![]() ![]() It has remained impressed on me.Īnd service is a service of hope. This is the first idea that comes to mind, but still thinking of the year 1957, when these two brothers of yours spoke to me about the spirituality of the congregation. Meditate on this name of yours: servants of Our Lady, the handmaid of the Lord, who as Lord became a servant, Jesus. “That I must also renounce certain freedoms in order to become a servant?”. “Does this mean that I must be a slave?” Yes. …He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (cf. This is precisely the path taken by the Word: “He emptied Himself. Your Alessio made a choice: he was a servant by choice, in order to become a saint. ![]() The other Saint Alexius had also become a beggar, he lived under the stairs. Never stray from that founding grace that is being a servant. And they make themselves her servants, so that she may lead them precisely in this way of service. The word “service” is also the one Our Lady says to the Angel: “I am the servant, I am here to serve”. They went to pray and then they did all their work. But Our Lady brought us Jesus! And your Founders understood this, they understood and they became servants. And those great merchants – because they had money, they were not without it – in the end left everything to become servants, servants of Our Lady, because they understood the role of Our Lady in redemption, a role that so often the so-called “modern” theologies forget. She enables Jesus to be born, she raises Him grow, and then she makes the Church grow. In this there is a great relationship with what Our Lady does. He says: “I must be present – in meditation – as a servant who helps Our Lady to do what she must Bethlehem, in the crib”. The phrase “Servants of Mary” makes me think of something that Saint Ignatius puts in his meditation on the birth of Jesus. I will give it to you so that you may give it to everyone. So, today, you “staked one and earned two”: take with you this written speech, and also what I will tell you now. I was struck by that testimony, and this is what I want to tell you. And I was so enthusiastic that, throughout my life, from that moment on, I celebrate with particular love the 17th of February, even with Mass. This way of service, of humiliation, of the humble journey. It is the word “servant”, “service”, in the service of Our Lady. To see rich men, merchants - indeed, Florentines – who were able to make this decision for Our Lady. You grow old in life! They told me the story of Alessio Falconieri and the other six, and I was enthusiastic about this as an example of holiness. At that time there were two of you who were studying there. I will give it to you, because since yesterday, when I saw that I would meet you today, my memory turned to the year 1957, to the Seminary of Villa Devoto. TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GENERAL CHAPTERĮxcuse me if I remain seated, as I am not going to read the written speech.
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