January 1, 2017<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Dear Fathers, Brothers, and Seminarians,\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in its document Directives on Formation in Religious Institutes<\/em> upholds that \u201cthe personal life of a religious must not become dichotomized between the generic end of religious life and the specific end of the institute; between consecration to God and mission in the world; nor between religious life itself on the one hand, and apostolic activities on the other. There is no religious life existing concretely \u2018by itself\u2019 upon which is grafted the specific and the particular charism of each institute as subordinate additions.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\r\n As we all know, our own congregation obliges its members \u201cto engage in missionary action in a special way,\u201d[2]<\/a> in accordance with the proper way of the Institute and \u201cin keeping with the proper type of their own vocation, by means of prayer, or by apostolic ministry, so as to implant and strengthen the Kingdom of Christ in souls and to extend that kingdom to every place.\u201d[3]<\/a> This is done while avoiding falling into the error of \u201cneglecting\u2014dialectically\u2014apostolic works which must be carried out, in order to \u2018save\u2019 religious life and the corresponding formation,\u201d or the error of seeking refuge in the commodity of manual labor being \u201cnegligent in intellectual work which requires special effort,\u201d as our Directory of Consecrated Life<\/em> clearly warns us.[4]<\/a><\/p>\r\n We should not lose sight that \u201cwe must fulfill the duty of state, giving each thing its proper place in accordance with its objective hierarchy, and according to the charism of the Institute, to perfectly fulfill the will of God.\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\r\n For this reason, at the beginning of this new year, I thought it opportune to dedicate this Circular Letter to reflect, even if briefly, on our specific end, an aspect which is so fundamental and so deeply rooted in the charism of our Institute.<\/p>\r\n That is, to reflect on the fact\u2014which is so clearly marked out in our Constitutions<\/em> and which we fervently repeat upon professing vows\u2014that we, religious of the Incarnate Word, \u201cspecifically, pledge all our strength to inculturate the Gospel, that is, to extend the Incarnation \u2018to all men, in the whole man, and in all of the manifestations of man,\u2019 in accordance with the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\r\n May God grant a renewed and enthusiastic missionary commitment in our souls by means of these words. For as the Spiritual Father of our Religious Family so fervently proclaimed, \u201cI sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church’s energies to a new evangelization and to the mission ad gentes<\/em>. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.\u201d[7]<\/a><\/p>\r\n In these days we see with deep pain that many congregations are declining while many others are dying, that the number of the main congregations within the Church are dropping in a deafening way, that convents are closing, religious congregations which have known days of glory are disappearing (according to the facts of the CICLSAL over three hundred congregations have closed from the Second Vatican Council until our days), and that the number of vocations is collapsing throughout the whole world.<\/p>\r\n Although this is a cause for great sorrow for us, it is also a source of hope to think that amidst this appalling reality, God\u2019s Providence has raised up our small religious family.\u00a0 It is a source of hope to think that the Holy Spirit is guiding us, granting us\u2014with our limits and miseries\u2014the grace to grow, to have new, young, and enthusiastic vocations, to open houses (not close them) on all five continents, so our works may in general be more thriving than when they began, and that we may have a convincing witness in many places. As you all know, we have received numerous requests for foundations (over two hundred), many of which come from bishops that desperately write asking for us to help them, to send them missionaries, and to save their parishes.<\/p>\r\n Despite many calumnies and false criticism that have spread, we must say, as was seen in the recent General Chapter, that given the general circumstances, our numbers of perseverance are, by God\u2019s grace, high, certainly higher than the level which currently exists within the Universal Church, as well as those in the country from whence we came, Argentina. We know and are conscious of the fact that all of this is an unmerited grace from God, but at the same time it represents an immense responsibility, a responsibility that can be summed up in one word: \u201cFidelity.