Pope Francis Urges Religious Orders to Embrace Obedienceโฃ as Love,Listen for Godโ in Those in need
Vatican โCity – Pope Francis delivered a powerful message to leaders of several Catholic religious orders onโฃ Thursday,emphasizing that true obedience isโ notโ submission,but a profound act of loveโ andโ attentive listening. Addressing participants of the General Chapters and Assemblies โฃof the Most Precious Blood Missionaries, the Society of Maryโฃ (Marists), the Franciscan Friars โคof โขthe Immaculate, and the Ursulinas of Mary Immaculate, theโฃ Pope urged them to discern theโฃ voice of โคGod within โขthe needs ofโ the vulnerable.
“Obedience, in its deepest meaning of activeโ and generous โlistening of โขthe other, isโ a โgreat actโ of love,” theโฃ Pope stated, highlighting aโ core tenet of consecrated life. He challenged the religious leaders โขto moveโฃ beyond a modern perception of obedience as aโฃ restriction of freedom,โฃ and instead embrace it as a โข”school โof freedomโข in love” โ- a โwillingness to sacrifice self for the growth and well-being of others.
The meeting,heldโ at the Vatican,provided an chance โคfor Pope Francis to reflect on the historical foundations and enduring values of these diverse congregations. He lauded the “splendid and varied” testimonies of the institutes, noting theirโ origins in responding โฃto the specific needs of their times, guidedโ by the Holy Spirit.
He โspecifically cited examples of pioneering founders: โBlessed Jesus Morello, who championed the education of โคyoung women
