A Mission Of Renewal

Saint Theophanes the Recluse (+1894), who had abandoned the archiepiscopate for a monastery in order to fully dedicate himself to the ministry of the Word and to prayer, said in one of his pastoral letters: "What the Russian Church most needed, was "a band of firebrands," which would set the world on fire". How wonderful the timeliness of these words is, and even how wonderful their ability to transcend the boundaries. Today, the Church, any Church, needs people who have been captured by the Spirit of God for the mission of renewing themselves and their Church. Everywhere, there is something which is not of God, and should not continue. Everywhere, there is always a mission of renewal awaiting to be taken care of by someone. Renewal cannot be improvised. Wherever we opt to live, this needs that we, too, dedicate ourselves to the Word and to prayer. Do not linger in waiting or in postponing. These are words for you for the sake of renewing us all today, clergy and laity.