Cardinal Franc Rodé addresses Chilean families, encouraging them to make their families schools of prayer.

Santiago de Chile. December 11 , 2008. In his visit to Santiago de Chile, Cardinal Franc Rodé, the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, visited various apostolates of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi and passed on words of encouragement and motivation to all Regnum Christi members.

Cardinal Rodé’s role as Prefect for this Vatican congregation is significant for the Legion of Christ, which is an institute of consecrated life, and for Regnum Christi, a society of apostolic life. As such, Cardinal Rodé is uniquely qualified to offer guidance to both the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi.

A Message from Pope Benedict XVI

From the beginning, he stated the reason for his visit to Chile in the clearest of terms: “I am coming to get to know better the works of the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement… both for personal information and also, I hope, to give a word of encouragement and enthusiasm, of confirmation to this new movement.”

Part of this word of encouragement included a message from Pope Benedict XVI, which he shared in a video interview shortly after his arrival: “The Holy Father told me, ‘Tell them that my blessing is with them, and that I follow with much heartfelt interest the great work that they are carrying out, a work of evangelization and of Christian formation.”

Meeting the Movement’s Educators

His first official visit in Chile brought him to the campus of Finis Terrae University, which has been run by the Legion of Christ since 1999. Today, the university has about 3,500 students and grants degrees in 21 majors. 

On December 10, Cardinal

	“Parents are the natural teachers of values. It is they who educate their children in solid principles…”

Rodé met with the directors of the schools in Chile that are run or guided by the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi. The meeting took place at the Everest School of Santiago, which was founded in 1995 to meet the needs of thousands of families from the local area. Today the school is directed by consecrated members of Regnum Christi, with over 2,500 students spread across the boys’ and girls’ campuses and the pre-school program.

The Cardinal Speaks to Families

During the afternoon, the cardinal gave a talk in the gymnasium of the Cumbres School of Santiago to over 1,000 people, including parents of students of the schools, members and friends of the Regnum Christi Movement, and Legionaries of Christ who are working in Chile.

In slightly different words than in the previous interview, he passed on the Holy Father’s greeting to all Regnum Christi members:
“The Holy Father, Pope Benedict, told me: ‘Tell them that I know them, I esteem them, and I appreciate them. Tell them that my blessing accompanies them; tell them to follow with great conviction the path marked out by the charism given to the Regnum Christi Movement, and to be great witnesses of Christ and of his Church in today’s world.’”
In his speech, he highlighted the crucial importance of the family.

“Bring the life of the Regnum Christi Movement to your families. Pray as a family, do apostolate as a family, and enjoy your family life together. Everyone wants the best for their families. They want their loved ones to be happy. This project of happiness not only includes caring for the material needs of the children—their clothing, lodging, food, and education—above all, it means building an atmosphere of love and unity so that everyone can develop integrally and be happy. Building a family is much more than providing the more external elements such as food, education, etc. No, it is much more. It is above all a project of growth in

	“Spare no efforts in your formation so that you can be better instruments for God.”

love and in mutual trust.

“Make your families schools of prayer where the members live out a spontaneous relationship of union with God, where they always live under the gaze of the One who knows the deepest secrets of our hearts. Turn your families into missionary families so that you always give a witness of your faith and share it with joy. The Church in Chile and in America needs families’ commitment to evangelization.

“The families of the Regnum Christi Movement have the mission of making Christ present in society, in culture, in its various spheres, among the youth, among children, among the elderly, among married couples. Seek to draw others to Christ, knowing that he is the Redeemer, the Savior. Help them to discover in Jesus the very face of God. Teach them that Jesus is the Word that God wanted to speak to the world; he is God himself who came to share in each one of our lives. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

“Give Christ, and help your brothers and sisters to experience his irresistible attraction. Teach them the art of prayer, assiduous contact with the Lord, sacramental life. Bring them to know, love, and follow the Lord.

The Church expects much from you. So, live out your spiritual charism and your apostolic charism to the full. Grow to reach more people, and form yourselves very well. Today’s world requires apostles who can guide their brothers and sisters toward what is good and true. Spare no efforts in your formation so that you can be better instruments for God. These are the recommendations I want to give

	Fr Álvaro Corcuera, LC thanks Cardinal Franc Rodé for his words to the Chilean families gathered at the Cumbres School.

you.”

After his speech, the cardinal was given souvenirs of Chile from representatives of the Movement’s sections, along with a warm applause.

28 years ago, the Legionaries of Christ were invited to Chile to work in education and formation. The first Legionaries and consecrated women of Regnum Christi worked to create education centers which have since grown to 10 schools and one university—giving more than 13,000 students a high-level academic formation.

They have also extended their apostolic work to adults and children through the Regnum Christi Movement, which gathers lay people to take on projects aimed at serving people, building the Church, and extending the Kingdom of Christ among men.