News
AA-Info n.7 - January 2025
“Pray that I convert at least this year”
Roma
EDITORIAL
Fr. Ngoa Ya Tshihemba
Superior General of the Augustinians of the Assumption
“Pray that I convert at least this year.” These words are from Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, in a letter addressed to Fr. Vincent-de-Paul Bailly, in December 1876 – only four years before his death. Fr. d’Alzon, when he speaks of perfection or of the greatest purity, sets the bar ever higher. Sometimes one has the impression of listening to someone who has already made his way and who only motivates others to follow him. And yet, the same D’Alzon never stops talking about the conversion he still needs.
With this issue of AA-info of the beginning of the year, I would like to mention this wish which is also a prayer of Fr. d’Alzon. The Christmas and New Year festivities are often embellished with a multitude of messages expressing wishes. Many have wished me a happy new year, promising me prayers for good health, peace of heart, success, serenity, courage, etc. Perhaps I would have been surprised, very surprised, in fact, if I had received a message like this: "I pray for your conversion." And yet I need it.
Yes, we all need to convert somehow. It is not enough to say so. It is perhaps a first step, but why do we not move forward? Father d'Alzon answers this question: "Most pious people are stopped in their progress toward perfection, because they do not fight their faults energetically enough; and they do not fight them, because they do not have enough horror of the sins into which these faults lead them. » (E.S. p. 1233)
Our Founder therefore exhorts us not only to be aware of the need for conversion, but also to have the courage to finally decide to undertake generously the work of our conversion (E.S. p. 1239). I am very sure that we have all tried and it did not work the first and second time, and we have given up the fight. Saint Augustine had the same experience. But he finally got through it. He gives us his secret in a commentary on Psalm 33. While acknowledging that we will never be perfect here on earth, he nevertheless invites us to always try.
Even if we speak of community conversions necessary above all to progress in the ways of peace, justice and fraternity by fighting against what Pope John Paul II called the "structures of sin" present in societies, Fr. d'Alzon often speaks of personal conversions. "Everyone must be converted personally. Conversion must be done, not in masses, but one by one. Even in those speaches where Saint Peter converted two or three thousand Jews, the Holy Spirit descended on each one individually. It was not a matter of common resolution.’’ (E.S p. 566)
As we enter the Jubilee Year 2025, let us continually open ourselves to Jesus’ call to conversion: “The time is fulfilled; the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk 1:15) As our Rule of Life emphasizes, this conversion must be lived daily, especially because we live in community. This is a place that can foster our conversion. But let us not forget that this same community becomes the place par excellence to test our conversion. As in the Gospel, we must learn to cast out our “little demons” and speak new languages ??of mercy and love. This has always been our desire. There are moments when we express this desire to change, to progress in our relationships with others, to get rid of our old habits, in short, to return to God - but lethargy overtakes us. The sad reality is that we remain stubborn in our ideas, our whims.
But we will not forget that, in its deepest sense, "conversion is a gift of God, the work of the Trinity", as Saint John Paul II said (Redemptoris missio, n. 46). Our effort is therefore to open ourselves to this gift that comes from the Trinity. May the mercy and love of the one who truly loves us precede our desire for conversion and accompany our efforts.
May those who are lucky enough to pass through the Holy Door this Jubilee Year 2025, remember to pray for our conversion.
Have a beautiful Holy Year 2025 !
To read the full AA-Info n°7, follow this link...
TRP Ngoa Ya Tshihemba, a.a.