Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Prayer vs. evil

During morning Mass today, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of entrusting the Church to God through constant prayer.  The Pope said that while with our work we can safeguard the Church, what the Lord Lord does is much more important. He is the only One who can look into the face of evil and overcome it., the Pope said. If we do not want the prince of this world to take the Church into his hands, we must entrust it to the One who can defeat the prince of this world.

Here the question arises: do we pray for the Church, for the entire Church? For our brothers and sisters whom we do not know, everywhere in the world? It is the Lord's Church and in our prayer we say to the Lord: Lord, look at your Church. It' s yours. Your Church is [made up of] our brothers and sisters. This is a prayer that must come from our heart.  While it is easy to pray to the Lord when we need something, Pope Francis said that it is fundamental that we pray for all who have received the same Baptism.

Entrusting the Church to the Lord is a prayer that makes the Church grow. It is also an act of faith. We can do nothing, we are poor servants - all of us - of the Church, Pope Francis said. It is He who keeps her going and holds her and makes her grow , makes her holy, defends and protects her from the prince of this world and what he wants the Church to become, in short more and more worldly. This is the greatest danger!

The 76 year old Pontiff warned that a worldly Church, with the spirit of the world within herself, becomes weak, a defeated Church, unable to transmit the Gospel, the message of the Cross, the scandal of the Cross. She cannot transmit this if she is worldly. The Holy Father called on the faithful to entrust the Church, the elderly, the sick, the children and the youth to God in the midst of tribulations. Doing so, he continued, Christ will give us, in the midst of tribulations, the peace that only He can give.  This peace which the world cannot give, that peace that cannot be bought, that peace which is a true gift of the presence of Jesus in the midst of his Church, the Holy Father said. “Entrust all this to the Lord, guard your Church in tribulation, so she does not lose faith, so she does not lose hope.

Pope Francis concluded his homily asking the Lord to give all faithful the strength to not lose faith and hope. Entrusting the Church to the Lord, he said, will do us and the Church good. It will give us great peace [and although] it will not rid us of our tribulations, it will make us stronger in our sufferings.

Vatican meets Israel


Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel. President Peres then went on to meet with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks, the political and social situation in the Middle East—where more than a few conflicts persist—was addressed. A speedy resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians is hoped for, so that, with the courageous decisions and availability of both sides as well as support from the international community, an agreement may be reached that respects the legitimate aspirations of the two Peoples, thus decisively contributing to the peace and stability of the region. Reference to the important issue of the City of Jerusalem was not overlooked. Particular worry for the conflict that plagues Syria was expressed, for which a political solution is hoped for that privileges the logic of reconciliation and dialogue.

A number of issues concerning relations between the State of Israel and the Holy See and between state authorities and the local Catholic communities were also addressed. In conclusion, the significant progress made by the Bilateral Working Commission, which is preparing an agreement regarding issues of common interest, was appreciated and its rapid conclusion is foreseen.

Vatican issues joint stamps with Argentina

This morning, in the Library of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis was presented with the stamps issued jointly between the Vatican City State and Argentina, which are dedicated to the beginning of his Pontificate.
 
The four stamps in the set, which reproduce photographic images of the new pontiff, have the values of: €0.70 (for mail to Italy); €0.85 (Europe); €2.00 (Africa, Asia, the Americas); and €2.50 (Oceania). There will be 250,000 complete series printed.
 
The Philatelic and Numismatic Office will issue, along with the stamp series, a stamp and coin card and an official collector's edition folder with the four stamps and a postcard of the first page of the extraordinary edition of the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, from 13 March 2013 (the day of the new pontiff's election).

Monday, April 29, 2013

Three examples of discipleship

During the Easter season, the scripture passages presented provide examples of discipleship.  Today, the proposed scriptures also present examples of Jesus invitation for us to follow him, and they teach us a bit more about what we must do in order to follow in his footsteps.

In the gospel passage (Jn 14:21-26), Jesus tells his disciples Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him (Jn 14:23).  Jesus invited his disciples - he did not force them to follow him - he invited them by modeling for them the life that he wanted them to live: a life characterized by mercy, by love, by welcome, by forgiveness.  Even today, Christ invites us to discover the deep abiding love that makes these characteristics possible in our lives.  If we allow our hearts to be moulded by his love, we too will learn how to love as he has loved us.

In today's world, as it was in the time of the disciples, some hearts may find it difficult to believe that love has the power to change even the most hardened spirits, even the most doubtful hearts; but love is stronger than any proposition that human beings might conceive of.  Even the most forboding walls will fall in the face of the warmth of love.

Jesus' disciples first doubted his words, but as they heard the words he spoke, as they questioned them, and as they bore witness to the fact that his words were also backed up with his actions, they came to believe ... but not without their share of doubt.  Only in the light of the Resurrection, when they were able to meet the Risen Christ, were they able to come to believe that the promises he spoke of while he was alive on earth would eventually come to pass.

The power of Christ's love was enough to convice the disciples, and to embolden them so that they in turn could and would continue the work of proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.  Like Jesus, the disciples too encountered doubt and fear on the part of their hearers.  The Greeks even chose at first to believe that Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods reincarnated (Acts 14:12), but through their words, and moreso through their conviction, the disciples were able to convince at least some of their hearers to embark on the path of discipleship.

Ever since those days, the work of speaking the truth of the gospel has been confided to Christ's followers.  Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, a lay woman who was eventually recognized as a Doctor of the Church.  Catherine was the 23rd of 25 children born to her parents.  Among the youngest of her family, she was often ignored, but because she had been born into privilege, she was entitled to many blessings and riches.  Instead, Catherine chose to forego all these earthly pleasures and to concentrate her efforts on promoting peace, on speaking the truth of the gospel ... even to the point of imploring the Pope of the time to return to Rome from Avignon.  Her many writings were preserved and have formed part of the teachings of the Church.  For her wisdom and faith, and for the clarity with which she explained many virtues, she was rewarded with the title of Doctor of the Church.

Catherine of Siena, an example of putting faith into action, an example of discipleship, an example of the power of love and faith ... pray for us.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Greetings for Confirmandi ... and prayers for people of Bangladesh

At the conclusion of the celebration of Mass this morning, during which the Holy Father presided over the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for 44 candidates in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican, the Pope led the recitation of the Regina Coeli, inviting all the pilgrims who had gathered in the Square to join him.

Before the recitation of the Marian prayer, the Pope shared the following greetings.

 

Greeting of His Holiness, Pope Francis 
before the recitation of the Regina Coeli  

Before concluding this celebration I would like to entrust the confirmandi and all of you to Our Lady. The Virgin Mary teaches us what it means to live in the Holy Spirit and what it means to welcome the newness of God in our life. She conceived Jesus by the work of the Spirit, and every Christian, each one of us, is called to welcome the Word of God, to welcome Jesus in ourselves and then bring him to everyone. Mary invoked the Spirit with the Apostles in the upper room: every time that we come together in prayer, we are supported by the spiritual presence of the Mother of Jesus, to receive the gift of the Spirit and to have the ability to bear witness to the risen Jesus. I say this in a special way to you who have received Confirmation today: may Mary help you to be attentive to that which the Lord asks of you, and always to live and to walk according to the Holy Spirit!

I would like to extend my affectionate greeting to all of the pilgrims who have come from many countries. In particular I greet the young people who are preparing for Confirmation, the large group led by the Sisters of Charity, the parish groups from Poland and Bisignano, as well as the Katholische akademische Verbindung Capitolina.

At this time, a special time, I would like to offer a prayer for the numerous victims of the tragic collapse of a factory in Bangladesh. I express my solidarity and profound closeness to the families who weep for their loved ones and from the depths of my heart I sincerely call for the protection of the dignity and security of the worker.

Now in the Easter light, fruit of the Spirit, we turn together to the Mother of the Lord.

 

Regina coeli, laetare, Alleluia!
Quia quem meruisti Portare, Alleluia!
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, Alleluia!
Ora pro nobis Deum, Alleluia!
Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia!
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii Tui,
Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum laetificare dignatus es:
praesta quaesumus ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae.
Per eumdem Christum Cominum nostrum. Amen.

Encouraging today's disciples


Encourage them to continue in the faith
There was a training session held this past week for people in our parishes who will be involved in various ways with the parish program which we are calling Arise together in Christ!  One of the hopes that we have for the Arise! program is that it will provide an opportunity for people in our diocese to rekindle their understanding and enthusiasm for our faith.  As I came away from that meeting this week, I began to think about the examples of faith that we already have in the commitment of those who are so actively involved in this parish.

Every day since my arrival (a few months ago now), I have given thanks to God for the gift of faith that I've encountered: in the adults who bring their newborns to this parish and ask us to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism with them, in the adults who have journeyed with us in preparation for their own celebrations of the Sacraments of Initiation, in the children who are preparing for the Sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation, in the couples who are preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony with us this summer … and in those who provide examples of faith for us even though they are confined by illness and infirmity.  Each of us helps the others in this community to witness faith in action, and each of us provides the witness of our own faith so that others who see what we do might come to know and to love the Risen Lord.

We live by the light of faith because Jesus provided an example of living by this light to his disciples.  The gospel tells us that he loved his disciples and I can imagine that those who knew the tender love of Jesus’ heart were fortunate indeed.  In fact, when the time came for him to depart from this world, he knew that his disciples would not find it easy to face such trial.  That’s why he first modeled for them the power of love.  Only after he had shown them how to love did he ask them to accept the new commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you.  Throughout the centuries that have come and gone since then, Jesus continues to invite his disciples (that’s you and me) to love one another just has he has loved us.  Because we have encountered his love, we can teach our children how to love.  By the example of love that we show in our actions and our words, children learn the power of love, and they too learn how to live in the light of Jesus’ love.

Not only children, but neophytes too (the adults who have been recently baptised and confirmed) learn the power of Christ’s love through the example of love they witness in and through us.  In fact it was precisely through the witness of love that Saint Paul was able to embrace the invitation that Jesus gave to him -  to become a man of deep faith.  Together with Barnabas, another of Jesus’ disciples, Paul traveled to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, and Attilia – to all the corners of the known world in order to tell others about Jesus, the Son of God, about the kingdom he had proclaimed, about the fact that he suffered, died and rose again, all because of the infinite love that God has for us.  Paul and Barnabas also challenged the residents of those many cities to live as people of faith and conviction, as people who believe these truths not only because they have heard them, but because they themselves have experienced God's love, God's forgiveness and the sweet presence of the Risen Christ.


Like Paul and Barnabas, each of us is being invited to encourage our children, our friends, our relatives, our colleagues and our contemporaries to come to believe these truths, and to continue in the faith, sharing the good news of our faith with others.  Along the way, we come to the table of the Lord to partake in the gift of his special food.  This special food is a foretaste of heaven.  It helps us to strengthen our faith, and to grow each day in our belief that God wants to make his home among us.  In fact the truth is that when our journey on this earth comes to an end, we will indeed dwell with the Risen Christ in heaven.  The dream of our God has always been that we should discover the fullness of life, love and joy in His presence.  That’s why John’s vision of heaven is described as a place where God will wipe every tear from our eyes, where death will be no more, where mourning and crying and pain will be no more, and where all things will be made new.

