2 March 2012
Closing Message
We started our Enlarged General Council on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Feast of Consecrated Life, asking that we too, like Anna and Simeon, be graced with recognising the Presence of the Lord among us during this time together, as the leadership of the Institute. I believe that we have received that grace.
Our journey over these past 4 weeks has revealed many things to us as we studied all the reports on the current reality of the Institute and its journey since the General Chapter 2008. The sharing of the provinces brought to life numerous examples of ways in which we have taken seriously the calls of the Chapter, in our attempts to live more fully our Franciscan identity, networking and collaborating,as community-in-mission, in minority and reconciliation, caring for creation andsimplifying our life style. As our sharings unfolded we could sense how much the call to live our Franciscan identity had marked the Institute since 2008. Yet we will never forget the many stories that led us into the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters, and as tears filled our eyes, there was gratitude in our hearts knowing that our sisters were present in these privilegedplaces of God’s revelation.[1]
The constancy of change came clear to us as we reflected upon the 13.7 billion year history of our cosmos, with its very strong message that it is only through death that new life can emerge. We became aware that we are all part of this continuing creative energy, being called to open our hearts and allow change to take its place, knowing that we can only do so,if we walk humbly with the God of our Story, the Creator of the universe, the God of endless Love.
As we moved forward in our programme, our Franciscan spirituality challenged us to live its radicality and not be tempted to want to be ‘like others’[2],a spirituality that speaks of new life from death, of freedom that comes from dying to oneself. And I quote: ‘the Freedom of Heart which Francis enjoyed was not a freedom of living at random according to one’s whims and fancies, but rather, it was firmly based on the kenotic experience he passed through. It grew in its intensity, as he deepened this experience of living the kenotic Christ’[3].The radicality of this call challenges us.
Many are the challenges that come to us, not only on global and local levels, but also those changesthat creep into the events of our daily lives and throw us into confusion and doubt, leading irritation and rejection, rather than openness and embrace. During this time together we were confronted with many changes, things that were different from what we were used to, even from the very moment that we stepped inside this house of our Jesuit brothers here in Pune, finding ourselves as guests and facing the challenges of organising ourselves in such an unfamiliar setting.
Yet as I reflect upon our experience together, I not only believe that we have receivedthe grace like Anna and Simeon but in fact, that we have received grace upon grace[4].
In the hospitality of our Jesuit brothers and in the devoted and generous service of our sisters supporting us in a myriad of practical details ...we recognise His Presence
In our struggle to accept diversity, in our desire to strive for unity...we recognise His Presence
In our willingness to go beyond our own personal attitudes and responses for the sake of the task that was confided to us...we recognise His Presence
In the difficult experiences that allowed us to enter into open and honest sharing, enabling sisterly encounters at very deep and personal levels...we recognise His Presence
In the group work that revealed the clarity of convergence, enlightening our understanding of the way forward...we recognise His Presence
In our awareness that the leading of the Spirit was advancing our reflections...we recognise His Presence
In the unity of our convergence we glimpsed the precious richness of our diversity and we treasured this insight...we recognise His Presence
In our love of the charism and the family spirit of the Institute that carried us beyond our differences to live minority and the ‘spirituality of sisterhood’[5]...we recognise His Presence
In the joy and the laughter, the listening and the sharing, in the innumerable gestures of love and kindness...we recognise His Presence
Along our Emmaus road we have come to see the One who has journeyed with us, informing and enlightening the matters that concerned us[6]. And in our recognising, we have welcomed, and in welcoming His Presence, our life has become prayer[7].
Mary walks with us as we leave this place, pondering all these things in our hearts[8], walking forward in trust because we have been graced with recognising His Presence, assured that nothing is impossible to God[9], we continue our mission to bring Life to the world.
Until we meet again at the General Chapter in 2014, may you continue to receive the grace of recognising His Presence.
Suzanne Phillips fmm
Superior General
[1]Chap Doc 2008: C2
[2]Robin Daniel OFMCap: Franciscan Fraternity and Minority: Question 9.
[3]Robin Daniel OFMCap: Franciscan Approach to the Freedom of Heart, p.2
[4] Jn 1:16
[5]Robin Daniel OFMCap: Minority and Freedom of Heart, p3
[6]Lk 24:13-35
[7] FMM Constit.8
[8]Lk 2:19
[9]Lk 1:37