(ANS - Rome) -"I've always said yes to the Lord, not always convinced, but always with full availability," said Don Ángel Fernández Artime homily addressed to the Confreres of the General House, during the 'Mass of thanksgiving to God for his birthday, today August 21.

In his brief homily, the Rector Major spoke of the community, his family, service and vocational discernment.

During his homily he addressed the confreres of the General House: "Thank you, my confreres, for your prayers and your presence here: you are my brothers and my community (...).   Many times we are living together for many years and we do not know the life story of our brothers. This is a great pity, which indicates that something is not right."

And in relation to this, the Rector Major told fragments of his life story: "I thank God for my family and its humble origin." He added that he feels proud to be a son of a fisherman. He confessed that he should have been a fisherman, but that "the ways of God are such and that he has had the opportunity to get to know the Salesians and learn from them and it was there that he felt the call to try and live as a Salesian."

He concluded with a reference to his service: "I am happy because the Lord has given me great things and I am not referring to being the Rector Major. I've always felt the presence of God, I always said yes to the Lord, not always convinced, but always with full availability (...). I am convinced that our whole life is made to serve. "

Posted on 08/21/2014