Four years ago, at what was also the closing Eucharist of the Chapter, I proposed three figures: the Holy Spirit, Mary of Nazareth, and Abraham. On this occasion, I wish to propose them again.
Holy Spirit
We began the 129th Chapter by asking for the grace of the Holy Spirit to know how to dialogue and discern. The Bishop of Pamplona and Tudela, Florencio Roselló, visited us that same day and asked us what we were seeking and, in the style of Jesus’ question to Peter, also wanted to know if we loved Jesus.
If we allow Him to act, the Holy Spirit is the main actor in every gathering. I believe we have allowed Him to act, and He has accompanied us during these nine days of the Chapter. After the first six days of work, we rested on the seventh: it was Pentecost.
The Spirit accompanied us and guided us to rely on His grace, His talents, and all that He gives us so that we may undertake a good pilgrimage. And today, three days after Pentecost, we have already approved the Life and Mission Project 2026-2029. We want to carry it out under the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Saint Augustine speaks of the three great dimensions of God: wisdom, mercy, and the freedom that brings us happiness. An essential key to the new Project of Life and Mission is to consolidate fraternal and missionary communities. The Holy Spirit gives us this strength and teaches us how to revitalize and renew ourselves. We want to renew our religious life because this is a desire of the Holy Spirit.
We want to renew the way we live fraternity: knowing how to dialogue, work as a team, live together, and share; living joyfully in that sharing, passionately in that service. Religious life expresses God’s love for the poor. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, that is the direction of our mission; we ask Him to help us remain faithful and committed to carrying out this project.
I want to emphasize: of the many conversions that exist, the document on Synodality insists on the conversion of interpersonal relationships. It demands the removal of false beliefs and, above all, prejudices. Let us recognize the brother or layperson who works with me: they have much life to give. Together we are strengthened by the life that each one receives from the Holy Spirit and can share. Let us add vitality as one of the keys to our new Project of life and mission.
Mary
Mary of Nazareth is a woman of hope, a theological virtue that, with her, reaches new heights. We want to build by supporting one another; we want to build stronger communities, to provide more meaningful services to society. And we will do so through the hope of Mary.
Mary is the mother of vocation. Let us strengthen fraternal and missionary communities that prioritize vocation. When the angel invited Mary to be the Mother of God, she immediately said “yes”: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” It is a firm, consistent yes. She is the woman who receives the strength of the Holy Spirit and gives life. And she is the woman who serves with love.
Let us learn from Mary that our consecration has meaning if it gives life and serves with love. Let us say: “I commit myself to making my existence, my vocation, about giving life, about serving those around me, especially the poor.” First, I must strengthen my own vocation of service and then help others to strengthen theirs or to search and discern what God is calling them to.
The Mother of Vocation teaches us that we exist to give life and serve through charity. It is said in Dilexi Te that the Church places no limits on love and knows no enemies to fight, but only men and women to love. This is the Church that does so much good. The objective is quite clear: not to waste energy on anything other than the service of love.
Abraham
Abraham, the father of faith, had a trust that withstood countless difficulties. He trusted God completely, left his homeland, and God asked him to do things that seemed impossible. Abraham remained faithful because he knew God was with him: “God will provide.” And God did.
For this Project of life and mission, God will provide. We walk alongside our brothers and sisters, and even though there may be difficulties or situations that require much dialogue to move forward, God will provide. The Holy Spirit will always be there. Our Mother, the Lady of hope and of vocation, will always be there.
A meaningful task
A kind man was walking along the beach when he saw someone in the distance repeatedly bending down and throwing something into the sea. As he got closer, he realized it was starfish. The tide had left thousands of them stranded on the sand.
And he thought, “Will it make sense to throw them into the sea if it’s only going to be saved so few?” And so he asked the man who was throwing them. This one took another one and said, “Look, well, for this one, it makes sense.” And he threw it back into the water. I wish the story continued: “Will you help me throwing more? That way we’ll give life the double of them.”
We have a Project of life and mission, a task within the Church. Undoubtedly, this is small compared to the vast world of people and institutions committed to doing good. So let us contribute our part. Let obstacles, false beliefs, or mistrust not discourage us, for we are convinced that the Holy Spirit supports us and that the small works of each day have meaning.
Praying for the sick has meaning, commitment in the classroom has meaning, accompanying students in their formation has meaning, listening to the discouraged or caring for the impoverished, celebrating the Eucharist… It all has meaning. Every action has meaning.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us maintain this vitality, in communion with the laity, who will give us great strength and support, making our small work, however small, much greater. And more brothers and sisters will join us, and together we will cast more stars back into the sea.
So be it.
