The Family of St. John in Rome on the Occasion of its 30th Anniversary

The Family of Saint John in Rome
an article from Letter to Our Friends/ Summer 2006, by Sharon Smith, an oblate from San Antonio, TX.

We began our pilgrimage on February 11, by entrusting these days to Mary, Immaculate Conception. Twenty-four oblates and friends left from Houston with Fr. John Jesus and brother Michael Therese and after a 7-hour flight met up in Paris with Fr. Joseph Mary and 13 oblates and friends coming from the Peoria area where we all proceeded to Rome. After arriving at our hotel, we had dinner and Mass and then settled down for our first nights sleep. Monday, our first day in Rome began at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. It was also the first gathering of all 1800 brothers-sisters-oblates and friends of the Community from around he world. The atmosphere was a combination of prayer and excitement as we awaited the arrival of Fr. Philippe and the opening of the pilgrimage, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Community of St. John. This was the heart of our pilgrimage. Fr. Philippe gave a strong, passionate conference exhorting us to realize:

We are seized in a particular way by the words of Jesus, "Woman, behold your Son." As children of Mary, we ask her to exercise her motherhood over us but we should never forget to thank her. We must listen to the correction the Lord gives to the Church of Ephesus, "Do not forget your first love" (Rev 2). Mary turns toward us with tremendous love and asks us to go further, to have an even greater gratuitous love. Today we live in a world that does not love. Let us hear this correction so as to respond as much as we can, so our love can be purified and go further.

In the afternoon, we gathered at St. Peter's for Mass. All 1800 entered the Basilica in procession, to give witness of our fidelity to the chair of Peter and proclaim our filial love for our Holy Father. During the homily, Fr. Philippe asked that:

Mary gives us a love for Peter. At the cross, we have this first covenant with Mary so we might live this second Covenant with Peter. Jesus wants to give us Peter to be our protector in the Faith. Moreover, Mary asks us to love our Pope as she loves him, to receive his words in an interior way. To receive the words, "God is Love" as a secret so we might go further in love and give witness to Jesus to the end.

After Mass, we visited in silence and prayer, the tomb of our beloved Pope John Paul II, our hearts filled with gratitude for his fatherhood over us.

Tuesday began our day with St. John at the Basilica of St. John Lateran consecrated to the Savior, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Fr. Philippe in his conference urged us to:

Look at the vocation of St, John. St. John the Baptist presents to him the "Lamb of God," and he immediately follows. The lamb comes as victim, the Father's beloved Son. John's vocation is, "to remain until I come" (Jn 21). Our vocation is always linked to the Lamb. In a world very divided and dominated by power, we must live of love. Divine love must always be first and manifest itself in fraternal charity to all our brothers and sisters with no exclusion. We must hold in our hearts all men in order to offer them to the Father. We must have a strong love for those who are poor in heart and intelligence. This is the most terrible poverty, those who no longer search for the truth. Thanks to Mary, we follow the Lamb wherever he goes. She will teach us, as she did John, to give ourselves in silent contemplation of God, a divine silence of love. We must manifest this love through fraternal charity, first with those closest to us, then to pray for all men who do not search for the truth.

During the Mass Cardinal Popuard, the President of the Pontifical Council of Culture welcomed us. He embraced Fr Philippe and addressed the Community gathered in thanksgiving for the 30 years of its foundation. In brief, his address follows: "We pray that the Master of the harvest will in this Eucharist, send laborers to the harvest and that we renew our desire to respond generously to his sending forth."

Cardinal Popuard recalled the early passion of the Community that gathered around Fr. Philippe eager to search for truth and gas now grown to, "a living mosaic of cultures" spread to the four corners of the earth. He spoke of the Apostolic charter for the family of St. John based on Evangelii Nutiandi, saying, "we must always come back to this. That to be John in the heart of the Church is to be like him, witness of the Incarnate Word, in all cultures of the world. Therefore, we need the voice of the living Church confided to Peter and his successor Benedict XVI and the college of the apostles. Fruitfulness depends on being rooted in the Tradition of the Church, whereby theological wisdom leads to mystical wisdom. He reminded us, "our opportunity today of renewing our baptismal promises in the ancient baptistery of the Basilica, recalls that we are born from the pierced side of Christ crucified." He closed by directing our attention to the Holy Fathers first Encyclical, 'Deus Caritas Est,' saying, "The Community of St. John must give witness to what is essential in the Christian vocation, agape love. Love is the origin of our vocation. Oblation is this witness of supreme love. Called like John to 'follow the Lamb wherever He goes,' (Rev 14), we must give witness in the midst of the world to the love of Christ, Source of life." The day ended with a very moving prayer vigil, at St. Ignatius' Church.

Wednesday came with great excitement and anticipation as we drove toward St. Peters for an unscheduled audience with Pope Benedict XVI. We were given this unexpected grace before he held his General Audience. Arriving in St. Peters Square, we quickly made our way through the security checkpoint and were ushered through the back entrance of the Basilica to our seats around the main alter. As soon as we were settled all the various groups from every Priory began to sing or pray the rosary in many languages. Prayer and praise rose as we waited an hour for the appointed arrival. Drawing near the time, cries of, "Benedetto" began to rise. The overwhelming sense of joy and expectation heightened as the Holy Father entered. He greeted Fr. Philippe with an embrace and personally greeted Jean-Pierre-Marie, Prior General, Sr. Agnes Marie and Sr. Irene Marie. He then made his way slowly around the barricade touching each one who held out a hand, making personal contact with the tenderness and gentleness of a father touching his child. Sitting before the high alter over St. Peters tomb, he addressed the community and gave his Apostolic Blessing to us, our families and those we carried in our hearts. His address was brief: "May your pilgrimage be a time of renewal, as you celebrate the 30th anniversary of your foundation. One in which to analyze the experiences you have had. Learn the appropriate lessons and discern with even greater profundity the vocations that arise and the missions to which you are called, in trusting collaboration with the pastors of local churches." He also added, "More than anything, I hope you feel the tenderness of the love of God."

We left with gratitude strengthened and confirmed in our faith. From the Vatican we proceeded by bus to St. Paul's outside the wall of Rome. Before the final closing Mass, we gathered on the grounds for a fraternal picnic meal. Joining our U.S. group were many of the English speaking Sisters and Brothers from other Priories. It was a joyful time of sharing as they introduced themselves to us. The closing Mass, at St. Paul's, with the whole Community was a particular time of thanksgiving to Jesus, Mary, and St. John for the graces received during these few days. And to ask for a new impulse of love to "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."

Our final day in Rome we visited the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, took the Scavi (excavation) tour under St. Peters (down 19 centuries to St. Peters tomb). This area was inaccessible and untouched for 1,600 years. We then visited the catacombs of St. Sebastian where 100,000 Christians and martyrs were buried. Ending our days in Rome, we proceeded on to Assisi, Sienna and Florence for the remaining 5 days.

We experienced a deep sense of the unbroken succession of the living Church, the Communion of Saints. Those living in glory and those still on 'pilgrimage' to our heavenly home. We encountered the martyrs, saints, Popes, holy men, women, and thousands of artists who gave glory to God. As we entered Lent hearing the words, "You are dust and unto dust you shall return," we accept this reality. Our bodies will return to dust, but what remains is a 'living inheritance' that continues to shape and strengthen one generation after another, the faith of a 'living Church.'

With a renewed love for the Church, gratitude to those who have gone before us, and deep love for Pope Benedict, called by Jesus to shepherd His flock, we returned home on the Feast of the Chair of Peter.