Meeting with the Franciscan Community (12 May 1982)

On Wednesday, 12 May 1982, the Holy Father met with the Franciscan Community, and the City Council of Lisbon as well, in the Church of Saint Anthony. The Pope spoke on the Franciscan Movement, which spread the Faith throughout the world.

Most excellent Mr. President and Councilors
of the City Council of Lisbon,
beloved children of Saint Francis,
my brothers and sisters.

1. Grateful for the illustrious presence of the most excellent City Council and for yours, I greet everyone with Franciscan joy. And using the Word of the Apostle, I begin by saying to the beloved Franciscans: "First of all, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the fame of your faith spreads throughout the whole world" ( Rom 1, 8). And St. Anthony, whom we are honoring at this time and in this place, contributed greatly to this.

Here, in this house, transformed at the right time into an oratory by the authorities of the Municipality of Lisbon, Saint Anthony of Lisbon, also invoked as Saint Anthony of Padua, was born at the end of the 12th century. According to the happy expression of my predecessor Leo XIII, he is "the Saint of the whole world". In this month of May, and precisely on the 30th, we commemorate the seven hundred and fifty years of his canonization, a fact to which well-known traditions of popular sentiment must be connected (cf. Léon de Kerval, Sancti Antonii de Padua Vitae duae , Paris 1904, 116 -117).

This year the eighth centenary of the birth of Saint Francis of Assisi is also celebrated throughout the world. We therefore have a double reason to rejoice. And in this hour, I would like to make the words of Pope Pius XII my own, exclaiming: “Exulta, Lusitania felix!”. In particular, rejoice, Franciscans of Portugal! May the authorities and people of Lisbon rejoice! Rejoice, all you Portuguese scattered around the world.

2. The Franciscan movement - it is a source of satisfaction for me to remember it on this occasion - has had a profound impact on the souls of the people of Portugal; and not only in that of humble and illiterate people: it was the children of Saint Francis, as is known, that the Holy See often resorted to, to make them its own intermediary and spokesperson in the presence of monarchs and nobles, to smooth out disputes, to remember, with humility but also with firmness, duties and obligations.

The missionary vocation of the Portuguese Franciscans, immediately after Saint Anthony, is demonstrated by their sending to the East in the century. XIII, of Fra Lorenzo of Portugal by Pope Innocent IV (cf. Antonino Franchi, The political-ecclesiastical turning point between Rome and Byzantium , 1249-1254, Rome 1981, 15, 16, 37, 74, 123, 127, 128 , 161). And it is known that the Rule of the Friars Minor includes an entire chapter on missions ( Regula Bullata , chap. 12, Regula non Bullata , chap. 16, ed. Caietanus Esser, OFM, Opuscula sancti Patris Francisci Assisiensis , Grottaferrata 1978, 237-238 , 268-271). It was this spirit that took them to Africa, India, Brazil, Ceylon and the Far East. Thus, the presence of the sons and daughters of Saint. Francis in Portugal, in the Portuguese-speaking countries on the various continents, is rich in works of evangelization, assistance, teaching and parish service.

I would like to underline here the importance of the small and humble cloistered convents, where the spirit of the Founder and of Saint Clare continues alive, prayers are continually raised from here so that the multiple and active work of the other brothers and sisters "does not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion, to which all other things must be subordinated” ( Regula Bullata , chapter 5, ed. Esser. Opuscula , 231) as the Rule says. How I wish I had some time to reflect with you on this point! Prayer is always the soul of evangelization, the soul of the entire apostolate, our great spiritual strength.

3. Inspired by the radiant sympathy of Saint Anthony, even among young people, praiseworthy initiatives in favor of youth started from Portugal, especially in the last century, which then extended to other parts of the world. May these Antonian commemorations serve as a stimulus to intensify Franciscan interest in young people, in accordance with the directives of the universal Church and in a spirit of collaboration with the local Churches, according to the guidelines of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony.

And I would not like to leave the Tertiary Order, which I know is active and renewing among you, without a kind word. It is the hope of the Church and the Pope's trust that it will rejuvenate, well in tune with the Second Vatican Council, with new forces and with the enthusiasm of those who feel they are "a leaven in the masses" and a participant in the mission of Christ.

4. The biographical profile of the Portuguese Wonderworker, universally venerated, is, beloved sons and daughters of Saint Francis, well known by all of you: from the school of the Cathedral opposite, to Saint Vincent of Outside, up to the Holy Cross of Coimbra, he he is a traveler evangelically in love with God, in search of greater internalization and a more intense way of living the religious ideal embraced in his youth, among the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine. After being ordained a priest in Coimbra, his anxiety for a more radical response to the divine call led him to develop the intention of greater dedication and love for God, in the ardent desire to be a missionary and martyr in Africa. With this intention he became a Franciscan.

