Visit to the parish of St. Francisca Romana 11-28-1981

St. John Paul II

Rome, November 18, 1981

Gathered in one room were the representatives of all the adult groups working in the parish: The Third Franciscan Order, the Apostleship of Prayer, the Vincentian group, the Assistance group, and the Neocatechumenal group. The Holy Father addressed a brief spiritual reflection to them:

“The various spiritual groups respond to diverse charisms: Franciscan charism, charism of the Order Third, Vincentian charism for the charitable group and then the Neocatechumenal charism. As Saint Paul taught, these charisms form a spiritual body. The various charisms are part of the spiritual body and they take their characteristics from the Spirit. Charisms are as diverse as the cells of the physical body, but only the Spirit makes them live the same life. I hope the parable of Saint Paul will be your teaching, your goal in this parish, and be for you a source of peace and spiritual progress.”