We publish here the English translation of the Papal Message of His Holiness John Paul II to the participants of the General Chapter of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. The Chapter was presided by Cardinal Agostino Mayer, former head of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

Audience of John Paul II with the participants in the General Chapter of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate
(L’Osservatore Romano, June 16, 2000, p. 4 – our translation from the Italian)

"Let your FIAT to God be like that of Mary: central energizer of Her mission and secret of Her success"

"Let your model be Mary who responded so promptly to the designs of God: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. Her FIAT was the central energizer of Her mission. So, too, your FIAT to God will be the secret of success of your mission." Thus Pope John Paul II addressed the participants in the General Chapter of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, received in private audience Thursday morning, June 15, 2000. Here is the complete text of the Holy Father’s address:

Dear Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate!

1. I am happy to receive you and I thank you for the visit whereby, on the occasion of your first General Chapter you have desired to manifest to the successor of St. Peter your sentiments of filial communion. I greet your Superior General, Sister Maria Francesca Perillo, and with her the Reverend Fathers Stefano Maria Manelli and Gabriele Maria Pellettieri, Founders of your Institute. I greet each of you as well. Your presence offers me the pleasant occasion of extending an affectionate remembrance to each of your Sisters present in different parts of the world, where they are engaged in works of evangelization and of assistance to persons experiencing various forms of need.

The capitular sessions were held during the year of the Great Jubilee, a happy coincidence which will surely help you to reflect with special intensity on your mission, according to the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, and of him who in our times knew so well how to actuate the spirit of St. Francis efficaciously, St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. His heroic witness in living the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience was crowned with martyrdom through the supreme sacrifice of life for love of Christ and the brethren.

By keeping your face fixed on Christ and supported by the help of St. Francis and St. Maximilian you can fully realize your mission in the Church and in the world.

2. The inspiration for the entire life of St. Maximilian Kolbe was the Immaculate. Your Institute, consecrated to the Immaculate, in addition to the three traditional religious vows rests on the "Marian vow", whereby each religious is totally consecrated to Mary for the coming of the Kingdom of Christ in the world.

Let the contemplation of the wonders which the heavenly Father has worked in the humble maiden of Nazareth ever orient your consecrated life in the demanding journey of sanctification, on the hems of Her who entirely consecrated to the service of God was constituted our Mother, Mother of the Church and of the whole of mankind.

Imitate Mary’s care in the service of neighbor, seeking always to be assiduous in work and zealous in the apostolate. Let this be the style of your activity in the Church; let this be the distinctive sign of your work of evangelization and mission: keeping your heart attentive to the needs of every human being. As consecrated persons and especially as Franciscan Missionaries of the Immaculate, you are called to be, via joyous fidelity to your Rule, " a sign of the tenderness of God for the entire human race and a special witness to the mystery of the Church, virgin, spouse and mother" (Vita Consecrata, 57).

For this, too, let your model be Mary, who responded so promptly to the divine counsels: "Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to Thy word." (Lk 1, 38) Her FIAT was the central energizer of Her mission. So, too, your FIAT to God will be the secret of the success of your mission. To be effective witnesses to the Gospel, especially among the poor and persons undergoing trials, it is indispensable that you abandon yourselves totally into the hands of the Lord and keep your heart open to His divine counsels.

3. To those, who on visiting the "City of the Immaculate" were filled with astonishment at the works there realized, St. Maximilian Kolbe, pointing to the Blessed Sacrament, explained: "The entire reality of Niepokalanow depends on this". To Jesus present in the Eucharist he turned with marks of profound faith: "Your blood runs in my blood, your Soul, O Incarnate God, penetrates my soul, gives it strength and nourishes it." Behold the secret of his sanctity. From the Eucharist radiate the graces which sustain the missionary in his daily task of evangelization. That your apostolate might yield the desired fruits of goodness, nourish yourselves at this inexhaustible fountain of love by means of intense prayer and interior life.

I have noted with pleasure that your Institute is not lacking in vocations. Together with you I thank the Lord for this, and I invite you to continue prudently to present to all you meet the radical challenge of gospel witness. Take great pains with the human and spiritual formation of all who aspire to the consecrated life.

Aware that Christians are "in the world but not of it" (cf. Jn 16, 14-16), be the good yeast which leavens the dough (cf. Gal 5,9), be the salt which gives savor and the light which illumines (cf. Mt 5, 13-14). Do not ever lose sight of the example of the Word Incarnate who out of love became a slave and gave His life for us. Walk in His footsteps without wearying. With Mary, the Immaculate Virgin, to whom your religious Family is consecrated, remain at the foot of the Cross!

On my part I assure you of a remembrance in my prayers, as I impart to you from my heart a special Blessing, a Blessing I extend to Our venerable Brother, Cardinal Augustine Mayer, who presided over your Chapter. I extend this Blessing also to all your Sisters and to all who in any way form part of your spiritual Family.