Vatican Curia Lenten Spiritual Exercises: 'water is taught by thirst'

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Source: Vatican News Service

Pope Francis with members of the Curia, have begun a week of Lenten Spiritual Exercises at Casa Gesù Divin Maestro'(the Divine Master House) in the town of Ariccia near Rome.

The retreat this year is been led by Portuguese priest and Biblical theologian, Father José Tolentino de Mendonça, vice-rector of the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon. Pope Francis left Rome on Sunday afternoon.

All the Pope's activities, including the General Audience have been suspended for the week.

During the first full day, on Monday, Fr José Tolentino Mendonça reflected on St John's Gospel, in the final chapter of the Book of Revelation, when Jesus says: "Let the one who thirsts come."

Fr Jose said, even though we still are "incomplete" and "under construction," Jesus offers us "the water of life," namely unconditional love. He noted the importance of us recognizing that we "are the ones who are thirsty" and "just how much we thirst."

"Do we allow our thirst to be a school of authentic awareness - ours and God's?" Our thirst goes undetected because it "is painful and is discovered little by little."

He underlined that as any dehydrated person can affirm, water is the cure. He quoted American poet Emily Dickinson who said: "water is taught by thirst."

Father Tolentino concluded, reminding Jesus wants us to dialogue with Him about "the most profound dimensions of existence, so that we can meet that thirst present in every human person: thirst for relationship, acceptance and love."

The retreat will end on Friday. The Spiritual Exercises used to be held in the Vatican, but in 2014, Pope Francis moved them to the retreat house, 16 miles outside of Rome.