"Strong men create good times, good times create weak men, weak men create hard times, hard times create strong men." The above sentence appears in Michael Hopf's novel "The Remainers". In it, the author reflects on human nature and the cycle of history. His narrative leads us to confirm that difficulties forge character, it is in them that man knows his strength and scope.
And we can recognize throughout history that it is precisely in the storms that heroes emerge. For example, Nelson Mandela, who after living in prison for 27 years, became a symbol of reconciliation and hope. Or Mahatma Gandhi who led the struggle for the independence of his country in a peaceful way. St. Francis of Assisi who "renewed" the decadent Church in its conduct through his witness of holiness. Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzai, Cardinal Van Thuan... there are many examples of heroism arising from injustice and pain.
I think we can agree that we live in difficult times (wars, hunger, drug trafficking, injustices for immigrants, violence, lies...) and that this must motivate us with power to become strong men and women. This is what our times need! May the Church give us Christian leaders!
Rediscovering our value
Certainly, science and faith together provide answers to our deepest questions and are the key that opens the door to the meaning of life. The crisis of today's man is rooted in the lack of meaning. The excess of sensations and the madness of the immediate prevent postmodern man from reflecting and deepening the value of his being and existence. We need a healthy and holy leadership, we need coherent Christians to save the whole world that is going downhill.
I had the grace to be invited by the movement Faith and Life to participate in their annual leadership program. The experience I had was inspiring. I was able to see that our Church is alive and that it wants to go out to the peripheries so that everyone knows they are not alone, that everyone feels relief from their burdens and sees light on their paths.
I was invited to give a workshop with Ferney Ramirez on "mental health". They explained to me that there is a need to give an effective response to this problem that is growing in a palpable way in families. They asked us to equip them with tools for life.
Faith and life
We did a job that gave us a lot of satisfaction. The reasons?
- Fe y Vida is an institute that trains pastoral agents, youth leaders and parents for the New Evangelization of Latino youth in the United States.
- It promotes the Christian lifestyle, which is based on values made life. The practice of virtues and love as a powerful driving force.
- It is not a self-referential institute, it is a coordinated effort that trains leaders from all parishes so that they can carry out their pastoral work with professional preparation, improving their effectiveness for the good of many.
- They make a formidable team of laity and religious united for the same purpose, living together as an organized, united family, where each one contributes his or her talent, enriching the work and its fruits.
- Integral formation is given to all church leaders in their various ministries: music, catechesis, transmission of the Word, liturgy, prayer and piety, family formation, parenting schools...and on this occasion the work of promoting mental health was introduced because it is considered to be a current and urgent need of young people and their families.
- In this way we forge character and wish to make of our life an epic: a long narration of heroic deeds.
I am convinced and hopeful by these words of Alexandre Dumas: "Good is slow because it goes uphill, evil is fast because it goes downhill"; and my ears hear this divine call: "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for if we do not lose heart, we shall reap in due season" (Gal. 6:9).
I thank God because this Church of His is alive and embraces and welcomes every person, from its many initiatives to bring us all closer to Him. Faith and Life does a necessary and commendable work, I invite you to know everything it offers and how you can prepare yourself with them to know Jesus more, to love Him more and serve Him better.
