Redemptoris missio

On the permanent validity of the Church's missionary mandate

Introduction

The urgency of missionary activity (1) The mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church, is still very far from completion, this mission is still only beginning . Basis and core of missionary life (2) Reemphasized the point of Vatican II Missionary activity is a matter for all Christians

Introduction

The importance of Mission Ad Gentes and sign of the time Difficulties both internal and external have weakened the Church's missionary thrust toward non-Christians nonThese difficulties lead the Church to renew her missionary commitment  Purpose of this encyclical

Introduction


Why the Church has to renew her missionary commitment? a world which has experienced marvellous achievements but which seems to have lost its sense of ultimate realities and of existence itself (2) There are many reasons and aims in doing mission but most of all is to serve man by revealing to him the love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ. (2) Christ. The number of those who do not know Christ and do not belong to the Church is constantly on the increase. increase. (3)  Almost doubled since the end of the council  This becomes thrust, challenge and possibilities to the Church in her missionary life  the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a new evangelization and to the mission ad gentes

Chapter 1 JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SAVIOR

The beginning of Church s universal mission is born in the Faith in Jesus Christ (4) Recent challenges: Pluralism and indifferentialism  Is missionary work among nonnonChristians still relevant? relevant?  Is it not possible to attain salvation in any religion? Why then should there be missionary activity? activity?

CHAPTER 1 "No one comes to the Father, but by me" (Jn 14:6) (Jn 14:


To answer the questions above No one can enter into communion with God except through Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit. The definitive self-revelation of God in Jesus selfChrist is the fundamental reason why the Church is missionary by her very nature. She cannot do other than proclaim the Gospel, that is, the fullness of the truth which God has enabled us to know about himself. (5)

CHAPTER 1 "No one comes to the Father, but by me" (Jn 14:6) (Jn 14:
Theological basis of mission: Trinitarian Just as "by his incarnation the Son of God united himself in some sense with every human being," so too "we are obliged to hold that the Holy Spirit offers everyone the possibility of sharing in the Paschal Mystery in a manner known to God. (6) God. (6

Chapter 1 Faith in Christ Is Directed to Man's Freedom



Proclaiming Christ and bearing witness to him, when done in a way that respects consciences, does not violate freedom (8)
Mission of the Church has done with respect to each individual conscience and freedom with the obligation that all human beings are impelled and bound by their own nature to seek religious truth

Chapter 1
The Church As Sign and Instrument of Salvation


Christ made the Church his co-worker in cothe salvation of the world (9)
The mystery of salvation  Salvation in Christ to humankind  Church as the sacrament of salvation (man s respond- cooperation) respond-

Chapter 1 Salvation in Christ Is Offered to All

Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all. (10) all. 10)
This is the grace come form Christ that urges us to respond through our free cooperation

Chapter 1
"We cannot but speak" (Acts 4:20) 20)


The Church affirms her faith with respect to other beliefs

The Church cannot fail to proclaim that Jesus came to reveal the face of God and to merit salvation for all humanity by his cross and resurrection (11) 11)

Why mission?: a call to newness of Life. mission?:

All are called to this newness of life. The Church and her members are obliged to proclaim this newness of life , they have experienced in Christ

Chapter 2
the Kingdom of God


Salvation consists in believing and accepting the mystery of the Father and of his love, made manifest and freely given in Jesus through the Spirit (12) 12)
Salvation is the fulfilment of Kingdom of God


Prepared in OT, brought about by Christ and proclaim and pray for its OT, perfect and definitive realization by the church. church.

Christ Makes the Kingdom Presents

Jesus of Nazareth brings God's plan to fulfilment (13) 13)


Jesus message / messenger

Proclaiming of the coming Kingdom: who God is through parables Christ himself is the message. The good news : Immanuel

  

Jesus ministry Jesus Abba experience Call to repent and believe

Chapter 2
Christ Makes the Kingdom Presents


Jesus of Nazareth brings God's plan to fulfilment (13) 13)

Jesus message / messenger
 

Proclaiming of the coming Kingdom: who God is through parables Christ himself is the message. The good news : Immanuel

