The 18th General Chapter of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will begin on July 4, 2022. In occasion of the Chapter, the Holy Father sent a message to the Congregation. Founded by Blessed Clelia Merloni on May 30, 1894 in Viareggio (Lucca), the Congregation is present in 15 countries and lives in contemplation of the Heart of Christ, source of love. The Apostles are sent to evangelize by word and life, revealing God’s merciful love.
Mother Miriam Cunha Sobrinha, from Brazil, superior general of the congregation since 2016, told Vatican News that "Pope Francis encourages us by saying that we specialize in entrusting to God the wounds and thorns of humanity and the Church," adding, "the most painful wounds can be healed if immersed in the wellspring of infinite Mercy which is the Heart of Jesus."
She added that “the Holy Father’s words encourage us to reflect on how we are living the dimension of reparation that is proper to the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus, as well as the charism that Mother Clelia lived deeply in her life as an Apostle. From this reflection it is necessary to take a step forward, ‘trusting unlimitedly in the Heart of Jesus,' as the Blessed taught us."
Reflecting on the teachings of Pope Francis' pontificate, especially for the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she said, "Pope Francis' teaching is a gift to the Church and very important for us Apostles, because it makes us enter deeply into the dimension of reparation. In particular, I emphasize his exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which speaks clearly to us about the various types of poverty in humanity. I also cite his encyclical Laudato sì, which calls us to repair the damage done to the environment.
And finally, Pope Francis’ Bull of the Jubilee of Mercy has helped us reflect on the mercy of the Heart of Christ since, as Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it teaches us that ‘mercy is the way God has chosen to manifest his omnipotence’. (see no. 6).
The foundress of the congregation, Blessed Clelia Merloni, is in the process of canonization. On the day of her beatification, Pope Francis called Mother Clelia a woman who transmitted to the world a "luminous witness to the Gospel."
Regarding the expectations for this moment, the superior general told us, "Our General Chapter takes place every six years and the expectations of the Apostles are many, because it is a time to review the path the Congregation has taken. It is a great revitalizing congregational and ecclesial event because it brings with it the hopes of renewing our consecrated life and its mission in the world. In the Chapter we revisit our charismatic origins and seek to listen again to the heart of our Foundress, Blessed Clelia Merloni. The theme of our Chapter is "Love with the Heart of Jesus and see with the eyes of Clelia." This is a good challenge for all of us because this Chapter, which begins on July 4 and ends on July 30, 2022, will address the updating of the rules, that is, the Constitutions. The desire is to update the way we express our charism and make it concrete in the current situation of the Church, in order to respond with greater generosity and prophecy to the appeals of humanity.
The act of reparation is relevant today and the need to redeem human dignity and help people make a journey of conversion based on Gospel values is always present. The Heart of Jesus, source of love, mercy, compassion and tenderness is the answer to the restlessness of the human heart.
When asked about the Chapter’s best moment and its importance, Mother Miriam told us, "I will say that the most powerful time will be found in the communion and sharing among us, despite the great differences in mentality and culture that characterize us as an international Institute. Although each Apostle delegate to the Chapter has within her heart dreams and yearnings proper to her culture, God's will manifests itself in the communion of the members despite those differences.
We are all called to look at the current reality of the Institute and map out a new pathway for the 2022-2028 term. A Chapter in itself has a high degree of importance, but this Chapter requires of us a greater openness of heart to build together our "Institutional Identity" and succinctly manifest the constituent values of our Charism, our Vision as "Apostles of Christ's Love" and our Mission in the world as a continuation of Clelia's mission.
Another powerful moment will be to welcome into the Institute and canonically recognize the GFASC group (Great Family of the Sacred Heart) as an association of lay people linked to the Institute of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. through their lived experience of the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus and the charism of Mother Clelia. It will be a great joy for the Apostles and for families spread throughout the countries in which the Institute is present. To have a group of lay people living our spirituality and charism confirms the fruitfulness and relevance of the charism that Clelia received from the Holy Spirit."
By Marilia de Paula Siqueira, Vatican City
Source: Vaticannews.va
