Pope Francis urged not to neglect prayer in daily life and to pray “seriously” assiduously, when receiving in audience the members of the Congregation of the Spiritans, on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its foundation.
“Pray, don’t stop praying. And not just formal prayer, no, pray! Pray seriously!”, the Pontiff asked the members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, known as the Congregation of the Spiritans.
The current institution is the result of the union of two religious institutes: the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (established in 1703) and the Society of the Sacred Heart of Mary (of 1841).
Both congregations merged on April 26, 1848.
In his speech, the Holy Father insisted on not renouncing “courage” and “inner freedom”, which must be cultivated. “Look at each one with the eyes of Jesus, who wants to meet everyone, everyone!”
The Pope’s advice is to follow “the guidance of the Holy Spirit” in the mission, since He is the true protagonist and knows what is needed in each age and moment. “Let Him enlighten you, guide you, drive you.”
The Holy Father also urged them to announce the Gospel in a world in which “the challenge of interculturality and inclusion is alive and urgent”, both inside and outside the Church.
“There are many men and women who continue to need the Gospel,” he insisted. That is why evangelization is required “not only in the so-called ‘mission lands,’ but also in the old and tired West,” he noted.