Jesus ministry Jesus Abba experience Call to repent and believe

Chapter 2
Characteristics of the Kingdom and Its demands


Characteristics of the Kingdom

Jesus shows the kingdom is for all by reaching out to those on the margins of the society Two gestures are characteristic of Jesus' mission: healing and forgiving... Once there is faith, healing is an encouragement to go further: it leads to salvation (cf. Lk 18:42-43). (14) 18:42-43) 14) Faith -> healing = forgiving from sins -> salvation

Demands of the Kingdom

Transforming human relationship with God and others The kingdom aims at transforming human relationship... Jesus sums up the whole Law, focusing it on the commandment of love (cf. Mt 22:34-40; 22:34-40; Lk 10:25-28). (15) 10:25-28). 15)

Chapter 2
The Kingdom in Relation to Christ and the Church


The kingdom cannot be detached either from Christ or from the Church. (1 Church. (18)
Contrary to anthropocentric and kingdomkingdomcentric Kingdom= Christ + Church (19) (19)
Promoting human values  Proclaiming Christ and values  Establishing communities

(present and active kingdom on earth)

Chapter 2
The Church at the Service of the Kingdom


Church is effectively and concretely at the service of the kingdom. (20) 20)
I. Preaching II. Establishing communities and founding churches III. Spreading Good News through many activities IV. Her intercession for the fully coming of the kingdom

Chapter 3
THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE PRINCIPAL AGENT OF MISSION


"At the climax of Jesus' messianic mission, the Holy Spirit becomes present in the Paschal Mystery... in and through them the Holy Spirit remains the transcendent and principal agent for the accomplishment of this work in the human spirit and in the history of the world. (21) 21)
Holy Spirit: Principal Agent of the whole mission of the Church( entrusted by Christ- Paschal mystery) ChristWork of the Holy Spirit
 

In and through Apostles and those who heard them Especially in the mission ad gentes

Chapter 3 Sent Forth "to the end of the earth"  Missionary Mandate in all gospel accounts
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,...and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:18-20; cf. Mk 28:18-20; 16:15-18; 16:15-18; Lk 24:46-49; Jn 20:21-2) (22) 24:46-49; 20:2122) Explicitly in John: Christ sends his own into the world, just as the Father has sent him, and to this end he gives them the Spirit. Spirit.
 

We see the present of the Holy Spirit in the Church Two fundamental elements of the mission
I. II. Universal aspect Assurance: Entrusting by the Lord: I will be with you.

Chapter 3
The Spirit Directs the Church's Mission


The mission of the Church is the work of the Holy Spirit

The mission of the Church, like that of Jesus, is God's work or, as Luke often puts it, the work of the Spirit (24) 24) Work of the Holy Spirit
 

Paul: dialogue- inculturation dialogueHoly Spread the church mission to the end of the earth (Rome- in Act)-> beyond boundaries and (Rome- Act)show universal aspect of the mission

Chapter 3
The Holy Spirit Makes the Whole Church Missionary


at the beginning of the Church the mission ad gentes, while it had missionaries gentes, dedicated "for life" by a special vocation, was in fact considered the normal outcome of Christian living, to which every believer was committed through the witness of personal conduct and through explicit proclamation whenever possible. (27) possible. (27)
Holy Spirit: Forming up the Church First Christian Community were missionaries by living witness and proclaiming Mission: normal Christian witness by words and deeds

Chapter 3
The Spirit Is Present and Active in Every Time and Place


The Spirit manifests himself in a special way in the Church and in her members. Nevertheless, his presence and activity are universal, limited neither by space nor time (28) 28)
Present of the Holy Spirit
 

Universal and eternal (no time and space) Present both in

I. II. Individual : existential and religious questions in everyone s heart Social: make human be what they should be, bring them to the final end with God Inseparably the church is driven by the Holy Spirit to bring about the mission to the end of the earth

Holy Spirit is at work in and outside the Church (29) (29)

Chapter 3
Missionary Activity Is Only Beginning


Our own time... The horizons and possibilities for mission are growing ever wider, and we Christians are called to an apostolic courage based upon trust in the Spirit. (30) 30)
Same Sprit in different challenges All Christians need to be ready to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit driven the Church s mission

Chapter 4
THE VAST HORIZONS OF THE MISSION AD GENTES


In the apostles, the Church received a universal mission... This mission is one and undivided, having one origin and one final purpose; but within it, there are different tasks and kinds of activity. (31) 31)
Mission to all -> one mission/ one goal but many activities

