he missionary knows that his presence in the midst of the people is a source of security, strength and hope. He is happy to be in the mission and does not want to abandon his people even when the situation is difficult and, as it often is, dangerous," said father Aquileo Fiorentini, superior general of the missionaries of the Consolata in occasion of the 14th day of missionary martyrs.
The Brazilian priest stressed that there can also be “the martyrdom and you can see the martyrdom in Europe especially in work situations". Father Aquileo commented that "the missionary does not stay in the mission for a personal cause but for Jesus and his Church”. This day, he said, is the occasion to “remember all Christians and missionaries, who died for the Gospel recalling the Christian community toward an evangelical coherence". Father Aquileio exhorted the missionaries involved in the South not “to have fear and not to flee from situations of threats and
suffering".
Fr. Luigi Menegazzo, of the Xaverian Missionaries, sees in martyrdom “a help to deepen the vocation for missionaries.” The total self-giving to Christ, the total gift of one’s life, the care to the weakest members of the world in the work of evangelization are key-points, according to Fr. Luigi, both for consecrated and lay people. In fact, he sees “the gift of the Spirit” as the sustaining force, which urges the missionary to remain even in dangerous situations: “Human skills and energies will not sustain you. There is an interior strength who tell you ‘you remain here’, and gives you a personal serenity, which is indeed not a lack of awareness of situations or light-hearted understanding of events. Whoever gives one’s life is a bright lighthouse!”
Honoring the memory of mission martyrs, and in particular Msgr. Oscar A. Romero who was killed on March 24 1980, Fr. Menegazzo added: “They are witnesses we have at times met personally. They are close to us, and that gives us the reason to be more trusting and daring in the work of first proclamation. Msgr. Romero is not someone who is dead, who is in the past. He is present still, and gives us an example for us to follow.
"The total self-giving to Christ, the total gift of one’s life, the care to the weakest members of the world in the work of evangelization are
key-points both for consecrated and lay people."
Fr. Luigi Menegazzo
Fr. Luigi Menegazzo was a missionary to Japan, and took the opportunity to bring a message to the Asian church, inviting “this small Christian community to feel part of a greater Church.” He also encouraged the Christians in the world who do not live in oppressive or dangerous situations “to speak with clarity, and witness with pride their faith.”
“Today the Church calls on all Christian communities to remember the missionaries who gave their lives in mission nations, in particular the 27 missionaries killed in 2005. This day primarily marks the martyrdom of Jesus who is in every Christian disciple. Only the bond with Jesus consents full comprehension of the total donation of oneself in martyrdom”, as stated by Father Gian Battista Zanchi, General Superior of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions (PIME), on the occasion of the 14th day of fasting and prayer called by the Church for the missionary martyrs.
Fr. Zanchi reiterated the source of the mission, i.e. “the summoning of the Lord that calls for totality and definitiveness” in the donation of oneself. One does not “go on a mission as a tourist” for a visit, to then return to their country of origin. “Each missionary must not forget that martyrdom is within the mission”, stated Fr. Zanchi. Martyrdom is also “testifying one’s faith and coherently living the Gospel in silence, daily”, continued the missionary. He added that “today there are many lay people and volunteers who are martyrs in their every-day commitment and that “this day is not only for the religious or priests”.
In marking the anniversary of the death of Monsignor Oscar Romero, killed in San Salvador 26 years ago, Fr. Zanchi denounced the malicious “political reading” often used in regard to the life of Bishop Romero, moved by the Gospel in his commitment to the people. This is however the motive why many missionaries remain in numerous countries of the World’s South who are in difficult situations, such as Congo, Burundi, Indonesia, Colombia, Guatemala. Even these situations are source of joy for the missionaries.
(From MISNA)