During this Year of Faith, we are all being encouraged to renew our understanding of the gift of faith and the promise of life that has been entrusted to us on the day of our baptism.  With the gift of the Eucharist to strengthen us, and the oil of Chrism to seal the promise of faith, let us all go out to the world around us, proclaiming the joy and promise of our faith with enthusiasm.  Let us dare to share this gift of faith with others, and encourage them all to come to believe.

Pope celebrates the Sacrament of Confirmation

At 10:00am today in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided at the weekly Sunday Mass.  Joining him today were young people from the Diocese of Rome who are celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, and youth from other dioceses throughout the world who also have been Confirmed or who will be Confirmed during the Year of Faith.  The Holy Father also Confirmed 44 young people during the celebration of this Mass.

Here is the English-language translation of the homily which the Holy Father spoke (in Italian) to the 70,000 Confirmandi and others who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square for this special celebration.


Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the Mass with Confirmandi

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Dear Confirmands,

I would like to offer three short and simple thoughts for your reflection.

1. In the second reading, we listened to the beautiful vision of Saint John: a new heavens and a new earth, and then the Holy City coming down from God. All is new, changed into good, beauty and truth; there are no more tears or mourning… This is the work of the Holy Spirit: he brings us the new things of God. He comes to us and makes all things new; he changes us. The Spirit changes us! And Saint John’s vision reminds us that all of us are journeying towards the heavenly Jerusalem, the ultimate newness which awaits us and all reality, the happy day when we will see the Lord’s face – that marvelous face, the most beautiful face of the Lord Jesus - and be with him for ever, in his love.

You see, the new things of God are not like the novelties of this world, all of which are temporary; they come and go, and we keep looking for more. The new things which God gives to our lives are lasting, not only in the future, when we will be with him, but today as well. God is even now making all things new; the Holy Spirit is truly transforming us, and through us he also wants to transform the world in which we live. Let us open the doors to the Spirit, let ourselves be guided by him, and allow God’s constant help to make us new men and women, inspired by the love of God which the Holy Spirit bestows on us! How beautiful it would be if each of you, every evening, could say: Today at school, at home, at work, guided by God, I showed a sign of love towards one of my friends, my parents, an older person! How beautiful!

2. A second thought. In the first reading Paul and Barnabas say that we must undergo many trials if we are to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). The journey of the Church, and our own personal journeys as Christians, are not always easy; they meet with difficulties and trials. To follow the Lord, to let his Spirit transform the shadowy parts of our lives, our ungodly ways of acting, and cleanse us of our sins, is to set out on a path with many obstacles, both in the world around us but also within us, in the heart. But difficulties and trials are part of the path that leads to God’s glory, just as they were for Jesus, who was glorified on the cross; we will always encounter them in life! Do not be discouraged! We have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome these trials!

3. And here I come to my last point. It is an invitation which I make to you, young confirmandi, and to all present. Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. Pay attention, my young friends: to go against the current; this is good for the heart, but we need courage to swim against the tide. Jesus gives us this courage! There are no difficulties, trials or misunderstandings to fear, provided we remain united to God as branches to the vine, provided we do not lose our friendship with him, provided we make ever more room for him in our lives. This is especially so whenever we feel poor, weak and sinful, because God grants strength to our weakness, riches to our poverty, conversion and forgiveness of our sinfulness. The Lord is so rich in mercy: every time, if we go to him, he forgives us. Let us trust in God’s work! With him we can do great things; he will give us the joy of being his disciples, his witnesses. Commit yourselves to great ideals, to the most important things. We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; push onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals, my dear young people!



The new things of God, the trials of life, remaining steadfast in the Lord. Dear friends, let us open wide the door of our lives to the new things of God which the Holy Spirit gives us. May he transform us, confirm us in our trials, strengthen our union with the Lord, our steadfastness in him: this is a true joy! Amen.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Pope met Italian Prime Minister

L'Osservatore Romano reported this morning that Pope Francis met late yesterday afternoon with Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti in the Domus Sanctae Martae.  The meeting lasted 20 minutes.  The Senator was  accompanied  by his wife Elsa.

According to the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardy, their conversation was very cordial and regarded the situation in Italy, European integration with all of its prospects and migrations.  Among other things, Senator Monti told the Pope that his own father had been born in Argentina in 1900 to Italian immigrants.

The Pope gave the Senator a book with the first discourses of his pontificate, a set of Vatican coins and a rosary. For his part, Monti offered the Pope a triptych  of pens and his book on democracy in Europe.

Praying for Bangladesh

Join me in praying for the victims of the tragedy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that God will grant comfort and strength to their families, said Pope Francis, in a tweet sent out this morning.

More than 340 people died when a building collapsed on Wednesday, and authorities are still working to pull survivors from the rubble. As many as 900 people could still be missing.

Two factory bosses and two engineers were arrested in Bangladesh on Saturday in connection with the disaster. The owner of the building is on the run, despite calls to turn himself in.

Sending a delegate to Lithuania

In a letter dated February 27, 2013, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI appointed His Eminence, Stanislaus Cardinal Dziwisz, the Archbishop of Krakow, Poland as his representative at the celebration of the six hundredth anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of Kaunas, Lithuania.  The celebration will take place on May 5 of this year.

Cardinal Dziwisz will be accompanied by Monsignor Vytautas Vaičiūnas,Vice-dean of the Faculty of Theology at Kaunas; and Monsignor Arturas Jagelavičius, Professor at the Faculty of Theology at Kaunas and Pro-judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Kaunas.