Chapter 4
A Complex and Ever Changing Religious Picture


Today we face a religious situation which is extremely varied and changing... To say that the whole Church is missionary does not preclude the existence of a specific mission ad gentes... gentes... does not exclude, but actually requires that there be persons who have a specific vocation to be "life-long "lifemissionaries ad gentes. (32) gentes. 32)
All are missionaries including in mission ad gentes but not exclude particular call for mission activities

Chapter 4
Mission Ad Gentes Retains Its Value


One Church mission => many activities (33) (33)

Three situations
I. II. III.

Mission ad gentes (unknown to the Gospels) Pastoral mission ReRe-evangelization

Without the mission ad gentes, the gentes, Church's very missionary dimension would be deprived of its essential meaning and of the very activity that exemplifies it... Hence missionary activity ad intra is a credible sign and a stimulus for missionary activity ad extra, and vice versa (34) 34)

Chapter 4
To All Peoples, In Spite of Difficulties


The mission ad gentes faces an enormous task... The difficulties seem insurmountable and could easily lead to discouragement (35) 35)
Difficulties in doing mission (36) (36)
 

Without
Objection to the Gospels and conversion (cultural objection)

Within
Lack of missionary zeal Division in the Church Lack of appropriate responding to one s faith as Christia  De-Christianization De Decrease vocations  Fail from following Christ\ Christ\

indifferentism

Chapter 4
Parameters of the Church's Mission Ad Gentes


the mission ad gentes knows no boundaries. Still, it is possible to determine certain parameters within which that mission is exercised, in order to gain a real grasp of the situation. (37) 37)
Parameter of the Church s mission ad gentes
a)

Territorial limits
Mission has no boundaries but there are different and specific interests Regarding faith: believer and non believer  Geographically and politically concern  Communities: either big or small  Example. Asia


b)

New world/ new phenomena

Urban mission Recent situation: migration, poverty, work of liberation

c)

Cultural sectors: new Areopagus

1. 2. 3. 4. World of communication > make use and moderate Commitment of peace and liberation Scientific advancement and international relation -> dialogue Need of spirituality-> opportunity spirituality-

Chapter 4
Fidelity to Christ and the Promotion of Human Freedom


All forms of missionary activity are marked by an awareness that one is furthering human freedom by proclaiming Jesus Christ. (39) 39)
Church continues mission of Christ
 

with right given by God With the hope of authentic religious freedom

She preach (open the door to Christ) but impose nothing (respect one s own conscience)

Chapter 4
Directing Attention Toward the South and the East


Today missionary activity still represents the greatest challenge for the Church... Population growth in non-Christian countries of the nonSouth and the East is constantly increasing the number of people who remain unaware of Christ's redemption. (40) redemption. (40)
New challenges in doing mission
 

Growing population of non-Christian countries nonNew attainment of mission ad gentes

CHAPTER V THE PATHS OF MISSION

Missionary activity is nothing other and nothing else than the manifestation of God s plan in the world and in history.

What paths the church follows to achieve this epiphany ?

THE PATHS OF MISSION

Charity: Source and Criterion of Mission

Promoting Development By Forming Conscience Interreligious Dialogue Incarnating the Gospel in Peoples Cultures Forming Local Churches

Conversion and Baptism Initial Proclamation of Christ the Savior

Witness of Christian Life

Witness of Christian Life

Christ: Witness par excellence and model of all Christian witness All in the church is called to be a witness like Christ. Christians and Christian communities. Most appealing witness: charity towards the poor, the weak and those who suffer and commitment to peace, justice, human rights, and integral human development.

Initial Proclamation of Christ the Savior

A clear proclamation that in Jesus Christ salvation is offered to all as God s gift. The Good News should be announced to all. Faith is born of preaching and every ecclesial community draws its origin and life from the personal response of each believer to that preaching Proclamation is inspired by faith. We are witness to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit it hoped that the listeners know the truth about God, about themselves, and about redemption.

