General: That the nations of Latin America may walk in faithfulness to the Gospel and make progress in social justice and peace.
Missionary: That the Holy Spirit gives light and strength to the Christian communities and the faithful persecuted or discriminated against because of the Gospel in many parts of the world.
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Persecution is something inherent the Church since its founding. You can almost say that it is part of its essence. Since the Lord said: "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (Jn 15, 20), every true Christian and every Christian community should know that will be subject to persecution. The Holy Father Benedict XVI has reaffirmed this concept when he said: "The Church is the same path and suffers the same fate of Christ, for not acting according to human logic or relying on her strength, but by following the path of Cross, becoming, in filial obedience to the Father, the witness and traveling companion of the humanity "(Message for World Mission Sunday 2009, No.4).
St. Augustine says: "The light that is loved by the healthy eyes, is odious for the sick." When the Church faithfully live the message of Christ, is truly light the world ", and this causes discomfort to eye patients. When the Church proclaims the Gospel in full, becomes the "salt of the earth" that burns wounds. We can not ignore that each of us must also make its life in the light of the Gospel and endure the sting of salt, given that we live in a spirit of constant conversion, leaving aside the inconsistencies that often accompany our lives. Otherwise, we will only salt that has no flavor and is only to be thrown on the road, so to be trampled by those who pass.
The persecution was present in the life of Jesus and the early Church. By the time he was writing the book of Revelation, the Church has experienced a time of persecution, tribulation and confusion (cf. Ap 1, 9). However, in view of the Apostle St. John was proclaimed a word of hope: "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living. I was dead, but now I live forever, and I have the keys of death and Hades "(Rev. 1, 17-18).
Along with the constant presence of Christ, who won the suffering and death through his resurrection, the Church finds the strength to persevere, even in the midst of persecution, thanks to the precious gift of the Holy Spirit: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit and be witnesses to me" (cf. Acts 1: 8). The Spirit helps with the gift of strength who must provide evidence of their faith in Christ among the opposition, and supports the believers so that they can reach the supreme witness of martyrdom, if necessary.
that this Spirit, which is light and strength of God, support our brothers and sisters living under the test of persecution. This same spirit animates our prayer that is genuine, passionate and committed. The forms of persecution are different in different parts of the world. In some countries resort to the use of physical violence, coercion, threat. In Western cultures today using discredit, insult and ridicule everything that is Christian. May the Holy Spirit makes the Catholic authentic witnesses of Christ, consistent with the Gospel, men who do not fit into this world (cf. Rom 12: 2). Only those who are willing to suffer for the confession of the name of Christ, can truly be his disciples.
Let us pray this month for our persecuted brothers and so our prayer is sincere, let us feel ready to share some of their sufferings for the confession of the crucified and risen Lord.