Practicing the Rule

In our Rule of Life, this title introduces the articles concerning the discernment of the ministries. The words are clear-cut and go straight to the point. Is it not true that, in the field, Life overtakes and dictates the Rule? Fr Mario Zappa scj, who has been missionary in Central African Republic for more than 20 years, is trying to persuade us of that. Is he going to tell us that the hen came before the egg…?!

We thank him for giving us this simple and down-to-earth witness, in a very close contact with a reality where the gestures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus through our brothers are more important than words.

Article 130. Sons of Saint Michael Garicoits, we should imitate the quality of his listening to what “the Spirit says to the Churches” (Rev 2.17) in order to respond to the needs of the Church and of humanity.

Article 131. We should choose what serves humanity best, particularly the most deprived, and “procure for them that happiness”of knowing they are loved by the Father.

It is said from the outset, «Be listening to what the Spirit says to the Churches,» and for the most abandoned, «procure for them that happiness of knowing they are loved by the Father.»

These are the people you’re going to serve, the ones who make you experience what is expressed by the Rule of Life.
At the moment you may be living through a difficult times, but over time, you have real experiences and live the joy of being where the Lord sends you, through your superiors.

During the celebration of the Way of the Cross one Good Friday, in a village of just over fifty faithful Christians, a woman from another church joined us. At the end, she came up to me and said, «I love Jesus Christ too.» In the rite of the Way of the Cross, this woman experienced an encounter with Jesus Christ. For her, Jesus Christ was alive.

In another village, Montorio, in Italy, just after my arrival, two young people came to me saying, “Let’s see if you are able to repair the roof of the church”. The state of the church walls was really disastrous. One of my friends who came to visit me and to celebrate Sunday mass with his family, said on entering the church, «When you come into the church here you should wear a miner’s helmet. You never know ...» With this challenge the two young people wanted to say to me, «It doesn’t matter what you tell us. Let’s see what you can do.» This is the challenge that stayed with me during the years I spent with them.

You understand the Rule of Life by doing it, by living it and putting it into practice.

In a village here in Central Africa, the head of the Legion of Mary had had enough of her husband. They had already had seven children, but he didn’t respect her. One day she left her husband and children to go and live with another man. When I went back to the village, I asked the catechist for news of her, «How is Nelly?» and the catechist replied, «She still lives in another town, but when she comes back here, I see that she prays a lot.» That was the advice I had given her. For a year, two years, three years, I said, «Do what the Spirit tells you.» At a big celebration, she came to confession, then she told me, «I’m going back to my husband.» The Lord had spoken to her; she knows it will be difficult, but she is going back to live with her husband and children.

Pope Francis, the day after his election as pope, told the cardinals concelebrating together, «A Christian without the cross is nothing.»

There comes a time when it’s not you who brings the good news of the gospel, but your brothers and sisters who tell you the way to be a good Christian.

Mario Zappa, scj