We present below the letter from Fr. Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC to the members of Regnum Christi, where he invites reflection on the role of Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, CS, as Papal Delegate, and during the stage of purification and renewal of the Legion and Regnum Christi. At the end of the letter, an pdf file is provided with excerpts from the texts of Cardinal De Paolis, which Fr. Eduardo also sends in his letter to the members of the Movement. Cardinal Velasio passed away on September 9th, after several months of fighting cancer.
Thy Kingdom Come!
September 26, 2017
To the members of Regnum Christi
Dearly beloved in Jesus Christ:
A few days ago, I wrote you a brief note to inform you of the passing of Cardinal Velasio De Paolis. I now address you with a bit more calm to share some reflections following his departure and on what his person has meant for the Legion and the Movement.
Our Lord God, in His providence, manifested through the maternal solicitude of the Church, wanted him to be His instrument to lead, as Papal Delegate, the vessel of this work of God that is the Legion and Regnum Christi during particularly difficult moments in our history. Throughout those years of great challenges, He knew how to guide and accompany us with paternal care in our process of purification and renewal. We thank God for this, with the certainty that his efforts and struggles have contributed to deserving to now enjoy His eternal glory.
Last Monday, September 11th, a group of Legionary priests concelebrated the funeral Mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, at St. Peter’s Basilica, in which a large group of our religious also participated. Days later, on September 19th, in the chapel of the Legionaries of Christ International College, we celebrated a Mass for the eternal rest of his soul, in which, in addition to Cardinal Velasio’s family members, Mons. Brian Farrell and Legionaries, consecrated men and women present in Rome, along with some laypeople, participated.
I believe that in our current process of renewing the Statutes of Regnum Christi, it can help us continue to mature and assimilate the lessons that the Papal Delegate left us during the years he accompanied us.
As soon as Cardinal Velasio was appointed delegate, in his letter of July 10, 2010, he told us: “The path of renewal is not to question one’s vocation, but to reconsider it thoroughly and renew one’s adhesion to it with a new spirit and a more intense participation.” And in a question-and-answer session held in Rome on September 17, 2012, he reminded us: “Renewal does not properly mean aggiornamento. While aggiornamento is more cultural, renewal is more spiritual. Aggiornamento concerns structures. Renewal concerns people.”
Let us pray to God that, above all, we seek to renew our adhesion to Him and to what He asks of us in our vocation to Regnum Christi. This is the best guarantee to successfully carry out the renewal process in which we are currently engaged. May the Blessed Virgin continue to watch over us and obtain from Her Son the necessary graces to make Regnum Christi an effective instrument for personal encounter with Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls within the Church.
Assuring you of my prayers for you and your loved ones, I bid farewell, with great affection in Christ and the Movement,
Fr. Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC
Annex:
