By way of conclusion

21.  “Be careful what you do and where you place the foundation”. In these words of

Augustine we pick up his whole experience.  It enriches us, too, in our strenuous efforts to penetrate “the mystery of man” through the Word, scientific investigation, and through experience gathered and organized in the cultures of peoples.  Today we are not about narrating our past or spending time describing present situations; we are about continuing to build, with the risks that that brings and in amazement  before the unfolding and beauty of life.  Thinking again about the experience of the young religious men and women of “Vidimus Dominum”, I went to re-read the long article that I wrote in “Informationes Scris” to report the experience.  “Young people will not be repeaters, but gift with their own unrepeatable originality, as is also every consecrated person with a face carved out of suffering for the Gospel. And it is this which, in the communion of gift, enriches and revitalizes persons and communities, gives a new face to holiness and mission, in the proclamation of the Father’s love in Christ Jesus.  The proper charism is revived.  Revisited and welcomed, the charism develops (cf. MR 11) and manifests, because it progresses, new potentialities capable of responding effectively to the challenges that society faces.  All this life is given to humanity, which in turn progresses and matures. Holiness and fraternity flourish, as do collaboration and communion, culture and commitment.  The history of peoples testifies to this. The Reign of God spreads also in this way and increasingly takes on a cosmic dimension, according to the Father’s plan.”

22.  The mystery of the Cross will always remain the heart of formation.  Formation evolves

along the axis of the Following of Christ and bears the traits of the Paschal Mystery, which is a mystery of life, source of fullness, regeneration of humanity.

            Our religious families, like every charism of consecrated life, are born in the “contemplation of the Crucified Christ”.  Every vocation “is fruit of the divine love” that envelopes the person, sustains her/him, and fills her/his heart. ³⁷ “In this way (consecrated life) helps the Church to remain aware that the Cross is the superabundance of God’s love poured out upon this world, and that it is the great sign of Christ’s saving presence,…”. ³⁸

            This is what we must instill in our young men and women through our witness of fidelity “to our one Love”.

            These are only notes to recall the reality in which we live and to nourish our hope.  It is a matter of giving a new soul to the world being born, to the new age inhabited by planetary man.  It is necessary to be able to think “big”, that is according to the measure of the love of the Father who sent his only Son, not to condemn the world but to save it: “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation for those who believe”. (Rom 1:16) Faith and the Word do not make us “narrow” persons, but open us to the plan of the Father and to the world, as “cooperators” of Christ Savior.  This is a time of great trials and great gifts of God, of great challenges and great responsibilities. It is the time to “build the builders” of the Civilization of Love in the Third Millennium.

Rome, 19 October 2002.

Fr. Sante Bisignano, omi