Retreat meditation on the missionary obligation of the faithful

We have a great responsibility: the evangelization of the world, a command given on the Mount of the Ascension. We have responsibility for the entire world. Our Lord will do nothing except through us, he will not speak except through us. We have responsibility for the growth of the Church. Geographically, it remains too small… like a child that has all his organs but must grow… The Church must grow like a child, in all parts of the body. The Church has not reached its normal size. Soon all, all its members, must contribute to its growth, so that it may grow integrally, in all its organs. If its growth is only in some members and not in others, the growth is abnormal, a sickness that ends in death.

Through our baptism we are members of the Church; through our prayers we are at the service of the Church. We have to interest ourselves in the missions whose object is to make the Church grow. Is the Church established in the whole world? People say they are interested but what do they give? Their thoughts, almost never; their desires, not often… old papers, the leftovers from their homes. Of the 300,000 priests, 20,000 are on the missions and of these 13,000 take care of Catholics… Only a handful of priests and sisters are dedicated to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ.

They say: Charity begins at home! Who said so? Christ, the Fathers of the Church? No. That is the theory of egoism. Do egoism and charity begin in the same way? No, from the very first moment, charity is for all: from the beginning, love all. It begins from the very first moment to serve those who are nearest. The Holy Spirit’s tactic is like that of the spider: begin from the farthest point and finish at the center. St Paul had much to do in Jerusalem but he went as far as Spain for he wanted to go around the then known world.

Those who have this immense responsibility are few in number. What have I done to make the church grow? Excuse me? We do not have the time to involve ourselves in this! With our desires, prayers, sufferings, influence, we can do a great deal. We must preserve this great desire in our souls and not fall prey to spiritual rickets.

The labor is endless - there are 400 million Chinese… 375 million Hindus… what totally disproportionate tasks! In the first place, it has nothing to do with converting all the Chinese: but rather of establishing the Church. With 25 million Chinese the Chinese Church is founded. Take the the case of the United States, there are 27 million Catholics among 120 million inhabitants. The missions in the United Sates no longer exist and the American Catholics have become missioners.

There are critical moments in the Divine Providence: to uproot a huge eucalyptus tree is almost impossible but there is a moment in which even a child with a string can determine the side on which it will fall. India, after the war; China now searching for its path. In this moment the influence of prayers, desires, influences can determine the direction that will be taken over many centuries.

But there are not enough personnel for the missions… Assume the responsibility and vocations will come! There will be no lack of them. Begin: send four missioners to Africa and personnel will arrive! The first thing needed is an act of faith. In many of our provinces we are doing well in schools but when we have nothing except schools, the province becomes a bit bourgeois… When there are missions, it changes.

What can we do? Get to know our own missions! When one becomes fond of the missions one learns a great deal. Our prayer should be: May the Kingdom of God come. Our sacrifices, our support and our influence are needed.