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A reflection by Fr. Oscar Pezzarini, General Commissioner of the Work of Don Orione

Father Oscar Pezzarini

"A Christian can never dispense with his faith"

On the Feast of Pentecost, Father Oscar held that a well formed conscience will prompt to comply with law like the very best of citizens. He said that Christians need to fight for the common good. "A Passive attitude would be a regrettable capitulation and an omission of our responsibility of contributing with this goal", he remarked.

Buenos Aires, Sunday, June 8, 2003.- On the Feast of Pentecost, which reminds us of the coming of the Holy Spirit among the Disciples in the beginning of the Church, Father Oscar Pezzarini, the General Commissioner of the Work of Don Orione, in charge of the weekly comment in "La Manga", Fr. Julio Grassi's radio program (Radio Rivadavia -AM 630 kHz- Sundays from 2 to 5 a.m.), emphasized tonight that "a Christian cannot dispense with his faith at any time" because this is the reason why "the Holy Spirit came to men to fortify them, illuminate them and give them the capability of knowledge and discernment so they can act according to their faith".

"The Holy Spirit did not just come for the Disciples but from there on it pours over all men so they can become Christ's witnesses. Each celebration of this Feast means to renew the presence of the Spirit in us."

"His coming transformed the disciples. Being faint-hearted and confused men -with all that had happened with Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension- they turned into brave men of the Risen Christ. He gave them fortitude and firmness in Faith. Today the Lord asks again his followers for the fortitude and the conviction of those first, as the world breathes a climate of indifference or of attack towards true human and Christian values", held the General Commissioner of the Work of Don Orione.

"A well formed conscience will prompt a Christian to comply with law like the very best of citizens and will urge him to take a position regarding those laws, standards, habits or attitudes which are opposed to natural law."

"It is the duty of Catholics present in social, political, or whatever institutions to wield a critical attitude in their own institutions so their programs and performances can respond better and better to the aims and judgements of Christian Morality."

"The effective protection of a person's basic goods, the right to life from the moment on of conception, the protection of family, equal opportunity in education and at work, religious freedom, civic security, the contribution to peace are part among other issues of the common good for which we Christians need to fight."

"A passive attitude facing important issues would really be a regrettable capitulation and an omission of our responsibility of contributing with common good. These are what we know as «sins of omission»".

"The action of the Holy Spirit and his gifts provide us with stable and sound judgement which guides us in our actions. It provides a vision of the world, of the value of things and of people, of true and false goods. The world cannot be understood or it will be depicted from a partial or deformed angle when viewed without God and without the knowledge of Man's last purpose."

"Pope John XXIII said «the most ominous typical issue of modern age is the absurd temptation of wanting to build a solid and fruitful temporal order without God, the only foundation on which it can get hold»."

"A Christian can never dispense with his faith. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit came to men to fortify them, illuminate them and give them the capability of knowledge and discernment so they can act according to their faith", stressed Father Oscar Pezzarini on the closing.

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