VATICAN CITY, JUNE 23, 2010 (Zenit.org).- After today’s general audience, Benedict XVI sent a particular greeting to the members of Home of the Mother, which has just been recognized by the Holy See as a public international association of faithful.
The association’s founder, Spanish diocesan priest Father Rafael Alonso Reymundo, was present at the audience, along with numerous priests, brothers, sisters and lay faithful of the association.
Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council of the Laity, presented the Home of the Mother with the decree of approval as an International Public Association of the Faithful at a ceremony in Rome on Monday.
On Sunday, Cardinal Julián Herranz, retired president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legal Texts, presided at a Mass for the community. On Sunday, Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, secretary of the Congregation for Clergy also celebrated a Mass for the newly approved entity.
After today’s general audience, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, celebrated Mass for the members of the Home of the Mother at St. Maria della Scala.
As explained on its Web page, the Home of the Mother was «born in the Church, and is at her service, having its ideal the following of Jesus Christ and wishing to carry out the three missions proper to it: defense of the Eucharist, defense of Our Mother’s honor, especially in the privilege of her Virginity and the conquest of young people for Jesus Christ.»
This new ecclesial reality dates back to July 29, 1982, when six girls began the feminine branch of the youth group during a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s tomb, led by Father Reymundo. A year later, on Dec. 27, 1983, the masculine branch came into being.
Some of the girls felt called to live the charism and mission of the Home with total consecration. On Sept. 22, 1984, in silence, three young women began this new experience of consecrated life, the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother.
Today there are some 100 women religious of at least 10 nationalities, spread in communities in Spain, Ecuador, the United States and Italy.
Some of the young men also felt called to be priests, giving origin to the «Servants of the Home of the Mother,» who today are in communities of Spain, Italy, the United States and Nicaragua.
Instituted in 1995 was the Community of Adults of the Home of the Mother, made up of laypersons who share the same spirituality.
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On the Net:
For more information: http://www.homeofthemother.org/