 

Letter of His Holiness, Pope Francis 
addressed to His Eminence, Stanislaus Cardinal Dziwisz
Archbishop of Krakow
(original text in Latin)


To my Venerable Brother
Stanislaus Cardinal Dziwisz
Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow

In a solemn manner, the Church of Kaunas is celebrating the six hundredth anniversary of the erection of her Cathedral, built in the year 1413, one of the first Christian churches erected in Lithuania. The particular architecture of this Cathedral is noted for its beauty, a testament to the many faithful who, over the centuries have shared the gifts and talents entrusted to them, including artisans from all parts of Lithuania who have confided themselves to the intercession of the apostles Peter and Paul.  The building was designated as a cathedral and then too the title of a Minor Basilica was accorded.  In the year 1926, the Metropolitan Province of Kaunas was established, and the Archbishop of that circumscription was appointed as a Metropolitan Archbishop.  Throughout the succeeding years, particularly in times of distress as a reult of hostility toward religion suffered under the government of the time, the importance of the Christian religion remained constant and clear for the sake of the Lithuanian faithful, in fidelity to the Apostolic See.

The dear and faithful flock of Kaunas was guided in its spiritual journey by the Pastors and priests who cared for the Cathedral throughout the years of its history, including our Venerable Brother Sigitas Tamkevičius, IF, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaunas to whom the pastoral care of the faithful of this Catholic community is presently entrusted.  It is encouraging to find that this particular Church has enjoyed a long hisotry of generosity which provides an incentive for all the faithful to walk in the light of Christ, renewed constantly in their generosity as they follow in His footsteps.

In recognition of the long-standing faith of this Archdiocesan community, my beloved predecessor Benedict XVI chose to appoint an excellent man to demonstrate his fraternal closeness to the city of Kaunas which has constantly manifested its closeness to the Pope.  Confirming the choice of my venerable predecessor who chose to entrust this joyous mission to you, my Venerable Brother, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, I appoint you by means of this letter, as my special envoy to the sixth centennial celebration of the dedication of the Cathedral Basilica of Kaunas which will take place on the fifth day of May of this year.

In celebration of this occasion, I ask you to attend the solemn celebration of the Euchristic sacrifice in the presence of the Archbishop of Kaunas, other prelates, priests, religious men and women and all the Christian faithful including public authorities who may also attend.  Greet them in my name.  In addition, I hope that all the illustrious history of the Church in Lithuania may be remembered at this time, including the special love for the Church of Christ and the Gospel which continues to fill the souls of all the faithful with enthusiasm and faith in their daily life.

I entrust to you, my Venerable Brother, the task of communicating my prayers and particular love for that Metropolitan Church which was so dear to my Venerable Predecessor John Paul II, a sign of which I offer through your presence with the faithful for the celebration of this important milestone.  I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing to you, as a sign of my respect for you, and a pledge of heavenly favours, and I ask you to share this Blessing equally with all those who will partake in the upcoming celebration.

From the Vatican on the 5th day of April 2013, the first of our Pontificate.

Francis

Friday, April 26, 2013

Pope meets with Madagascar

This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience Mr. Andry Nirina Rajoelina, President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar. President Rajoelina then met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, SDB., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary (of State) for Relations with States.
 
The cordial talks between Pope Francis and President Rajoelina focused on the good relations currently being enjoyed between the Holy See and the Republic of Madagascar. In addition, some aspects of the country's situation were examined, including Madagascar's efforts in the quest for stability and democracy, greater economic development, and reconstruction of international relations. The Malagasy Church's significant contribution in supporting national dialogue and its indispensable capillary commitment in the areas of health and education were highlighted.

Speaking with students

This morning, we celebrated the parish Mass and welcomed a number of students from the local high school who are here to live a day of retreat.  We also counted among our numbers a number of other parishioners who came to celebrate with us the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick - a regular monthly observance in these parts.

Inspired by the words of Pope Francis' homily from earlier today, I shared the following reflection with those who were gathered.


Homily for Mass and Anointing
with students from Saint Joseph-Scollard Hall

The gospel today places us with Jesus and his disciples in a moment of particular friendship and intimacy.  We who have the luxury of knowing the rest of the story know that this moment takes place just a short time before Jesus' days with the disciples came to an end, but the disciples themselves didn't know that.  It might help us to appreciate their point of view if we looked at the story through their eyes.

They were gathered in conversation with Jesus, a man who had met them perhaps a few years previously, a man who had called them and invited them to discover a deeper understanding of love, in fact he had even provided them with an example of personal love; a man who had spoken to them about the fact that God is not a distant reality, but one who truly loves each person as a precious gift.  Jesus loved his disciples, he believed in them, he trusted them and they trusted him.  Think perhaps about a favorite teacher, or a person who has truly believed in you, or a person who has encouraged you to be the person that you are today.  Jesus was all this and more for the disciples.

There's a beautiful phrase in today's gospel, words that Jesus speaks to the disciples at this particular moment: Do not let your hearts be troubled (Jn 14:1).  Jesus knew that his time with his disciples was drawing to a close.  He knew also that he loved them, and that they loved him.  He knew that having to be separated from them would cause them to be anxious and concerned about the future.  He also knew that he would always be with them, in a different way, but he wanted to acknowledge the fact that they must first live through the moments of grief, caused by separation, before they would come to believe in the Resurrection.  Do not let your hearts be troubled. With these words, Jesus wanted to reassure the disciples that the friendship they had built up with him would endure.

Because of the trust they had developed with Jesus, because of the fact that they were then able to come to believe that he wouldn't leave them alone, we too can come to believe that he trusts in us, that he won't leave us alone.

