The Light of Christ in the Heart of the Church

The Light of Christ in the Heart of the Church

(ANS – Rome – April 13) – A seminar to consider issues concerning the promotion of the causes of beatification and canonization in the Salesian Family took place in Rome, April 10-14.  On its 4th day Fr. François-Marie Lethel, a Carmelite, showed participants how holiness is able to unite in a wonderful and fascinating synthesis the scientia fidei, “knowledge based on faith,” or as Benedict XVI called it, scientia amoris, “knowledge of love.”

The day had already begun with a call to discernment and compassion as the main roads indicated by the Pope as calls to holiness, also stressed in the recent apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate.  That came in the homily preached at morning Mass by Fr. Francesco Cereda, vicar of the Rector Major.

Fr. Lethel, uniting great depth of thought with simplicity of language, indicated how discernment and compassion, faith and love, are the paths which the saints have traveled and opened for everyone, where one finds that unity between faith and life, theory and practice, earth and heaven which is at the heart of the Christian mystery.

A particularly fascinating element, which the Carmelite priest made his audience tangibly perceive, is the communion between saints and charisms, “as in heaven, so on earth.”  The saints have never been jealous or parochial, and it is surprising to see how already in their earthly experience there was an admirable exchange of gifts between Dominic, Francis, Ignatius, Teresa, John of the Cross, et al.  The same can be seen in Don Bosco, for those who listen attentively to his spirituality.  Indeed, communion is the very heart of holiness, that is, life in God.  Charisms do not add up; they multiply when communion intensifies.

In concluding his address, Fr. Lethel – who in 2011 preached the annual retreat to Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia, receiving praise and thanks – expressed himself an enthusiastic admirer of the venerable Salesian Fr. Joseph Quadrio, a “perfect example of the religious saint, priest, theologian, and mystic,” and of Salesian Cooperator Vera Grita,” a humble consecrated lay person in whom I joyfully discovered a great mysticism of the Eucharist, perhaps one of the greatest, with a truly prophetic message for the Church of today and tomorrow.”

Photos from the seminar are available on Flickr, while all the materials and reports available can be found in the appropriate section on the website: www.sdb.org.