16 Marian Helper • Summer 2023 • Marian.org of Europe’s population was exterminated by epidemics and wars! It was then necessary to pray for the souls of the dead and for the comfort of families and communities, marked by grief and mourning for the loss of their loved ones (cf. Jn 11:35-36). Attention to the poor And the third feature I would like to underline is attention to the poor, in particular in support of parish priests. The Marian Fathers thus contributed to responding to some serious problems of the time: the weakening of faith, especially among the humblest classes, the lack of priestly and religious vocations, and the state of poverty of a large part of the population (cf. Mt 9:35-38). Dear brothers, St. Stanislaus charted for your Congregation paths of spirituality and action, well embodied in the concrete history of the men and women of his time. And it is important for you to “take up the torch”; continuing to respond creatively to the challenges that our age also presents. Do not be discouraged if you encounter opposition or difficulties. Think of the great trials that your religious family has faced over the centuries, for instance when at the beginning of the 20th century, it was reduced to just one member! With God’s help you have recovered, so that today you consist of approximately 500 religious, present in 19 countries throughout the world. Fidelity to origins Let us recall, in this context, the figure of Blessed George Matulaitis (1871-1927), a Marian Father, priest, bishop, and apostolic nuncio in Lithuania, one of the key figures responsible for your rebirth. He was able to restore vitality to the community, updating the Constitutions and promoting its work fearlessly, even to the point of having to act clandestinely and risking arrest, without ever giving up promoting charity and unity among religious and among the faithful. I encourage you to keep fidelity to your origins alive in this prophetic attention to today. You have done so in recent times by including openness to the laity, the protection of life from conception to death, attention to the least, and support for families in difficulty — this is very important today, as the family is always in difficulty — among your pastoral priorities. ... Marian titles I would like to conclude our meeting today by mentioning three Marian titles with which St. John Paul II invited you to venerate Mary Immaculate. Mary “Seat of Wisdom,” so that your witness to the Gospel may be firm and solid; Mary “Consoler of the Afflicted,” that the people of our time may find love and understanding in you, and may be drawn to God by your charity and selfless service; and third, Mary “Mother of Mercy,” that you may be rich in maternal compassion for the souls redeemed by the Blood of Christ and entrusted to you. And on this, please, let us not forget God’s style: closeness, mercy, and tenderness. God is like this: He is close, He is merciful, He is tender. This is our God. A religious brother, a priest, must be close, he must be merciful, forgive everything, and be tender, not aggressive; patient and charitable every day. I wholeheartedly bless you and all your brethren. And please do not forget to pray for me. Thank you.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==