As a matter of fact, Jesus is present with us every day of our lives: in moments when we are most happy and have cause for celebration; in moments when we are fearful and unsure of ourselves' in moments when we are healthy, robust and confident; and in moments when we are sick, fragile and unsure of the future.

Today, we will receive the gift of Christ's body: food that he provides for us as we travel the journey toward our ultimate encounter with him.  Also during this celebration, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.  Jesus knows of our uncertainties and weaknesses, and responds to our plea for his help with the words, do not let your hearts be troubled.  In a few moments, we will invite all those present who are suffering from sickness and disease, as well as all those who are aware of physical challenge or weakness to come forward so that you may be anointed.  In fact, anyone who is aware of a serious illness or who is preparing for surgery can ask to celebrate this sacrament.  We use olive oil which has been blessed by the Bishop of the Diocese specifically for the anointing of the sick.  We place this oil on the forehead and on the palms of the hands, as a sign of our petition for God to heal and comfort our physical ailments as well as our anxieties.  Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Even in the midst of illness, the Lord is present to us, taking care of us, and asking us to trust that his friendship with us will always endure.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Jesus will come again in glory

At 10:30 yesterday morning in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father met with pilgrims from various parts of Italy and from other parts of the world for his weekly General Audience.  During the course of this meeting, the Pope continued his catechetical sessions for the Year of Faith.



Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning !

In the Creed we profess that Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Human history begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with the final judgment of Christ. We often forget these two poles of history, and above all faith in the return of Christ and the final judgment is sometimes not so clear and strong in the hearts of Christians. Jesus, during his public life, often focused on the reality of his final coming. Today I would like to reflect on three Gospel texts that help us to enter into this mystery: that of the ten virgins, the talents and that of the final judgment. All three are part of Jesus' discourse on the end times in the Gospel of St. Matthew.

First, remember that at the moment of the Ascension, the Son of God took our humanity to the Father; in his Assumption, he wanted to draw all people to himself, to call all people from all parts of the world to be welcomed into the open arms of God so that at the end of history, the whole of creation is delivered to the Father. There is, however, this intermediate time between the first coming of Christ and the last, which is precisely the time we are now living. In this context of instant time we find the parable of the ten virgins (cf. Mt 25:1-13). It is the story of ten girls waiting for the arrival of the Bridegroom, but he is late and they fall asleep. Suddenly there is an announcement that the Bridegroom is coming, all are prepared to receive him, but while five of them, wise girls, have oil to feed their lamps, the others, foolish girls, have lamps that are turned off because they do not have any oil, and while they are seeking some, the Bridegroom comes, and the foolish virgins are closed behind the door that leads into the wedding feast. They knock insistently, but it is too late, the Bridegroom responds that he does not know them. The Bridegroom is the Lord, and the waiting time of his arrival is the time that he gives us, all of us, with mercy and patience, before his final coming. It is a time for vigilance, when we must prepare lamps of faith, hope and charity, lamps which keep our hearts open to goodness, beauty and truth.  This is a time to live according to God, because we know neither the day nor the hour of Christ's return. What is asked of us is to be prepared for the meeting - prepared for a meeting with a very nice person, the encounter with Jesus - which means being able to see the signs of his presence, keeping our faith alive through prayer and the celebration of the sacraments.  Be vigilant, so as not to fall asleep, not to forget about God. Christian life that is asleep is sad; it is not a happy life. The Christian is meant to be happy, to possess the joy of Jesus, not asleep!

The second parable, the one about the talents makes us reflect on the relationship between how we use the gifts received from God and the moment of his return, when he will ask how we used them (cf. Mt 25:14-30). We know the story: before his departure, the master gives each servant some talents so that they can be well used during his absence. To the first, he gives five, to the second, two and to the third, one. In the period of the master's absence, the first two servants multiply their talents - these are ancient coins - while the third would prefer to bury his own and deliver it intact to its owner. On his return, the master judges their work: he praises the first two, while the third is cast into outer darkness, for he has kept his talent hidden out of fear, closing in on himself. A Christian who withdraws into himself, hiding all that the Lord has given is not Christian! He is a Christian who does not thank God for everything he has given him! This tells us that the time of expectation of the Lord's return is the time for action - we are in this time of the action - the time in which we must capitalize on the gifts of God, not for ourselves, but for him, for the Church, for others, the time in which we must all try to grow well in the world. And particularly in this time of crisis, today, it is important not to turn in on ourselves, burying our talents.  We must share our spiritual riches: intellectual, material, everything that the Lord has given us.  We must not be afraid to open up, be sympathetic, take care of one another. In the square, I see that there are many young people, is this true? There are many young people? Where are they? To you, who are at the beginning of life's journey, I ask: Have you thought about the talents that God has given you? Have you thought about how you can put them at the service of others? Do not bury your talents! Bet on great ideals, ideals that enlarge the heart, the ideal of service that will make your talents fruitful. Life is given to us not because we must jealously preserve it for ourselves, but we are given these gifts in order that we might share them. Dear young people, you have great futures ahead of you! Do not be afraid to dream big things!

Finally, a word about the tract of the final judgment, which describes the second coming of the Lord, when He will judge all humans, living and dead (cf. Mt 25:31-46). The image used by the evangelist is that of the shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats. To the right are placed those who have acted according to the will of God, coming to the aid of the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, in prison - I said stranger, there are so many foreigners here in the diocese of Rome: what do we do for them? - While to the left (in the judgement) He puts those who have not rescued their neighbours. This tells us that we will be judged by God based on charity, based on how we loved him in our brothers, especially the most vulnerable and needy. Of course, we must always keep in mind that we are justified, we are saved by grace, by a free act of God's love, which always precedes us, alone we can not do anything. Faith is first of all a gift that we have received. But in order to bear fruit, the grace of God always requires our openness to Him, our free and concrete response. Christ comes to take us to the mercy of God that saves. We are asked to entrust ourselves to Him, to respond to the gift of his love with a good life, made ​​up of actions motivated by faith and love.


