Regardless of age, occupation, nationality and race, we are responsible to carry this passion, a flashing/vivid flame, enthusiasm, zeal and love for God, as it was expressed in the entire life of our Founder. As we know his whole life was God minded and Christ like. You might think that it is not easy to carry this today, and rekindle this flame in our hearts since the body is weak, the energy limited and your minds are preoccupied often with many daily needs for our dear members.
Sisters, no one can stop us from loving God, and it is He who has programmed our lives for the salvation of the world. Perhaps Jesus wants us to put more trust in Him and not to worry so much, but to come to Him often: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Mt 11:28).Perhaps, we need to again return to our first love, to those days when we loved Jesus with passion and childlike trust. Just look at Pallotti and reflect on his life. His desire for greater glory of God and nothing but God was very strong in him. It marked his prayers, writings and apostolate – it was the soul of his every action. What is the soul of your daily actions? What marks your actions?
This confidence in God’s mercy gave Pallotti tranquillity of mind, peace in heart and composure in daily events. He never became discouraged with his limitations and worries, because God was in charge of all. “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me”.
These desires flowed from the heart of our Apostle and Mystic, who was fervently in love with God, the Infinite Love. Often he repeated, “If you don’t try to become saints, you must be foolish. He himself longed for sanctity and was ready to sacrifice for God, die for God and do anything for God. God was the touchstone of all his thoughts and actions. This is what we-Pallottines-need today – this kind of enthusiasm for divine adventure, gained through trust in God and faithfulness to our vows, if we desire to grow and serve the Church with dedication as a fruitful congregation.
From the welcome speech of Sr. Izabela Swierad, SAC, General Superior, at the Central Assembly in Limburg, Germany, on September 1, 2011.