Conversion and Baptism

The aim of Initial Proclamation, a complete and sincere adherence to Christ and his Gospel through faith. Conversion means accepting Christ, becoming his disciple in a dynamic and life-giving process. It is a gift of God, a work of the Blessed Trinity. We cannot preach conversion unless we ourselves are converted anew everyday. Baptism (not optional): it is the Sacrament which signifies and effects rebirth from the Spirit, establishes real and unbreakable bonds with the Blessed Trinity, and makes us members of the Body of Christ, which is the church.

Forming Local Churches

Objective of mission ad gentes: to found Christian Communities and develop Churches to their full maturity, functioning normally in its local setting. The whole mystery of the Church is contained in each particular church that remains in communion with the universal church, becoming missionary in its own turn. Commitment to Ecumenism Basic Ecclesial Communities as force for Evangelization . A starting point for a new society based on a civilization of love . Evangelized and Evangelizers.

Incarnating the Gospel in Peoples Cultures

The church gets involved in the process of inculturation: the intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through their integration into Christianity and their insertion of Christianity in the various human cultures . Two basic guidelines for inculturation: compatibility with the Gospel and communion with the universal church. Inculturation must be an expression of the community s life, and not only the research of some experts.

Interreligious Dialogue

Part of the Church s evangelizing mission, understood as a method and means of mutual knowledge and enrichment, and is one of its expression. This is to be done in the conviction that the ordinary way of salvation, as willed by Jesus Christ, is the Church. Proclaiming Jesus Christ and interreligious dialogue : distinct and intimately connected. Dialogue must be done with truth, humility, and frankness; with no false irenicism, but witness leading to eliminating prejudices, to inner purification, and to conversion. All Christian is called to practice dialogue, though not to the same degree and to the same extent.

Promoting Development By Forming Conscience

The church promotes development through the Gospel message, which leads to conversion of heart and ways of thinking, the recognition of each person s dignity, solidarity, commitment and service of one s neighbor, building the kingdom of peace and justice, as the beginning of the new heavens and new earth . All will become true brothers and sisters through conversion of all to an integral development open to the Absolute.

Charity: Source and Criterion of Mission

"The Church all over the world wishes to be the Church of the poor...she wishes to draw out all the truth contained in the Beatitudes of Christ, and especially in the first one: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit.' ...She wishes to teach this truth and she wishes to put it into practice, just as Jesus came to do and to teach. The soul of all missionary activity: love, which has been and remains the driving force of mission, and is also "the sole criterion for judging what is to be done or not done, changed or not changed. It is the principle which must direct every action, and end to which that action must be directed. When we act with a view to charity, or are inspired by charity, nothing is unseemly and everything is good."

College of Bishops, headed by the successor of Peter Diocesan Priests

Missionaries and Religious Institutes Ad Gentes

CHAPTER VI LEADERS AND WORKERS IN THE MISSIONARY APOSTOLATE

All the Laity Consecrated Life

Catechists and the Variety of ministries

Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Other Structures for Missionary activity

Jesus gave the College of Apostles, with Peter as its head, the responsibility for mission. In the same way, the bishops and the pope are responsible for it. Bishops are consecrated not only for a particular diocese but for the salvation of the entire world. Each Bishop has a wide-ranging widemissionary duty: to promote, direct, coordinate missionary activity, devoting a fair share of personnel and funds to the evangelization of non Christians. Each particular churches must be generous and open to the needs of other churches.

College of Bishops, headed by the successor of Peter

Of fundamental importance in the missionary apostolate are persons and institutes with a special vocation patterned on that of the apostles, manifested in a total commitment to evangelization with one s whole person and life. The missionary institutes, remaining faithful to their charism, must employ all means necessary to ensure adequate preparation of candidates and the renewal of their members spiritual, moral, and physical energies. It is praiseworthy that these institutes receive more and more candidates from the young churches they have founded. They remain absolutely necessary not only for the mission ad gentes, but also for stirring up gentes, mission fervor both in the older and younger churches. The missionary vocation for life retains its validity. Those missionaries should not be daunted by doubts, but revive their charism and courageously press on, preferring the most demanding places.

Missionaries and Religious Institutes Ad Gentes

The spiritual gift that priests have received in ordination prepares them, not for any narrow and limited mission, but for the most universal and all-embracing mission of allsalvation to the end of the earth. Their formation should aim at the Catholic spirit, transcending their diocese, country, or rite, ready to preach the Gospel anywhere Fidei Donum (Pius XII), encouraged bishops to offer some of their priests for temporary service in the churches of Africa. John Paul II hoped that this spirit of service will increase among the priests of old and new churches.

