The third day was marked by the encounter of the legionaries with the Pope, a Eucharistic celebration with Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, and the start of working groups to review the topics chosen on the first day.
Additionally, the space for reviewing the regulations of the 2030 General Convention was opened.
The agenda of the third day of the General Convention was framed by moments of special remembrance. In the morning, during the general audience every Wednesday, Pope Francis sent greetings to Regnum Christi and to the 20 neo priests of the Legion of Christ who were ordained on Saturday, April 27:
“Greetings to the Spanish-speaking pilgrims, in particular to the Regnum Christi Federation, to the Legionaries of Christ who have received priestly ordination these days, and to their families, as well as to the formators and students of the various study centers. May the Lord, through the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker, Father in obedience, increase our gift of faith and allow us to open our minds to His divine mystery. May Jesus bless us and the Holy Virgin take care of them.”
Of interest: “Remaining as friends of Jesus”. Chronicle of the 2024 Ordinations
Then, at noon, the Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and former Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University (Bio of Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda), who accompanied Regnum Christi on the path of renewal and who in 2019 gave pontifical approval to the constitutions of the society of apostolic life Consecrated of Regnum Christi and the society of apostolic life Laity of Regnum Christi, as well as the approval of the statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation.
After welcoming words from Father John Connor, L.C., general director of the Legionaries of Christ, Cardinal Ghirlanda, in his homily, commented: “I am very pleased to preside over this Eucharist with you because we are at a moment of acting on a long journey we have traveled together for years.” He offered reflections aimed at discernment:
“In the face of concrete problems of life, they are brought before Christ to discuss together; discern, be docile to the Spirit to find out what God’s will is. This is the direction that Pope Francis currently wants for the entire Church; living this synodal dimension in which each one, with personal responsibility, participates in discernment and in building a decision that signifies docility to the Spirit.”
He then addressed fatigue and difficulties that may arise on the way: “Many times the journey can be tiring, it can be difficult, but shared deliberation guarantees that it aligns with what the Spirit wants. And for this reason, it can be better received, observed, and put into practice. But all this is possible, as the Gospel suggests, only if each one is deeply united to Christ. Because only if we are united to Christ do our actions bear fruit. This is what Jesus tells us in the Gospel we have read. Only if we are united to Christ, as the vine’s branches are to the vine, can we produce fruit. Separated from Christ, we do not bear fruit and are useless.”
He concluded by inviting delegates to be docile to the Holy Spirit: “And therefore, if you truly maintain this docility to the Spirit, in this way you will give glory to God because you will advance the work you have to do to fulfill the mission that God has given to Regnum Christi.”
At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Ghirlanda shared a meal with the 120 delegates forming the ordinary General Convention of Regnum Christi. Félix Gómez Rueda, general director of the Laity of Consecrated Life and member of the General Steering Committee, thanked the Cardinal for his closeness during these years. He also asked him to continue accompanying Regnum Christi on this gradual path being traveled.
In the afternoon, two plenary sessions were held where teams could present the group work they carried out yesterday.
If you want to learn more about the ordinary General Convention of Regnum Christi, you can visit: https://www.convenciongeneralrc.org/convencion-2024/
