"Go Out, Head for the Periphery” (Pope Francis)

Kandinsky, Murnau View from Window of Griesbrau. Photo by Sharon Mollerus.A public conversation with Sean Card O’MALLEY, Archbishop of Boston, on his experience of the Church and her love for the human person, led by Msgr. Lorenzo ALBACETE.

What is happening in the Catholic Church? Pope Francis keeps surprising the world and Cardinal O’Malley has the grace to be near him. Msgr. Albacete, will discuss with his old-time friend, Cardinal O’Malley, about his life-long experience of embracing the wounds and challenges of people and about how his experience can help us to follow in the Pope’s footsteps.  

There were “bad times” under the Romans too. But Jesus came. He did not spend the years of His life complaining or denouncing the “bad times.” He cut it short. In a very simple way. By building Christianity.

He did not end up indicting or accusing anybody. He saved. He did not indict the world. He saved the world.

(Charles Peguy, Veronique)

“A Church which “goes forth” is a Church whose doors are open. Going out to others in order to reach the fringes of humanity does not mean rushing out aimlessly into the world. Often it is better simply to slow down, to put aside our eagerness in order to see and listen to others, to stop rushing from one thing to another and to remain with someone who has faltered along the way. At times we have to be like the father of the prodigal son, who always keeps his door open so that when the son returns, he can readily pass through it.

Let us go forth, then, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ. Here I repeat for the entire Church what I have often said to the priests and laity of Buenos Aires: I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life. More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: “Give them something to eat” (Mk 6:37)”

(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 46, 49)