Diocesa n Priests

Institutes of Consecrated life, whose members, because of the dedication to the service of the Church deriving from their very consecration, have an obligation to play a special part in missionary activity, in a manner appropriate to their Institute Two exhortations: a. For the Institutes of Contemplative Life to establish communities in the young churches so as to bear glorious witness among non-Christians to the majesty nonand love of God, as well as to unity in Christ b. For Institutes of Active Life, the Pope recommended the immense opportunities for works of charity, for the proclamation of the Gospel, for Christian education, cultural endeavors and solidarity with the poor and those suffering from discrimination, abandonment and oppression. No one witness more effectively than those who profess the consecrated life of chastity, poverty, and obedience in their total gift of self to God and the service of humankind after the example of Jesus Christ This is especially true of those missionary religious sisters, whose virginity for the sake of the Kingdom is transformed into a motherhood in the spirit that is rich and fruitful.

Missionary Fruitfulness of Consecrated Life

All the laity are missionaries by Baptism and through baptism shared in the threefold mission of Christ (priest, king, prophet) The mission ad gentes rests on the shoulder of the entire people of God From the beginning the laity shared in spreading the faith. There were circumstances where only through the laity the people are able to hear the Gospel and to know Christ. Their own field is the vast and complicated world of politics, society, and economics on the local, national, and international levels. There are ecclesial movement that are filled with missionary dynamism and the Pope recommended that these should be spread especially among the young people, in view of pluralistic ways in which Christians can express themselves. The laity form an essential and undeniable element in the planting of the church.

All the Laity

There will always be a need for their ministry and that they are specialists recognized as such by the New Code of Canon Law. Their work is more and more difficult because of all the challenges taking place. In view of these, they need careful training, a decent standard of living, and social security. Other leaders: those in charge of prayer, song, and liturgy, leaders of basic communities, administrators, and teachers also serves in their own way to the church and her mission. All the members of the laity ought to devote a part of their time to the Church, living their faith authentically.

Catechists and the Variety of ministries

The Church s mission requires organization and communion. The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is responsible for missionary activity and cooperation. Their task is to recruit and distribute missionaries, draw up plan of action, issue norms, directives, and principles, and assist in the initial stages. Episcopal conferences, major superiors, and all others should faithfully cooperate with this congregation. The Congregation itself should keep in close contact with all the other congregations, with local churches and the various missionary forces. Episcopal conferences are asked to look into the directing and coordinating of missionary activity and to consider the complex issue of inculturation, so that the missionary concern will be shared by all Missionary institutions should join their forces and initiatives, and cooperate in formation, study, and the actual apostolate.

Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Other Structures for Missionary activity

CHAPTER VII COOPERATION IN MISSIONARY ACTIVITY

Prayer and Sacrifice

Promoting Missionary Vocation

Sharing of Material and Financial Resources

Missionary Promotion and Formation among the People of God

All Christians share responsibility for missionary activity, rooted and lived in personal union with Christ.

New Forms of Missionary Cooperation

Pontifical Mission Societies

Not only Giving to the Missions but also Receiving from Them as Well

God is Preparing a New Springtime for the Gospel

Tourism can be an enriching experience, and visiting the missions is commendable, especially on the part of the young who go there to serve and gain experience. Reasons of work can bring Christians to areas where Christianity is unknown, forbidden, or even persecuted. They offer opportunities to live the faith and bear witness to it. People from mission countries settling in traditionally Christian countries challenge hospitality, dialogue, service, sharing, witness, and direct proclamation. The increasing interdependence between peoples offers a new stimulus for witness and evangelization.

New Forms of Missionary Cooperatio n

The vocation to a lifelong commitment to mission in missionary institutions and congregations should be promoted. Promoting such vocation is at the heart of missionary cooperation. Parents should foster missionary vocations, and young people should listen to Christ s invitation Follow me! replying: Here I am Lord! I am ready! Send me! .