\u201d Our responsibility requires fidelity to the Holy Spirit and to the gift of our given charism; fidelity to the Holy Church, Spouse of Christ and Universal Sacrament of Salvation; fidelity to the formation that we have received (which is very much valued by bishops and ecclesial authorities); fidelity to the foundational grace, or in other words, the grace of \u201cbeing in the very beginnings of a new religious family\u201d; and fidelity to the challenge to preserve our customs, our traditions, and our principles.<\/p>\r\n All of this can be summed up in a phrase: fidelity to the specific end of our institute under which we consecrate our lives, professing that we \u201cpledge all our strength to inculturate the Gospel.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Saint Thomas teaches in a very enlightening way that \u201cthe good of our neighbor is advanced by things pertaining to the spiritual welfare of the soul rather than by things pertaining to the supplying of bodily needs\u2026 [for they are] more pertinent to the service of God, to Whom no sacrifice is more acceptable than zeal for souls.\u201d[8]<\/a><\/p>\r\n To be able to offer that sacrifice, which is most pleasing to God, there is a determining element, which is our very faith. The mission is born from faith in Jesus Christ, and it is only with the vision of faith that it is understood and has its foundation. It is only when the missionary is driven by faith that he can say with the Apostle: I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent<\/em>.<\/em>[9]<\/a> Only when moved by faith will the missionary be ready to desire to be consumed for the good of the souls entrusted to him, and what is more, he will long to persevere in being consumed little by little for others even to the end.\u00a0 From this springs the truth that \u201cthe success of our apostolate depends on the strength of our faith.\u201d[10]<\/a><\/p>\r\n It is in this sense that Blessed Paolo Manna wrote to his missionaries: \u201cThe missionary is by excellence a man of faith: born by faith, lives by faith, by faith works with joy, suffers with joy, suffers and dies.\u00a0 The missionary who does not live so is, at most, an apprentice in the apostolate, and will shortly be a hindrance to the mission, a failure of himself, and God forbid, he could be a cause of perdition for souls.\u201d[11]<\/a><\/p>\r\n For this very reason, this pledging all our strength<\/em> implies being soaked in the spirit of Christ to employ the gifts received with generosity, to do good to all, at all times, and in all places. It is spending our time and our goods, and even our physical forces, to remake the world in Christ. This may take place amidst many sacrifices, maybe even in very adverse circumstances, besieged by temptations and deep pains, but always united to Christ.\u00a0 I think of all of our missionaries, but in a particular way of those who are giving themselves in our most difficult missions in the midst of war, poverty and adversity.<\/p>\r\n In other words, pledging all our strength<\/em> means we must be bent on saving souls as Jesus Christ saved them: dying to Himself and dying on a cross.\u00a0 It means not turning back in the face of difficulties. Rather, understanding \u201cclearly that without Jesus Christ, we can do nothing,\u201d[12]<\/a> it means going forth with a magnanimous spirit to \u201cwork in supreme docility to the Holy Spirit and according to the example of the Virgin Mary, so that Jesus Christ will be the Lord of all that is truly human, even in the most difficult situations and under the most adverse conditions,\u201d[13]<\/a> as our Constitutions remind us. For, what is our missionary vocation other than loving God and our neighbor even until the sacrifice of oneself?<\/p>\r\n Convinced that there is no better program to offer to the world than Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, we should use all our strengths, sparing neither means nor effort to evangelize all men as best as possible. This must not be carried out in \u201ca decorative way, as if with a superficial varnish, but in a vital way, with depth, even to the very roots,\u201d[14]<\/a> with \u201can incisive pastoral approach, which is enthusiastic and which does not simply wait.\u201d This must be done in such a way that the Gospel sinks its roots deep into the life and the culture of every nation.\u00a0 This is our mission within the Church as religious of the Institute of the Incarnate Word.<\/p>\r\n Although in many places there is much good being done\u2014at times even heroically\u2014this should not limit our missionary and apostolic creativity<\/em> \u201cto extend the presence of Christ in families, education, the mass media, the scholarly, and in all other legitimate manifestations of human life.