Page 30 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

“Help Us to Discover the Depth and Richness of Social Credit”

Homily of Archbishop Marie Daniel Dadiet of the Ivory Coast

Here is the homily of Archbishop Marie Daniel We know that last year, in the parish of Fr. Patrice
Dadiet at the parish church of Saint Cesaire (a town Savadogo, there were fifteen days of reflection on So-
next to Rougemont) on September 2, 2009. Most Rev. cial Credit. Last March, the National Commission of
Dadiet is Archbishop of Korhogo, Ivo- Justice and Peace of the Ivory Coast
ry Coast, vice president of the Bish- received a delegation of the Pilgrims
ops’ conference of the Ivory Coast of St. Michael on the occasion of our
and president of the Bishops’ Justice national counsel and they had the
and Peace Commission for the Ivory occasion to speak of Social Credit to
Coast. those assisting the counsel. They as-
Excellencies, Reverend fathers sembled in Aboville, which is the dio-
and sisters, dear friends; Pilgrims of cese of Bishop Alexis Touabli. Since
St. Michael, dear guests and pastor then, the members of the Justice and
of the parish that receives us (Fr. Re- Peace Commission have not ceased
jean Racine, pastor of Saint Cesaire). to reflect and to spread the message
I would like to repeat, with you and of Social Credit so that it may be-
for myself, the thanksgiving said by come one of their principle activities.
the Blessed Virgin Mary: “The Lord I would like, before continuing, to say
has done great things for me, Holy is thank you to the Louis Even Institute,
His Name.” (Luke 1:46.) who also invited the National Chap-
lain of Justice and Peace of the Ivory
Like the Virgin Mary I would like
to say thank you to the Lord, Who Coast, Fr. Georges-Marie Angoran. I
think that when he returns to the Ivo-
wished that we would be here with ry Coast, he will have time to instruct
our friends, our brothers and sisters, and repeat all that he heard at the congress that we are
the Pilgrims of St. Michael. Thanks to the Lord who now living. Thank you for the invitation. (…)
wished to give us this occasion to meet our brothers
and sisters from all the continents of the world. Thanks Today Africa knows enormous difficulties. Our
to the Lord who gave us this occasion to participate countries are torn apart, our countries are at war.
in these days of reflection and to this congress orga- There are countries in which has war existed for the
nized by our friends the Pilgrims of St. Michael. It is my last forty or fifty years – in the Ivory Coast we have
first encounter with the Louis Even Institute, and I am only had seven years of war, but in other places it is
happy to be here and to participate in the activities that more than that. Can we preach the Gospel today to
are organized for this occasion. someone who is hungry? Can we teach the Word of
Already our father, Cardinal Bernard Agre has spo- God to those who are hungry or enter into a house
today and say: “The peace of the Lord be with you.”
ken in Abidjan (the largest city in the Ivory Coast) of the Will these people who address the greeting of Christ
activities of the Louis Even Institute. I remember one from God, say to these people who are hungry, who
time in his office; he gave me three documents con- are thirsty, who are suffering and dying of hunger, will
cerning your activities. (Three books on Social Credit.) they be able to answer me? I think not.
He said to me: “My son, I am counting on you to read
these documents, after come again to see me and we So dear friends, Pilgrims of St. Michael, we are
will discuss them.” If I am here today, it is thanks to his counting on your dynamism, we count on your open
advice, to his invitation, because the Cardinal is our spirit: help us to discover the depth and riches of
father and we cannot refuse what he asks. If he asks, it Social Credit. Help our political leaders to know and
is because it is for our good, our formation and our life discover the importance of Social Credit, because
as a bishop and priest. many times the message addresses itself, not to the
simple and the weak, but to those who have a charge
Yes dear friends, we are happy to be with you, it
is thanks to you that we are now discovering Social of renewing life, to those who have an obligation to
convert or be in the heart of the conversion, because
Credit. You travel throughout the world and through- sometimes they ignore the message of salvation that
out Africa. With all your deeds, you wish that each we are addressing to them.
person would know and understand the message of
Social Credit. In our countries of Africa and more pre- So during this Mass, we will ask the Lord to
cisely in the Ivory Coast, groups have been created touch the hearts of our leaders, to touch the hearts of
that are working on these documents. all those who are able to renew the world, that they
may bring peace to our world and touch the hearts

30 2009 session www.michaeljournal.org