The Church does not grow through proselytism but through witnessing
the spirit of charity: " charity is simple : to worship God and serve
others ! And this testimony makes the Church grow ." That's why a nun
" so humble , but so trusting in God," like St. Therese of the Child
Jesus , "was named patroness of the missions , because her example "
causes " people to say ' Let us go with you! ' " .Celebrating Mass in Casa Santa Marta this morning with the members of the Council of Cardinals Pope Francis proposed the Patroness of the missions as a model for the whole Church. Referring to the councils meeting today he asked for prayers so "our work today makes us all more humble, more gentle, more patient, more trusting of God, so the Church can give a beautiful testimony to the people and seeing the People of God, seeing the Church , they feel the urge to come with us. "
As reported by Vatican Radio , the Pope commented on today 's Gospel passage that tells of Jesus rebuked the two Apostles that wanted to call down fire from heaven upon those who would not accept them.
Pope Francis pointed out that the way of the Christian is not a "path of vengeance." The way of the Christian is the way of humility, of meekness. He added that today, on the feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, it would be good for us to think about "this spirit of humility, of tenderness, of bounty." It is a spirit, the Pope said, that the Lord "wants from all of us." Where, then, is the power "that brings us to this spirit?" It is found "in love, in charity, in the awareness that we are in the hands of the Father." When we sense this, the Pope observed, we will not want "to call down fire from Heaven"."Another spirit comes, that of that charity that suffers all, pardons all, that does not boast, that is humble, that doesn't seek itself. Someone could say - and there are some philosophers that thing this way - that this is a humiliation of the majesty of man, of the greatness of man. This is sterile! The Church has wisely made this saint, humble, small, trusting in God, meek: she has made her the Patron of Missions."
The strength of the Gospel, he continued, is there, "because the Gospel reaches its highest point in the humiliation of Jesus: humility that becomes humiliation. And the force of the Gospel, he said, is properly in humility, in the humility of the child that is guided by the love and the tenderness of the father."
"The Church, Benedict XVI told us, does not grow through proselytism, it grows through attraction, through witness. And when the people see this witness of humility, of meekness, of mildness, they feel the need that the Prophet Zachariah spoke of: 'We want to come with you.' The people feel that need in the face of the witness of charity, of this humble charity, without bullying, not sufficient, humble. Worship and serve!"
"Charity is simple: worship God and serve others! And this witness," the Pope said, makes the Church grown." That's why a nun, "so humble, but so trusting in God," a nun like St. Therese of the Child Jesus "was named Patron of the Mission, because of her example" which makes "the people say 'we want to come with you!'" .