Lima, Peru, Oct 5, 2010 / 09:57 am
Archbishop Jose Antonio Eguren of Piura, Peru reminded the faithful participating in last week's pilgrimage for the feast of Our Lord of Ayabaca that faith is strengthened when it becomes action.
During the Mass before the pilgrimage, the archbishop explained that faith grows, matures and is strengthened when it is manifested in one's daily conduct. "The problem is when the consequences of our faith do not take root, when we do not strive to live this faith each day in all of the concrete circumstances of life," he warned.
For this reason, the archbishop continued, "As we return from Ayabaca to our daily activities, we must live as authentic Christians, consistent with our status as children of God, sons and daughters of the church.
“The pilgrimage does not end in Ayabaca, it continues in our lives."
Archbishop Eguren said faith is a gift from God, "a supernatural grace that precedes and sustains every human effort to increase that faith and make it bear fruit." The archbishop invited the faithful to thank the Lord for this gift and to ask that the faith of all Christians be increased.