Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family were enlightened by Pope Francis to learn from the Holy Family, embrace littleness, and have a massive impact by listening silently to God’s voice, maintaining a strong personal prayer life, and living out synodality together.
Pope Francis has called on religious sisters to be powerful prophets of humble listening so that by listening to God’s voice they might be empowered to go against the current and ‘noise,’ to bring God’s love to all without distinction.
The Pope gave this encouragement as he addressed members of the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family on Monday in the Vatican.
Pope Francis told the nuns on Monday morning that it was a joy for him to welcome them, especially as they celebrate their 23rd General Chapter.
Acknowledging the religious sisters came from different corners of the world, the Pope said this is “beautiful because it indicates that you really live a spirit of welcome and universal fraternity, in accordance with your special relationship with the ‘Holy Family.'”
“This attitude, typical of a family environment, is expressed in the motto of the General Chapter, which revolves around two ideas: humble listening and synodality.”
These, he highlighted, are inspiring words, which have deep roots in religious life.
God’s voice drives us to love endlessly
Listening, he pointed out, requires first of all silence, “deep, inner silence.”
“The prophecy that Jesus asks of us is precisely to go against this current, to seek silence, to separate ourselves from the world, from the noise.”