the Armenian Orthodox Church in Buenos Aires. He is a
close friend to Pope Francis, as they both knew each other
in Buenos Aires. He too delivered a speech about Unity.
He stated that we are not perhaps fully aware of how big a
work we are doing in being together and how important it
is to live in Unity with others. He compared our differences
with musical notes. Music is the same for all, but people
play different musical notes, since we belong to different
Churches – however, it is necessary to find the same musical
notes to play for Our Lord’s Glory.
As our friend the Imam, Mohammed Mazharual Islam
from Bangladesh was unable to attend the pilgrimage this
time because of a visa problem, Vassula was asked to read out
his talk. We were especially touched to hear these significant
words from his letter to us:
“I hope by the grace of Almighty Allah you all shall
enjoy the pilgrimage most pleasantly and this pilgrimage
shall help the stronger bond of friendship among us all.
Let us forget the bitter past and move forward for our
prosperity. I invite you all to visit Bangladesh and see
our natural scenery. Moreover, you can see in our country
how Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians are
living nicely in communal harmony. We are friends to
each other.”
This message was intended to remind us that in some
countries, even though various religions exist, there could be
peace and a life of harmony between them.
Right after the presentation of this letter, the Syrian Catholic
Archbishop, Gregorios Elias Tabe, gave a speech about the
division of Christian denominations and of what comprised
their early start in the first centuries. He said that he also
comes from a divided denomination. He continued saying
that with every difficulty we have in life we should seek
always reconciliation immediately because the Lord wants it.
Moreover, in his view, he believes that if Unity has not come
yet, it is because the Church is not paying enough attention
to the division or the differences among different groups,
different languages, and different personalities. He concluded
by saying that the Church has to focus more on this.
Fr. Stephen Rafael from Calcutta, India, gave us as well a
reminder of Christ’s
Love.
He quoted Jesus many times as:
“Love as I have loved you”.
He explained the importance
of Love and what could be achieved through it, reminding
us of the words Jesus says:
“Ask anything in My name and
it will be done”
.
Love will triumph over our division. Love
will bring the Church to be as one and not fragmented.
Hardening our hearts will never bring us
together.Weshould
remember the famous words uttered by the Ecumenical
Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople who was so close
to bringing forth Unity with Pope Paul VI; he wrote:
“If
we are satisfied to repeat our formulas, hardening them
against our fellow Christians, then our inheritance
will become something dead. It is sharing, humility,
reconciliation which makes us truly Orthodox.”
Four years ago, our pilgrims visited Assisi where we had a
wonderful and unforgettable Maronite Mass in Aramaic
by Fr. Nabil Mouannes. In our program this year, 2015, we
scheduled ourselves again to visit Assisi,
the City of Peace
as
Saint John Paul II had named it. Our ride to Assisi, while on
the youth bus, which I was in, and which transported all the
youth, (some youth also of over 50 years of age, ahem…) the
Rosary was prayed in five different languages. Upon arrival,
we visited the upper Basilica of St. Francis, one of Italy’s
foremost monuments, which was built between 1228 and
1253 AD. St. Francis was a mystic who experienced visions
Rome Pilgrimage 2015
(continued)
Fr. Gavin Ashendon with Pope Francis at the Papal Audience
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