\u201d[15]<\/a>\u00a0 Evaluating different situations, we should be capable of taking initiatives, seeking effective solutions, without fearing unheard of pastoral works, as long as they are according to God, and of carrying out pastoral projects in such a way that one achieves an effective incorporation into the environment in which one works.[16]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Inculturation is a demand intrinsic to evangelization and it is nothing other than the incarnation of the divine message in the heart of culture.<\/p>\r\n In the words of St. John Paul II: \u201cthe inculturation of the Christian Good News is making the Gospel sink its roots into life and to culture so as to renew society.\u201d[17]<\/a> Our Directory of Spirituality affirms that \u201ctrue inculturation is from within: it consists, ultimately, of a renewal of life under the influence of grace,\u201d[18]<\/a> for which reason it is imperative to \u201cknow and respect the cultural soul of each people, their language and traditions, their qualities and values.\u201d[19]<\/a><\/p>\r\n \u201cExperience has taught us that evangelization is not really possible if the Gospel does not respond to the deepest desires of the people and if the message does not assume the concepts and cultural values that are proper to them and which are not contradictory to the Gospel.\u201d[20]<\/a> Therefore, \u201call that refers to man, either his body or his soul, in his individual life as well as social life, can and should be purified and elevated with the grace of Christ, and consequently, we may affirm that all forms of apostolic activities are in conformity with our specific end, although in a hierarchical way.\u201d[21]<\/a> From this surges the great variety of apostolic works that we can take on and to which we should never renounce a priori<\/em>, for as the Apostle says: Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! <\/em>[22]<\/a><\/p>\r\n I also wanted to mention here that in this work of inculturation we must not lose sight of the objective of salvation (which is our supreme objective), or in other words, we must place souls and cultural values face to face with the Gospel, inviting all to a conversion which divinizes and elevates that which is human. This takes place primarily by means of our personal witness, and so we must be the first ones who we should \u2018inculturate\u2019 in the spirit of the Gospel. How? By letting the power of the Gospel permeate thought patterns, standards of judgment, and norms of behavior.[23]<\/a> Only in this way will we be fruitful; only in this way will we awaken the vocations necessary to carry on our work.<\/p>\r\n Living the Gospel in a radical way, it becomes possible to obtain the discernment of authentic values, and its purification, transformation, and elevation by the grace of Christ.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n This is what our Founder reminds us of when he says: \u201cit is nothing other than the Gospel, the Gospel lived in all its radicalness\u2014as the saints did\u2014the only means capable of positively transforming modern culture, the contemporary culture of each people.\u201d[24]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Therefore, I want to encourage you to reread the Encyclical Redemptoris Missio, <\/em>which should illumine our missionary work, as well as \u201call the directives, guidelines, and teachings of the ordinary Magisterium which deal with the specific end of our small Religious Family.\u201d[25]<\/a><\/p>\r\n St. John Paul II said: \u201cToday the Church must face new challenges to which she must respond from the Gospel\u2026 I exhort you, that your preaching may always be inspired by the Word of God, passed on by tradition and proposed by the authority of the Magisterium of the Church.\u00a0 Speak with valiance, preach with deep faith, and encouraging hope, as witnesses of the Risen Lord. Do not consider yourselves as teachers aside from Christ, but as witnesses and servants that, as the words of the Roman Pontifical remind us in the ordination of priests, \u2018believe what they have read, and teach what they have believed, and practice what they have taught.\u2019\u201d[26]<\/a> In one word: coherence of life.<\/p>\r\n There are several implications that follow: firstly, we must take full advantage of the years of formation, dedicate quality time to ongoing formation, and nourish ourselves in an interior and intellectual manner. <\/strong>Particular attention should be given to the study of Sacred Scripture and of St. Thomas Aquinas,[27]<\/a> and along the same line, the best Thomists, such as Fr. Cornelio Fabro.