In a letter to the minister general of the Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of the Captives, Pope Francis gave thanks for their founder’s contribution to the Church.
The letter was sent to Fr. Jose Narlaly to commemorate the 8th centenary of the death of St. Juan Mata, as well as the 4th centenary of the death St. Juan Bautista de la Concepción, reformer of the order.
Regarding the lives of the order’s two saints, Pope Francis recalled their dedication to those in need. “We are all called to to experience the joy that springs from the encounter with Jesus, to conquer our selfishness”, to reach out of our ‘comfort zone’ towards all the peripheries in need of the light of the Gospel,” he said.
The Holy Father also said that the Trinitarians mission of responsibility and authority lived out through service to others is an example that should be learned by all.
“Our action,” he stressed, “must be removed from any desire for wealth or personal promotion, and must seek to put all the talents we receive from God to the service of the common good, to be able to manage them, like good administrators, for the purpose for which they have been granted; that is, to alleviate the suffering of the most disadvantaged.
«This is Christ’s will, and for this reason the houses of your Family always keep their doors open, offering a brotherly welcome”.
Concluding his letter, Pope Francis encouraged the members of the order to continue to imitate Christ through their service with the poor and the imprisoned.
“Do not seek, therefore, for your works and apostolic initiatives, any basis other than ‘the root of charity’ and ‘the will of Christ’, which my predecessor, Innocent III, considered to be the essential pivots of this new way of life, approved by his apostolic authority,” the Pope wrote.