Dear brothers and sisters, looking at the final judgment should never make us fear, but it should push us to live better lives than we do the present. God provides us with mercy and patience during this time so that we can learn every day to recognize him in the poor and the little ones.  We strive to be committed to doing good and to be vigilant in prayer and love. The Lord, at the end of our existence and history, will thus recognize us as good and faithful servants. Thank you.

At the end of the catechesis, the Holy Father addressed the following words to English-speaking pilgrims:

I am pleased to greet the Vietnamese pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Hochiminh City, led by Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man.  I also greet the group of Marist Brothers taking part in a program of spiritual reunion.  My cordial welcome also goes to the visitors from Cambridge Muslim College in England.  Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today's Audience, including those from England, Ireland, Norway, Australia, South Korea and the United States, I invoke the joy and peace of the Risen Lord.

Following the greetings addressed to pilgrims, the Holy Father concluded the General Audience by calling for an end to the bloodshed in Syria.  This plea comes at a difficult moment for the Church in Syria as there are no new developments in the abduction of two Metropolitan Bishops: Their Excellencies, Mar Gregorios Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Paul Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch.

The kidnapping of the Greek Orthodox and Syro-Orthodox Metropolitans of Aleppo, about which there are conflicting news releases, is a further sign of the tragic situation that is enveloping the dear Syrian nation, where violence and weapons continue to sow death and suffering, the Pope said.

On Tuesday of this week, several media sources reported the release of the two prelates but as of Wednesday afternoon, these claims had been recinded.  Metropolitans Ibrahim and Yazig were abducted on Monday in an area considered to be one of hte most dangerous areas in Syria during a humanitarian mission. Their driver was killed during the abduction.

The Holy Father prayed for the safe return of the two missing prelates.  I ask God to enlighten the hearts and I renew the pressing invitation that I made on the day of Easter to stop the bloodshed, that the necessary humanitarian assistance may be given to the population and that a political solution to the crisis is found as soon as possible, the Pontiff commented.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Details unveiled about the next two events in the Year of Faith


At 12:30pm local time in Rome today, in the John Paul II Hall at the Holy See Press Office, a press conference was held to present the next two events for the Year of Faith: the Day of Candidates for Confirmation and of the Confirmed, which will be observed on April 27-28, and the Day of Confraternities and of Popular Piety, which will take place from May 3 to 5.

Speakers at this afternoon's press conference included His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization; and Monsignor Graham Bell, Under-secretary of the same Pontifical Council.



Intervention of His Excellency, Rino Fisichella
President of the Pontifical Council
for the Promotion of the New Evangelization

The Year of Faith gets into full swing through some special events that are meant to express different realities related to the sign of faith and witness in the world. Before considering the merits of the two events, I want to describe some features that are the common denominator for all the other events taking place in Rome with the Holy Father. They are intended in particular to highlight pilgrimages to the tomb of Peter. For this reason, on the day prior to the pilgrimage itself, we suggest a brief symbolic procession from the Obelisk located in Saint Peter's Square to the tomb of Peter, where pilgrims can then make a profession of faith. Along this path, you will develop a brief catechesis to recall the meaning of the places where you are and which possess historical value for the faith. We suggest the use of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, to stress the unity of the whole Church which that profession of faith has always aimed to signify by its universality. Some Churches of Rome, especially those closest to the Via della Conciliazione, will be used for the celebration of the sacrament of Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and in some cases for the catechetical sessions. These moments intend to encourage an experience of faith and to prepare the faithful for the celebration of the Mass with the Pope in a spirit conforming to the meaning of pilgrimage and the joy of witnessing the beauty of faith.

The first big event will be held on April 27 and 28 and will be dedicated to those who have received or will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during the Year of Faith. At least 70,000 young people have already indicated their intention to attend, accompanied by their pastors and catechists, and their presence highlights the enthusiasm with which they have joined the initiative and the great participation that we should expect. Their presence at this event demonstrates why the Sacrament of Confirmation, especially in the practice of the Roman rite is intended to express the full and free decision to join the baptismal faith. In the simplicity of the rite - which in addition to the prayer of invocation consists of a sign of the cross on the forehead made with sacred Chrism blessed by the Pope on Holy Thursday, accompanied by the words: Receive the Seal of the Holy Spirit that is given to you as a gift , and the sign of peace - a great reality is expressed for the faith: the choice to live as a Christian in the Church and in the world with the identity of a faithful witness. The Church could not pass up such a moment in the Year of Faith. For the first time, Pope Francis will confer the sacrament to 44 young people from all over the world, symbolically representing the whole Church throughout the five continents. Since there is no uniformity as to the age at which to receive the sacrament, the confirmands range in age from the youngest who are 11 years old, coming from Romania and Italy, up to the oldest who comes from the island of Cape Verde and is 55 years old . The respective bishops who we consulted to find these people have identified the most representative and prepared of candidates from different local communities. We'll have young people who come from areas where Christians live in difficult situations as well as locations where populations are still under the cloak of war or disaster. In any case, young people who will be present here will show the face of the Church present where people live and suffer, to give everyone hope and certainty of the future. The Congo, Nigeria, Madagascar, Lebanon, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Belarus, France, Germany, Ireland ... are some of the countries who will be represented. We have also insisted on the presence of a disabled person, representing those who are privileged in the eyes of the Church and deserve her full attention even in the reception of the sacraments. And finally, we will count among our confirmandi Antonio, who comes from the diocese of Carpi to give voice and hope to the victims of the earthquake and to those who still suffer situations of profound discomfort; Paul, who comes from mainland China and has lived in Italy for several years as a refugee; and Malia Petulisa Malani who comes from the other end of the earth, from Tonga to tell everyone that even in the most remote parts of the world, the Church is alive and present. After the celebration with Pope Francis, the candidates and their families will have a moment of fraternal sharing to celebrate together. The Pope will present each of them with a small but significant memory of the day of confirmation. In the afternoon, the Paul VI Hall will be packed with confirmandi for a time of celebration and listening to three significant examples: that of Paul, who will talk about his experience in China, Malia who will speak about the conversion of her father and of his his fervent prayers; and the witness of the catechist Adriana Trujilio from Bogota.

