News
Learning to speak the language of love
October 13-15: the Hungarian members of the Sovereign Order of Malta held their annual retreat at our national shrine, Mátraverebély-Szentkút, on one of the last beautiful autumn weekends. The retreat was preached by Father Tamás Tóth, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem, secretary of the Hungarian Bishops' Conference.
Father Tamás based his reflections on the speeches given by the Holy Father during his visit to Hungary in April, highlighting the points that are particularly significant for the spirituality of the Order of Malta.
The central motif of the first reflection had been uttered by the Holy Father in the Church of St. Elizabeth in Rózsák Square, where he had met the poor, refugees and their helpers. "Let's learn to speak the language of love". Doing so, we give not only momentary material help, but also hope, a vision of the future, and thus ultimately we give Christ to the other person - recalling the motto of the Pope's visit: Christ is our future". This mission is at the heart of the vocation of the Order of Malta.
In the second reflection, Father Tóth recalled the Pope's enthusiastic meeting with the youth in the Papp László Sports Arena: he encouraged them to be ready for adventure, to take risks, to get out of their comfort zone. Success requires three things: a high goal, both individually and communally; constant self-training in good works done in a spirit of close relationship with God; and selfless teamwork.
At the Pázmány Péter Catholic University, the Holy Father had struck another relevant motif: the preservation of culture, as the preservation of our humanity. Ultimately, culture and science lead to Christ's truth, and this vocation is closely related to Maltese spirituality: to show Christ's truth, which sets us free.
Finally, Father Tamás Tóth recalled the words of the Holy Father in his meeting with State leaders, public figures and diplomats: about Budapest being a city of history, a city of bridges, a city of saints. Nurturing this heritage and and passing it on, is the task of all of us.
The papal visit in April was exceptional, not only because, besides Italy, Hungary is the only place where the Holy Father has visited several times, but also because each speech addressed the specific place and audience, touching on crucial questions of the Christian faith, which represent a call to action not only to the Knights of Malta, but to all those to whom the future of our faith matters, in Hungary and in Europe.
At the end of the three-day retreat, our Association thanked Father Tamás by presenting him with an original-size copy of the icon of Our Lady of Filermo that hangs in the chapel of the Order's house in Fortuna Street.
Gallery