Providence, however, set Brother Anthony on his way through the lands of Italy and France. In his first experiences as a Franciscan he accepted adversities, faithful to the ideal, and responded with joy to divine plans, in a total commitment to generous service, praying and teaching theology to the friars, with a patient attitude, like the worker who waits, until let the rain come early and the rain late, until the Lord manifests himself in some way (cf. Jas 5, 7). What a beautiful life lesson, brothers and sisters! He then spent his brief existence reaching the point of exercising, always serving with humility, the role of Minister or Superior in the Order. Upon his death, which occurred at the age of about 40, the words of Wisdom could have been repeated about him: "Having quickly reached perfection, he completed a long career" ( Wis 4, 13).

His teaching and ministry of the Word, like his existence as a friar and priest, are marked by his love for the Church, inculcated by the Rule ( Regula non Bullata , chap. 17, ed. Esser, Opuscula , 271). “He is an exegete who is very expert in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures; eminent theologian in penetrating dogmas, eminent doctor and teacher in dealing with ascetic and mystical topics", as Pope Pius XII would say (Pius XII, Exulta, Lusitania Felix : AAS 38 [1946] 201. Lopes, S. António de Lisboa , 296-297), insistently announces the Word (cf. 2 Tim 4, 2), moved by the evangelizing desire to "return the errant to paths of righteousness". He does it, however, with the freedom of a poor heart, faithful to God, faithful to his response to God, in adherence to Christ and in conformity with the directives of the Church. True communion with Christ requires that real harmony be cultivated and put into practice with the ecclesial community, governed by legitimate Pastors.

5. The Evangelical Doctor still speaks to the men of our time, above all pointing out to them the Church, the vehicle of Christ's salvation. The Saint's uncorrupted language and his phonetic apparatus, found marvelously intact, seem to attest to the perennial nature of his message. The voice of Brother Anthony, through the Sermons, is still alive and penetrating: in particular, his guidelines contain a lively appeal for the religious of our day, called by the Second Vatican Council to bear witness to the holiness of the Church and fidelity to Christ , as collaborators of the Bishops and priests. (S. Antonii Patavini, O. Min. Doctoris Evangelici Sermones Dominicales et Festivi , Dominica II de Adventu, Patavii 1979, 478-491. Trans. HENRIQUE PINTO REMA, OFM, Santo António de Lisboa . Obras Completes , Lisboa 1970, 39- 43).

Saint Francis' greeting to Brother Anthony is very well known: he wrote to him as follows: "I am happy that you read theology to the friars, counting that, in such study, the spirit of prayer and devotion, as they are, will not be lost. contained in the Rule” ( Epist. ad Sanctum Antonium , critical ed. Esser, Opuscula , chap. IV, 95. HENRIQUE PINTO REMA, OFM, Santo António de Lisboa . Obras Quales , I, Lisboa 1970, XVII). And an esteemed theologian attests that the Evangelical Doctor knew how to remain faithful to this principle: “. . . As an example of John the Baptist, he burned in the same way; and from such ardor came the light: it was a lamp that burned and shone" (cf. Francisco da Gama Caeiro, Santo António de Lisboa , I, Lisboa 1967, 147-148). For this reason, Saint Anthony has remained in history as the precursor of the Franciscan School, permeated by the wisdom and practical purpose of knowledge.

6. Dear brothers and sisters.

I know that the Cardinal Patriarch, the City Council of Lisbon and the Franciscan Family are making every effort to ensure that a large temple, future Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Anthony is erected in this City, also to perpetuate the devotion of the Portuguese communities scattered throughout the world. Beautiful and commendable initiative! Would that it could gather all the Portuguese around the great Saint Anthony of Lisbon, in unity of faith and harmony of hearts, for the glory of God.

But this material temple must above all be an expression of the fact that "you too are used as living stones for the construction of a spiritual building" (cf. 1 Pt 2, 5), with life, ministry and apostolic service, which must be always bearers of evangelical values. May the example of Saint Anthony penetrate deeply into your soul, so that you continue his work, as dispensers of the salvation and goodness of Christ, and servants of his Church, with the testimony and announcement of the Good News.

Your consecrated life and your collaboration to spread the Gospel are for me reasons of courage and joy in my mission as Pastor of the universal Church. May God help you and call many others to follow Christ in religious life, according to the spirit of the "Poverello di Assisi", as Saint Anthony was able to assimilate him. Through his intercession I implore “Peace and Good” for everyone with my apostolic blessing.
 

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