Day TWO: Passion for Africa

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Text from the Cardinal:

“I have loved everything about Africa.”

It is to you that I am now coming, O my dear Africa. I had sacrificed everything to you seventeen years ago, when compelled by a force that was obviously that of God, I left everything to dedicate myself to your service. Since then, what travels, what exhaustions, what sorrows! I recall them only to forgive and to express once again my invincible hope of seeing the portion of this great continent that once knew the Christian religion, to return fully to the light and the truth, and the one that has hitherto remained immersed in the most frightful barbarity, to come out of its darkness and death. It was to this work that I dedicated my life. But what is a man’s life for a similar enterprise? I have hardly been able to sketch this enterprise (EA. 235-238).

Reflection:

These words were written in 1884, that is 8 years before the death of Cardinal Lavigerie. These words are a kind of a spiritual testament, a summary of Lavigerie’s dream amidst disillusionment and hope. Although he did not achieve much of his dream for Africa, Lavigerie rejoiced in the achievements of his missionaries on the ground. He rejoiced to see the progress achieved by his Missionaries – men and women – with Africans, whom he immediately wanted to prepare to become apostles to themselves. Lavigerie had a great respect for African people. This is expressed in i his Pauline spirituality of ‘all things to all men and women’, the adoption of their culture as much as possible. He opposed any form of racism. Lavigerie had a comprehensive plan for a peaceful “conquest” of what was known as Equatorial Africa this monograph, he paints a comprehensive picture in view of the establishment of four new vicariates in a vast territory where the Congregation of Propaganda was not yet present. One of the means to this end was the transformation of Africa by Africans, through a training that would leave them truly African.

Today, this love of Africa on the part of the two Missionary Institutes is not limited to the African continent and to those who live there. They want to get closer to Africans in the diaspora present around the world, where they bring a lot of wealth among others in the energy given to the Christian communities to which they often give a new inspiration.

Intention:

Our dear Africa is facing a lot of challenges due to bad governance and insecurity. Let us pray for peace and stability on the continent. so that the inhabitants may enjoy the fruits of God’s given wonderful creation.