[28]<\/a> It is through these studies that we will have the capacity to enter into the problematic of modern culture and to establish a fruitful dialogue between faith and culture, between the Gospel and our current society.<\/p>\r\n Secondly, it is very important that our religious, in our various missions, be promoters of culture<\/strong> as a means of diffusing the values of the Kingdom, especially in those environments and places where culture is \u201cmade\u201d and transmitted in a privileged way.[29]<\/a> For this end we must also make use of all means possible for Christ to be known and loved: whether it be by sending missionaries to those places we refer to as \u201cemblematic missions,\u201d or popular missions, through the preaching of truly Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, Catholic education, apostolic works with youth and children, especially Oratories and camps, family pastoral activities, the ever valid Catholic Culture Courses, publications of Catholic books, pastoral work with university students and professionals, and by the predilection for works of mercy (especially with the disabled). Many other means could be mentioned here, as long as they are always carried out within the footsteps of Mary.<\/p>\r\n It is worth making note that our Constitutions<\/em> point out \u201cin a particular way,\u201d the \u201curgent necessity for apostolic endeavors in the so-called \u2018modern Areopagi,\u2019\u201d[30]<\/a> the world of communication, of scientific investigation, and international relations.<\/p>\r\n Finally, I wanted to call to mind that evangelization of culture is clearly the redemption of culture.\u00a0 Redemption is accomplished when we fill up<\/em> what is lacking<\/em> in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church.<\/em>[31]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Referring to this, Blessed Paolo Manna wrote to his missionaries: \u201cWhen there is suffering, there is redemption.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Our Constitutions<\/em> also remind us that \u201cpastoral work is a cross for us, not an escape.\u201d[32]<\/a>\u00a0 And so, if we suffer\u2014continues the Blessed Missionary\u2014\u201cwe have every right to hope for good in the future for our missions and our Institute, being able to say with the Apostle Peter: But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.<\/em> If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you<\/em>.[33]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> Such hope may seem like folly, yet nevertheless, this and none other is the philosophy of the Apostolate, this is the diplomacy of God. If we know how to understand it, and living as holy missionaries, we know how to collaborate with it, we will achieve the final victory.\u201d[34]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Our crosses are, have always been, and always will be our strength.<\/p>\r\n *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n My dear brothers: making mine the words of the \u201cglobal missionary,\u201d our beloved John Paul the Great, I pray you to be conscious that: \u201cChrist has chosen you and sent you to announce his word and testify to the Christian faith passed on by the Church. He sends you, as sheep among wolves, to make present the mystery of the cross in the environments where you live.<\/p>\r\n \u201c[\u2026] Who would not be discouraged in the face of such objective difficulties, as are the lack of laborers, old age, sickness, lack of organizational structures and even shortage of financial means? Nevertheless, I say to you: Do not lose courage!<\/em> The recognition of our limits and weaknesses can be transformed into an occasion to experience the strength of God and the extraordinary richness of his grace [\u2026] Do not be afraid!<\/em> [35]<\/a> [\u2026] Precisely because the one who sends us is strong and is with us, we can say with St. Paul: For when I am weak, then I am strong<\/em> (2 Cor 12: 10).\u201d[36]<\/a><\/p>\r\n May neither sufferings nor difficulties intimidate us, but may they be for us an occasion to show our priestly disposition. May our generosity not diminish when it comes to responding to the imperative calling to countries that await missionaries, the urgent requests for foundations -both for our active and contemplative branches\u2014and to carry out great works for the love of God. Rather, let us be assured, even amidst our weakness, that God will do His works and will not leave us without reward for our efforts and our sacrifices. Today, the Incarnate Word repeats to us: In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world<\/em>.<\/em>[37]<\/a> I am with you always.