"After saying this, JESUS lifted up HIS eyes to heaven and said, 'FATHER. the hour has come! Give glory to YOUR Son, that the Son may give glory to YOU. YOU have given HIM power over all humanity, so that HE may give eternal life to all those YOU entrusted to HIM. For this is eternal life: to know YOU, the only true GOD, and the One YOU sent, JESUS CHRIST.
I have glorified YOU on earth and finished the work that YOU gave ME to do. Now, FATHER, give ME, in YOUR presence, the same glory I had with YOU before the world began.
I had made YOUR name known to those YOU gave ME from the world. They were YOURS, and YOU gave them to ME, and they kept YOUR word. And now they know that whatever YOU entrusted to ME, is indeed from YOU. I have given them the teaching I received from YOU, and they accepted it, and know in truth that I came from YOU; and they believe that YOU sent ME.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those who belong to YOU, and whom YOU have given to ME. Indeed all I have is YOURS, and all YOU have is MINE; and now they are MY glory. I AM no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to YOU. Holy FATHER, keep those YOU have given ME in YOUR name, so that they may be one, as WE also are.'" - John 17:1-11
(Keep those YOU have given ME in YOUR name. In other words: keep them in the radiance of YOUR own sanctity, with which YOU embrace YOUR Son. At that moment JESUS prayed for HIS Church, to whom HE entrusted HIS own mission. The principal duty of the Church is to know GOD. Whatever the situation of the Church might be, its proper and indispensable mission will be to keep and proclaim the true knowledge of GOD and the commandment of HIS Son.
JESUS wants each of his own to know GOD. This knowledge comes to us when we interiorize the word of GOD, persevere in prayer and join community celebrations. In this we will have the help of the Holy Spirit, from whom come the gifts of knowledge and wisdom [Colossians 1:9]. From knowledge will spring good works and love; this is the beginning of eternal life in which we will see GOD as HE is [1 John 2:3].
JESUS prayed that HIS Church might be one, that is to say, that it might be the sign of unity in a divided world. It is not enough that CHRIST is preached; it is also necessary for the world to see in its midst the Church, one and united.
Catholic Church, means, universal. In the Church no one is a stranger. One Church, through one same spirit, and through the visible unity of its members.)
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