CONCLUSION

I’ll put off for the discussion which will follow, the answers to your possible objections or requests for further clarifications which there will probably be, and which you will can ask me.  But before concluding I feel a duty to recall two aspects that ought to mark the spirit not only of the individual consultor, but of the council as one body.

I am referring, first of all, to the need for a loving understanding of the complexity of life, in general, of the life of the Church, of the Congregation, of the province and of the particular community, especially. It is a question not only of understanding, that is, of being able to observe and grasp, but also of a loving understanding /comprehension; that is full and accompanied by love and affection. At the least, it’s a matter of not becoming angry with it (complexity of life) and of seeing it has a chance to progress on the road to holiness.

The second aspect regards the necessity, for the consultor, to have mercy and love for the poverties/brokenness  of the brothers/sisters and of the congregation, joined with patience and forbearance which, however, will never decline into permissiveness or betrayal of the truth.

The reminder of all these qualities that ought to characterize the figure of the consultor and the council is not so much to discourage us in face of the greatness of the duty assigned to those whom the Lord calls to this office, as rather to pray the Lord to grant us these gift, knowing that they pass through his rationality, his goodness, his commitment, his sensitivity and his trust.  Thank you!