Dearest Sisters and young women in formation,
During the Easter Vigil, the Exultet proclaims: “O night brighter than the day… O night that knows no darkness….” Ancient words that, since the first centuries of the Christian era, echo every year in all our churches. Words of poignant beauty that move us to tears.
The night that precedes the dawn of the Resurrection is brighter than day because, in the dark-ness of inhumanity, the Father snatches from death his Son, who bears within himself all the wounds and agonies of the crucified of human history.
This holy night is proof that nothing can stop Love. But it is also the greatest challenge to our faith, threatened by the temptation to stop with the violence and death of Good Friday, which we are witnessing every day.
“The only true sin is to remain indifferent to the resurrection,” said Isaac the Syrian. For this reason we are called to announce, today more than ever, that there are no human situations that are blind alleys, that the cross “is just a way station” (T. Bello), that the tears of the suffering will be wiped away, “that nothing is ever terminal or too late when Jesus accompanies us” (Pope Francis), that “the resurrection is the triumph of meaning over all that threatens to destroy it, the victory of communion over everything that divides human beings” (P. Giuntella).
Sisters, may we live and witness to Easter this year as a time for “rebuilding” a hope that transcends what we see before us, as a time for reaffirming God’s promise, which never fails. Let us cultivate in and around ourselves enthusiasm for the future and a fresh breath of hope because the Lord says: “I know well the plans I have made for you–plans for peace, not for disaster; plans to give you a future full of hope” (Jer. 29:11).
May he enable us to be women of communion and hope, women who, in carrying out our apos-tolate, “sound the clarion call of the resurrection” (Fr. Alberione) in order to say to everyone: “Yes, we are sure of it: Christ is truly risen!” May we be “gospels” of peace and communicators of the joy be-stowed on us by the Risen Lord. In this way, the energy of new life will permeate and fecundate our proclamation and love, which is the true fruit of the Spirit.
In union with the sisters of the General Government, with affection and gratitude I wish you a luminous Easter of resurrection and extend these best wishes to your families, collaborators, cooperators, friends and benefactors.
Let us entrust to the Spirit of the Risen Lord in a special way the General Chapter of our Pauline brothers, which will take place at Ariccia, Italy, from 29 May to 19 June 2022.
In communion of joy and hope.
sr Anna Caiazza
and the sisters of the General Government
