The Christian at the Dawn of a New Era
The last book of Cardinal Suenens, The Christian at the Dawn of a New Era, is a
sort of spiritual testament. In it he situates the Christian as “disciple of
Jesus Christ”, “animated by the Holy Spirit”, “child of the Father”. In fact, he
takes up the themes proposed by John Paul II, that would mark the three
preparatory years leading up to the year 2000 and foresees the third millennium
as the age when an alliance of love would emerge among all people.
The Christian is called to witness, at the heart of the world, to the existence
of the Trinitarian God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who calls us to enter into
an intimate relationship with Him, as the Virgin Mary was called to do at the
Annunciation.
The spirituality of the Christian of the third millennium will be at once
profoundly filial and universally fraternal, under the impetus of the Holy
Spirit. As a baptized person, a Christian will in essence be an evangelizer, for
he or she cannot conceal the joy that dwells within him or her nor the mission
received from Jesus to “Go and teach all the nations.”
The book ends with an “evangelical commitment” which is presented as a spiritual
journey, and which gives us at the same time the necessary signposts for every
action undertaken: “go and bear fruit and that your fruit may abide” (Jn.15.16).
This evangelical commitment could be made in the course of a suitable retreat
and be renewed each year at Pentecost.