The second major event, which to date is already expecting an attendance of 50,000 people, will be held on May 3-5 and is dedicated to popular piety. Brotherhoods and associations from places where these traditions are strongest will be here, along with other such groups from Italy, Spain, Malta, France, Poland and Ireland ... together, they will give their testimony of the various local traditions which bear the fruit of a religion that has been expressed over the centuries with initiatives and works of art that endure to this day. The Brothers of Rome that are part of at least 20 parishes will make available on Friday and Saturday May 3 to 4 a reception for other brotherhoods who will be visiting. From the church of Sant'Agata in Trastevere to the church of St. Catherine of Siena and then to Santa Maria dell'Oranzione e della Morte on the Via Giulia, then passing by Santa Maria Hodigitria of the Sicilians on the Via del Tritone and San Giovanni Battista de 'Genovesi, as well as St. Benedict in Piscinula, and then to Santa Maria della Luce on the via Lungaretta, just to name a few.  In fact some of the beautiful and important churches of Renaissance and Baroque Rome with their history will open their doors to welcome the brothers from different parts of Italy and Europe. On Saturday morning we will follow the model of a pilgrimage to the tomb of Peter divided into language groups, while in the afternoon at four different churches, there will be catechetical sessions, followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The linguistic groups will gather in various locations: English language groups in Santa Maria Traspontina with S. Bishop Arthur Roche, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, the Spanish language groups in Santa Maria dell'Orto with His Eminence, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship; the Italians who of course are the most numerous will gather in Santa Maria degli Angeli with their National Assistant, Archbishop Mauro Parmeggiani.  I myself will provide the catechesis while the Mass will be presided by His Eminence the Secretary of State; the French language groups will gather in the church of la Trinita dei Monti with Bishop Jean Laffitte, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family. The most important meeting will culminate (on Sunday) with the celebration at 10.00 am of the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square. Beginning at 8.00am, there will be a procession along the Via della Conciliazione where some brotherhoods dressed in their respective attires will parade with their precious objects of worship and merge at the two arms of the Bernini columns in St Peter's Square. For the occasion, the representation of the Virgin at the papal altar will be that of Our Lady of Quintiliolo from the Diocese of Tivoli, a panel painting from the first half of the thirteenth century.

Throughout these celebrations, participants will live a moment of faith that finds expression in the simplicity and piety its most popular matrix rooted in our people, who without interruption, live lives filled with these signs as strong reminders of the faith of previous generations and of a tradition that deserves to be witnessed to with courage and enthusiasm. For this reason, popular piety is enjoying an increase in its support, leading to a deeper understanding of the faith that is better understood in these cultural and popular expressions.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Teach by example

On Sunday, just two days ago, the Holy Father, Pope Francis ordained ten new priests for the Diocese of Rome.  During the homily spoken at that liturgy, the Pope encouraged the new priests to be mediators, not intermediaries; pastors, not functionaries.  In other words, His Holiness was challenging these new priests to aim always to be faithful disciples of Christ, willing not only to speak about God's mercy, but to be instruments of it too; not only to speak about how close God is to his people, but to aim always to be close to the people they serve too.

Here in this city, I had the opportunity tonight to visit with students at Saint Joseph - Scollard Hall, the local Catholic High School, and to see Christ's love in action.  When I arrived at the school, around 6:45pm, I was told that the students were out in the city streets, travelling in teams, knocking on  the doors of local residents and asking them to participate in a cannd-food drive.


While students were out visiting with city residents, some of the dedicated staff from SJSH were taking care of the behind-the-scenes details: scales were prepared and waiting to weigh every can, every box, every bag of food that would enter the doors; empty boxes were waiting to hold the proceeds from the students' efforts, tables on which the food could be sorted and stored were all in place, and pizza and pop to feed the crowds of hungry labourers once the work had been completed filled the cafeteria with enticing aromas.


Between 7:00pm and 8:15pm, students returned to the school, bringing with them the fruits of their labour, and of the generosity of the locals.  Box after box, and bag after bag of food items arrived.  As they did, they were all stacked up on scales, weighed, and then sorted into boxes which will be transported tomorrow morning to the local Food Bank.


When the last car load of students and food items had arrived, the total count was 6,923 pounds of food!


Thank you to all the generous households who contributed to this project, and thank you to all the students and staff who so generously lent their energy, their enthusiasm and their love to this effort in favour of those in our community who are less fortunate.  I was hungry ... and you gave me food (Mt 25:35).

Pope celebrates his name day

At 10:00am this morning in Rome, in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis celebrated Mass on the occasion of the liturgical memorial of Saint George, his patron saint, accompanied by other Cardinals who are present in Rome.

