The Pope recalled that "the Catholic charismatic movement is one of the many fruits of Vatican Council II" which stimulated "an extraordinary flourishing of groups and movements especially sensitive to the Holy Spirit."
"In your life (as an ecclesial movement)," remarked John Paul II, "all those criteria of ecclesiality of which I wrote in 'Christifideles laici' must find their expression, especially fidelity to the ecclesial Magisterium, filial obedience to pastors and the spirit of service with regard to local Churches and parishes."
"One of the most urgent tasks of the Church today is the formation of the laity," he went on. This "has as its basic objective the very clear discovery of one's own vocation and an ever greater willingness to live it in fulfillment of one's own mission.
"This must, therefore, be one of your priorities. In today's secularized world, which proposes models devoid of spiritual values, this duty is more urgent than ever. Faith dies when it is reduced to a custom, to a habit, to a purely emotional experience. ... I know the Renewal in the Holy Spirit does all that it can to respond to this need."
Encouraging them to persevere in their task, the Pope concluded: "In this world permeated by sadness and uncertainty, have the courage to collaborate with the Spirit in a new, great outpouring of love and hope on all of mankind."
From the Vatican Information Service - VIS 980406 (290) - archived at: http://www.cin.org/cintuus/digtuus.html
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