church and throughout the world that is so thirsty for hope.
Brothers, we jointly, all together, have a great responsibility before the world, the Church and the many Friars that down through the centuries, from Francis on, have responded to the signs of the times with intelligence and enthusiasm.
We have been called to widen the space of our tents (cf. Is 54,2), the horizons of our mind and hearts, beyond that of our personal and local interests for a few days. We are called together, as a united Family, to give a reason for the hope that lives in us to the men and women of our times.
What we are living is a season of grace, rich in opportunity, stimuli and challenges. We cannot go back! We are called to evaluate what we are doing, our life of disciples and apostles sent by Jesus throughout the whole world. We are especially sent to discern intelligently the germs of new life, often hidden, which abound in the context of our cultures, in order to make them develop under the breath of the Spirit. The situation of crisis can cause us to turn in on ourselves or to accustom ourselves to a life of indifference and mediocrity.
By courageously projecting ourselves towards more universal and charismatic horizons, we will be able to overcome the anxieties of individualism and emergencies that carry the risk of having us forget the essentials and to be marginalised from history: they are risks that could prejudice our future in a definitive way.
The change of structures, which we will discuss during these days, will not bring about the miracle of our internal transformation automatically, but could facilitate it.
Brothers, we have been called to the Porziuncola, to this place that was so dear to Francis, to write a very important page of our history, extremely important: tomorrow may yet be too late.
In the name of the Definitory and of myself, I would now like to thank you all for the good preparation for this Chapter, begun in your Entities together with your Friars. I know that you have come here bearing the echo of the dialogue and reflections shared with the Friars of the Entities that you represent.
I am grateful for the spirit of prayer that has guided us during the preparation and for the closeness of so many Sisters and Brothers of the Second and Third Orders.
To all that have worked and will work for the serene and fruitful running of the Chapter, I express my fraternal and sincere thanks.
Brothers beloved by the Lord, may you carry out your work in serenity and availability. With this public act, I declare our General Chapter to be open.
|
