Fr. Jesus Maria Aristin
Secretary General for Solidarity &Missions
“The themes of ‘Justice and Peace’ are very old themes in Catholic theology, and there are a multitude of works that deal wisely with them. Today we add the theme of ‘Integrity of Creation,’ to express the Church’s developing sensitivity to the critical environmental situation of our planet…”
Questions and Reflections continue…
Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation are not simply issues for reflection but are of such theological significance that they even spell out the future forms of Religious Life. We cannot remain silent before the thousand and one injustices we human beings are collectively perpetrating upon millions of our brothers and sisters. The millions spent on arms by states and multinational companies are an insult to, and a grave sin, against humanity. We and future generations hope to live our lives upon the very earth which God created. I would propose JPIC as being at the heart of the Passionist Charism.
How are your views shaped by the Passionist Charism?
For us Passionists, to preach the Cross means to awaken in others solidarity in love with those who are suffering, and to resist the movements and mechanisms that inflict crosses on others. Our cause, in short, is the cause of the crucified. That’s why we Passionists place the Passion of Christ at the centre of our life.
To make memory of the Passion is not simply a devotion or a pious remembrance, but rather seeing the reality of the Death of Christ in people crucified because of hunger or injustice.
Who do you see as some of the crucified of today?
There is the cross of so many children who grow up without a home, of those who are exploited sexually or through work, the cross of so many young people who have been fooled and who live in a stupor induced by drugs and alcohol, the cross of the unemployed, of the countries at war, of the underdeveloped villages, of the loneliness of immigrants, of the loneliness of the aged, of the suffering of the sick, of so many people working out of necessity in inhuman conditions and for paltry wages, of the hungry of the world, and of so much inequality.
With so many suffering people, what can the Passionists do? What can any of us do to make a difference?
To live in solidarity requires us to work for justice and peace, and to collaborate with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and network. It would be absurd to pretend we could solve the problems of humanity counting solely on the strength of the Passionist Family. We are called, with more frequency, to collaborate and to network with others in our efforts to promote Justice-Peace-Integrity of Creation.
For our Passionist Family, I have suggested the following proposals:
I am convinced that another world is possible and that we can change the world! Think globally to overcome our provincialism, the planet must become our village. Act locally. Unite with groups of people of good will who fight for another world, another system, another status.
I believe that our Passionist Congregation should be one of the most apt and sensitive for living this reality of JPIC in an intense and active form.