Promoting Missionary Vocation

Missionary formation is central to the Christian life and that Churches should make it a key element in their pastoral activity. It is necessary that missionary publications and audiovisual aids spread information. It is important that missionary institutes devote personnel and resources to them, especially in the younger churches. The church s universal mission, ecumenism, the great religions, and missiology should be studied in seminaries and houses of formation for men and women religious, ensuring that some specialize in the different fields of missiology. Mission promotion must always give the full picture keeping in mind the primary task of bearing witness to and proclaim salvation in Christ and to establish local churches, which then become means of liberation in every sense.

Missionary Promotion and Formation among the People of God

The four Pontifical Mission Societies (Propagation of the Faith, Saint Peter the Apostle, Holy Childhood, and the Missionary Union) have a common purpose the promotion of missionary consciousness and formation and the fostering of lifelong vocations ad gentes. gentes. Under the leadership of the pope and the College of Bishops, and depending on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, they unite the churches for the conversion of the whole world.

Primary Responsibility of Pontifical Mission Societies

Cooperating in missionary activity means not only giving but also receiving. By virtue of catholicity, the individual parts bring their own gifts to other parts and the whole world. It is urged by the Pope for all to be open to this universality and to avoid provincialism of feelings of self-sufficiency. selfAll the churches, both young and old, should not isolate themselves and they need to be in contact with all the brothers and sisters in the faith.

Not only Giving to the Missions but also Receiving from Them as Well

A look at today s world can lead to pessimism. Yet there are signs that God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity. People are gradually drawing closer to the Gospel values (rejection of violence and war, respect for the human person and human rights, the desire for freedom, justice, and brotherhood/ sisterhood, the surmounting of racism and nationalism, the affirmation of the dignity and the role of women) The number of those awaiting Christ is immense, requiring us to unite all the church s resources. The missionary task must remain foremost for it concerns the destiny of humanity.

God is Preparing a New Springtime for the Gospel

CHAPTER VIII MISSIONARY SPIRITUALITY

Being led by the Spirit

The True Missionary is the Saint

Missionary Spirituality
Loving the Church and Humanity as Jesus did

Living the Mystery of Christ, the One Who was Sent

Being led by the Spirit

Gifts (essential elements of Missionary Spirituality)

Fortitude

Discernment Complete Docility to the Spirit

Molded from within by the Spirit

Becoming ever more like Christ

The Spirit transformed the Apostles into courageous witnesses to Christ and enlightened heralds of his word. In the face of difficult and complex mission, we often experience the dramatic situation of the first Christian community.

Living the Mystery of Christ, the One Who was Sent

An essential characteristic of missionary spirituality is intimate communion with Christ, who became obedient unto death, even death on the cross (cf. Phil 2: 5-8). 5Missionaries are required: - To renounce themselves - To make themselves everything to everyone. (AG 24) It is precisely because he is sent that the missionary experiences the consoling presence of Christ, who is with him at every moment of life

Loving the Church and Humanity as Jesus did

Missionary spirituality is marked with the Charity of Christ, who came to gather into one, the children of God who are scattered abroad (Jn 11:52) 11:52) Missionaries are the universal brothers/ sisters proclaiming that God loves all by being urged on by zeal for souls and by being a person of charity, overcoming barriers of race, caste, and ideology. Missionaries love the church just as Christ loved it and gave himself up for her . Only profound love for the church can sustain the missionary s zeal.

The True Missionary is the Saint

The call to mission derives from the call to holiness. The church s missionary spirituality is a journey towards holiness. The renewed impulse to mission ad gentes demands holy missionaries. Underlying the missionary enthusiasm of the first Christian communities was the holiness of those first Christians. To the recently baptized and young Churches: set themselves on the path of holiness and be a leaven of missionary spirit for the older Churches. Missionaries should be contemplative in action and be people of the Beatitudes.

Conclusion
  

 

Today the Church has the opportunity to bring the Gospel to the world as never before. All are called to respond with generosity and holiness to the calls and challenges of our times. We must gather in the Upper Room as the Apostles did, together with Mary, the mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:14) to be guided by the Holy Spirit. JP II entrust the Church and in particular those who commit themselves to the missionary mandate to Mary s mediation. As Christ sent forth his Apostles in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, so too, renewing that same mandate, I extend to all of you my Apostolic Blessing in the name of the same Most Holy Trinity. Amen.