The New Springtime of the Church
by Father Jean-François Mastropietro
THE CONTINUITY OF FAITH
Celebrating the feast of Saints Peter and Paul means celebrating the pillars of the Church. It is celebrating the faith of the apostles. It is celebrating, in particular, the continuity of faith of this Church built on the rock of the Word of Christ: “You are ‘Rock’, and on this rock I will build my church.” (Mt 16:18)
Peter, a fisherman from Capernaum, was chosen by Christ. He made of him the head of the apostles. Paul, called by Christ, understood “all he would have to suffer for Christ’s name”. He made of him the apostle of the nations. John, the Lord’s beloved disciple, was also called to be an apostle and a pillar of the Church with them, according to the very testimonial of Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. In his regard, Peter had asked the Master: “Lord, what about him?” “Suppose I want him to stay until I come, how does that concern you? Your business is to follow me.” (Jn 21:21-22) And Peter followed Christ. And the Church, entrusted to Peter, has proclaimed Christ for 2,000 years.
The Monstrance at Spiri-Maria |
THE CONTINUITY OF THE CHURCH
And now comes the time of John to prepare Christ’s return. “Peter – Pierre...” “Jean-Pierre”... on him, “I shall build my new Church.” My renewed Church founded on the word of the Total Christ. In this way, the Lord is showing us the continuity of the Church of Peter in the Church of John: the one and only Church of Christ, the Total Christ, Christ who is being given back to the world in our time through the sacrifice of the Co-Redemptrix, the same Church but new, renewed, to become the Church renewed in Love, finally open to all peoples, to all religions, to all men of good will.
THE NAME OF A MISSION
Paul is the name of a mission. Paul means “little”. Saul, the great Pharisee, a persecutor of Christ’s disciples, full of his knowledge and certitudes passed on to him by the Temple and Tradition, was thrown off his horse. Brought down, he would learn to be little and humble, to be a servant of Christ and the last one of all for love of Christ and the Gospel. He would go to all peoples known at that time to spread, in season and out of season, the message of salvation.
Saul received the name of Paul. In that name, he received the mission of apostle and messenger of Jesus Christ for all nations.
Today, a humble woman who has always proclaimed herself to be the handmaid, the “zero” through whom the Immaculate passes, has lived her Life of Love. And her name also reveals her mission. Marie-Paule, the “little Mary of the earth”, a living copy of Mary, who has become Paul-Marie, is the Daughter of the Immaculate Mother for the accomplishment of the Work of the Co-Redemption in this latter’s name and in our time.
Paul was the apostle of the nations. Paul-Marie is the Mother of all peoples and all souls. She brings us the time of the Kingdom, the fulfillment of Christ’s word so that, finally, the Father’s will may be done “on earth” as it is already done and has always been done “in heaven”.
Everything fits together in the Father’s plan of love for humanity. And the Church, “one, holy, catholic and apostolic”, is being renewed in Love. It is opening up to the “new springtime of the Church” prophesied by Pope John XXIII. John, the beloved apostle of the Lord, rested his head on Christ’s Heart. He prefigured the whole Church of John now being called with the Redeemer and the Co-Redemptrix to find its delights and its beatitude in the Love of the Heart of the Father’s Heart. The Redeemer opened the gates of the Kingdom of heaven to us. The Co-Redemptrix, in our time, is opening to us the gates of the Kingdom of the Seventh Day, the Kingdom of earth.
“ONE SINGLE COMMUNITY”
We can see the most beautiful jewel of the Church founded on Peter renewing it and finally opening it to its mission of bringing together all peoples, all religions, all souls of good will into “one single Community”.
And the Church of Christ, founded on Peter, renewed in John, will be able to flourish in a Kingdom of peace, justice and love, “on earth as in heaven”.
May your will be done, Lord, and may the time of the regeneration of souls come through your Co-Redemptrix!
Long live the apostles Peter and Paul! Long live the apostle John, the beloved! Long live the only Church of Christ founded on Peter and renewed in Love in the Church of John! Long live the time of the Kingdom and all those who, through the Lady’s sacrifice, will have access to it in joy, peace and love! May the True Spirit now come upon all peoples and for all the time of the Kingdom!