<\/em>[38]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Giving thanks to God for the abundant blessings received in what have been nearly the first six months of government, I entrust to your prayers\u2014especially to the prayers of our coadjutor brothers, our monks, and sick religious\u2014the concretion of the projection of the Institute in the different parts of the world. I also exhort you to continue with fidelity and boldness in the fulfillment of our charism. \u201cOur field of action has no horizons, but rather, is the whole world, as Jesus said, Go into all the world.\u201d <\/em>[39]<\/a><\/p>\r\n \u201cMay she who was the first Missionary after her son Jesus Christ give to us souls and hearts as big as the world, which is the type of heart a missionary should have.\u201d[40]<\/a><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/p>\r\n Fr. Gustavo Nieto, IVE<\/p>\r\n General Superior<\/em><\/p>\r\n [1]<\/a> Cf. CICLSAL, Directives on Formation in Religious Institutes<\/em>, 17.<\/p>\r\n [2]<\/a> Directory of Consecrated Life<\/em>, 270; op. cit. CIC<\/em>, c 783.<\/p>\r\n [3]<\/a> Directory of Consecrated Life<\/em>, 24. cf. Lumen Gentium<\/em>, 44.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n [4]<\/a> Cf. Directory of Consecrated Life<\/em>, 116.<\/p>\r\n [5]<\/a> Directory of Consecrated Life<\/em>, 117.<\/p>\r\n [6]<\/a> Constitutions<\/em>, 5.<\/p>\r\n [7]<\/a> Redemptoris Missio<\/em>, 3.<\/p>\r\n [8]<\/a> Cf. Saint Thomas Aquinas, STh<\/em> 2-2, 188, 4.<\/p>\r\n [9]<\/a> 2 Cor 12:15.<\/p>\r\n [10]<\/a> Saint John Paul II, Meeting with priests, religious and lay people gathered in the Cathedral of Arezzo<\/em>, 23 May 1993.<\/p>\r\n [11]<\/a> Circular Letter VI<\/em>, 15 September 1926.<\/p>\r\n [12]<\/a> Directory of Spirituality<\/em>, 12; cf. Jn 15: 5.<\/p>\r\n [13]<\/a> Constitutions<\/em>, 30.<\/p>\r\n [14]<\/a> Cf, Directory of Evangelization of Culture<\/em>, 73.<\/p>\r\n [15]<\/a> Constitutions<\/em>, 31.<\/p>\r\n [16]<\/a> This is what we commonly refer to as \u201csinking our teeth into reality\u201d and which is one of the non-negotiable elements of the charism. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cf. Directory of the Missions Ad Gentes<\/em>, 90; V General Chapter Notes<\/em>, 5.<\/p>\r\n [17]<\/a> Cf. Saint John Paul II, To priests, religious and other pastoral workers of Luanda<\/em>, 4 June 1992.<\/p>\r\n [18]<\/a> Saint John Paul II, Address to the Bishops of Zimbabwe in Ad Limina Visit<\/em>, 2 July 1988.<\/p>\r\n [19]<\/a> Cf. Saint John Paul II, To priests, religious and other pastoral workers of Luanda<\/em>, 4 June 1992.<\/p>\r\n [20]<\/a> Ibid<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n [21]<\/a> Directory of Evangelization of Culture<\/em>, 152.<\/p>\r\n [22]<\/a> Cf. 1 Cor 9:16 (NAB Version).<\/p>\r\n [23]<\/a> Cf. Constitutions<\/em>, 26. Op. cit. Apostolic Constitution Sapientia Christiana<\/em>, 1.<\/p>\r\n [24]<\/a> Fr. Carlos Buela, IVE, Evangelization of Culture<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n [25]<\/a> Cf. Ibid<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n [26]<\/a> Cf. Saint John Paul II, Mass for priests, men and women religious of Santo Domingo<\/em> 10 October 1992; op. cit. Roman Pontifical, Rite for Ordination of Priests.<\/em><\/p>\r\n [27]<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u201c\u2026practical and technical formation should also be kept in mind.\u201d Cf. Second Vatican Council, Decree Apostolicam Actuositatem<\/em>, 29.<\/p>\r\n See also Directory of Missions Ad Gentes<\/em>, 116.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\r\n [28]<\/a> V General Chapter Notes<\/em>, 4.<\/p>\r\n [29]<\/a> Mentioned in our Directories<\/em> and Constitutions<\/em> as points of inflection of culture: Cf. Directory of Evangelization of Culture<\/em>, 168-174; Constitutions<\/em>, 29.<\/p>\r\n [30]<\/a> Constitutions<\/em>, 168.<\/p>\r\n [31]<\/a> Cf. Col 1: 24.<\/p>\r\n [32]<\/a> Constitutions<\/em>, 156.<\/p>\r\n [33]<\/a> 1 Pet 4: 13-14.<\/p>\r\n [34]<\/a> Circular Letter n.15, <\/em>15 April 1931.<\/p>\r\n [35]<\/a> Mt 28: 10.<\/p>\r\n [36]<\/a> Saint John Paul II, Homily at the Cathedral<\/em> Basilica of Esztergom, Hungary<\/em>, 16 August 1991.<\/p>\r\n [37]<\/a> Jn 16: 33.<\/p>\r\n [38]<\/a> Mt 28: 20.<\/p>\r\n1.\u00a0 We Pledge All Our Strength.<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
2.\u00a0 To Inculturate the Gospel.<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
3.\u00a0 In Accordance with the Teachings of the Magisterium of the Church.<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
4.\u00a0 Evangelizing Culture Is Redeeming It by the Cross.<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
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