The Father in Bolivia
I was moved seeing him, I was moved listening to him
His voice feels so familiar
and what he says hits so close to home.
And you felt like all the questions the people asked
have to do with you too!
Father Fernando
Thank you for coming to visit us
during this year in which Opus Dei is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Bolivia.
How can I keep Jesus Christ present
in my head and in my heart
when I am surrounded by this less-than-ideal environment?
For this, it's important to have personal conversations with Jesus Christ,
and take care of your prayer: the Eucharist and prayer.
How can we control this maternal love
so that it doesn't turn into over-protectiveness
and help our children to be happy...
That's why it's important to educate children in freedom
First of all, some of us here brought you this special hat
which is very effective against the cold
— especially for those of us who are bald!
Father, I have just come back to Bolivia after six years studying abroad.
I love my country a lot, and I've returned with a desire to work hard
But I often find that my friends who have stayed here
or others who have left for good
don't have a lot of optimism about the country.
This includes close family members and former teachers
who think that the best option is to leave the country.
For each one of us, the country where we grow up,
even if we have studied abroad,
has given us a lot.
Our family,
the environment, so many things...
and we also have a duty to give back.
Responsibility for the country doesn't just rest on those who govern:
it rests on to everyone.
So we should also be moved
by a sense of generosity
and have a concern for the "common good":
all of us are responsable for the whole, not just for our own lives, our own families, our things...
Father, many people have already said this but
I am going to say it again:
Welcome to Bolivia, Father! We are very, very happy!
And I repeat: happy to be here!
Father!
(THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!!)
Saint Josemaria used to say that
all of us Christians need to be sowers of peace and joy
in the whole word, beginning in one's own family.
And how can we give light and joy to others?
In the first place, we need to have it ourselves.
If you are sad, well you'll have a tough time giving joy to others.
We really identified with all the questions
that the other girls were asking.
When they spoke about vocation, about children, about the vocation of one's children...
What he said about the Cross particularly moved me.
When the Father spoke about charity, solidarity, in the questions that were posed to him, I was very touched.
I would like to see myself, in the future,
helping people or little children
who live in orphanages or are abandoned...
"Caritas Christi urget nos"
It's charity —Christ's love—that moves us:
the love that Christ has for us,
and that we have for our Lord;
and it's also seeing Christ's love for souls,
looking at each person as someone that God loves and is crazy about.
It's surprising to see how our Lord loves, and that His love, which is immense and infinite,
reaches so many people through us,
through our affection, our dedication, and our interest in them.
Having real friendships between families,
to share experiences among yourselves,
regarding a particular problem with one of the children, or a situation at school;
share your experience on how to face questions that arise in life and in the family, in a Christian way.
Pass on what you know, not to teach anyone a lesson,
but as a personal experience.
And if there really is friendship with the other family, then you are helping them a lot, and giving real formation
in this club of families.
And since people tend to simply act based on what others will think or the latest trend,
how can we be authentic in our lives,
in all its different dimensions?
Sincerity with oneself... with God, with oneself, and in spiritual direction
gives a tone to life that facilitates being sincere in our dealings with others, with naturalness
not wanting to put on appearances, but manifesting ourselves as we are.
And this also makes it easy to help others, in apostolate, in true friendship.
Whenever I think of this city,
especially during the past few days, and above all today,
I think a lot about the title: "Holy Cross."
As you must use the term "Holy Cross" frequently, to talk about the city,
hopefully it helps you think of the meaning of Christ's Cross
so as to have a habitual attitude of gratitude to the Lord
thinking of His love for us, that led him to the Cross.
And to see the Cross for what it is: a revelation of God's love for us.
And then to try to transmit it in your apostolic work: all of us Christians should be apostles
and transmit this idea: the holy Cross is the love of God for us.
It's our Lord who says: "If you knew the gift of God, and who is asking you."
When our Lord asks us for something, it is a great gift that He is giving us.
We can't think that we are doing God a favor, when we are generous,
when we immerse ourselves in the adventure of loving Him, following Him,
all of this is a huge gift that He gives us.