At the beginning of this celebration, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Sodano assured the Holy Father of the best wishes and prayers of all the Cardinals.  In Italy, and in some other parts of the world, the celebration of a person's name day is more important than the celebration of a birthday, and since Pope Francis' baptismal name is Jorge (the Spanish equivalent of George), today is the day on which he is celebrated among his closest collaborators.

 

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the celebration of the Eucharist
with Cardinals in Rome
on the Feast of Saint George


I thank His Eminence, the Cardinal Dean, for his words: thank you, Your Eminence, thank you!

I also thank all of you who have come to be here with me today.  Thank you!  This is why I feel so welcomed by you.  Thank you.  I feel good in your presence, and it makes me happy.

Today's first reading makes me think that, at the very moment when the first persecutions broke out, the missionary nature of the Church was also born.  And these Christians travelled as far as Phonecia, Cypress and Antioch, where they proclaimed the Word (cf. Acts 11:19).  They had an apostolic fervor within them, and because of it, the faith was spread.  Some people from Cypress and Syrene - not these but others who became Christians - travelled also to Anitoch and began to speak also to the Greeks (cf. Acts 11:20).  And they went one step further.  And this is how the Church continued to grow.  Where does this iniative to speak to the Greeks come from?  This word of faith was not initially understood, because it had been preached only to the Jews.  This inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit, the one who pushed for more, and more, always for more.


But in Jerusalem, someone, when he had heard this news, became a bit nervous and called for an Apostolic vistation.  They invited Barabus (cf. Acts 11:22).  Perhaps with a certain sense of humor, we can say that this was the theological beginning of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, this Apostolic visitation by Barnabus.  He observed, and saw that things were going well (cf. Acts 11:23).  And so the Church is a Mother, a Mother to more sons, to many sons; she becomes Mother, Mother, always Mother to more and more, Mother who gives us faith, Mother who gives us our identity.  The Christian identity is not like an identity card.  Chistian identity means belonging to the Church, to the Mother Church because finding Jesus outside of the Church is not possible.  The great Paul VI used to say: it is an absurd dichotomy to want to live with Jesus but without the Church, to follow Jesus apart from the Church, to love Jesus without loving the Church (cf. Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii mantiandi, 16).  And the Mother Church gives us Jesus, who gives us our identity which is not just a seal: it is a belonging.  Belonging to the Church: this is beautiful!


The third idea that comes to my mind - the first: the missionary nature of the Church; the second: the Mother Church - is that when Barnabas saw the crowd - the text says: And a great number of people were brought to the Lord (Acts 11:24) - when he saw the crowd, he was filled with joy.  When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad (Acts 11:23).  This is the joy of the evangelizer.  It is, as Pope Paul VI said, the sweet and consoling joy of evangelization (see Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii mantiandi, 80).  This joy begins with persecution, with great sadness, but eventually becomes joy.  This is how the Church advances, as one of the Saints has said, between worldly persecutions and the Lord's consolations (cf. Saint Augustine, De Civitate Dei, 18,51,2: PL41, 614).  This is the life of the Church.  If we want to follow the path of the world, to negotiate with the world - like the Maccabeans were tempted to do in their time - we will never have the consolation of the Lord.  And if we seek only consolation, we will only find a superficial consolation, not the Lord's consolation, but human consolation.  The Church always moves between the Cross and the Resurrection, between persecution and the Lord's consolation.  This is our path: those who take this path will never stumble.

Let us remember today the missionary activity of the Church: the disciples who selflessly went forward, and also those who had the courage to announce Jesus to the Greeks, quite a scandalous reality for those times (cf. Act 11:19-20).  Let us think of the Mother Church who grows, grows with new sons, to whom she gives the identity of faith, because we cannot believe in Jesus without the Church.  Jesus himself says so in the Gospel: but you do not believe because you are not my sheep (cf. John 10:26).  If we are not the Lord's sheep, true faith will not follow; without Jesus, what we perceive to be faith is only a watered-down faith, a faith without substance.  And let us remember the consolation that Barnabas knew, truly the sweet and consoling joy of evangelization.  And let us ask the Lord to grant us this apostolic fervor that motivates us to go forward, all of us like brothers.  Go forward, bearing the name of Jesus in the womb of the Holy Mother Church, as Saint Ignatius said:  hierarchical and Catholic.  Amen.


At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, the Swiss Guard's musical band offered a brief musical interlude to the Holy Father, and to the Cardinals in the courtyard of Saint Damasus as a tribute in celebration of His Holiness' name day.

Prayers for Aleppo

This morning, Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ; the Director of the Holy See's Press office issued an update in which he explained that the Holy Father is aware of and praying for a peaceful resolve to the kidnapping of two bishops in Aleppo, Syria.


Declaration issued by Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ
Director of the Holy See Press Office

The kidnapping of the two Metropolitan Bishops near Aleppo: His Excellency, Mar Gregorios Ibrahim, Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo; and His Excellency, Paul Yazigi, Greek Orthodox Bishop of Antioch; and the killing of their driver while carrying out a humanitarian mission is a dramatic confirmation of the tragic situation faced by the people of Syria and its Christian communities. 

The Holy Father Francis was informed about this grave development, which adds to the ongoing violence in recent days and a humanitarian emergency of vast proportions.  His Holiness is following the development of these events and praying intensely for the health and the release of the two kidnapped bishops.  He is also praying that with the commitment of all those who have the power to intervene, the Syrian people will finally see an effective response to the humanitarian crisis and the dawn of a promise of real hope for peace and reconciliation.

Monday, April 22, 2013

No room for climbers or commercial religion

The Gospel of the Good Shepherd in which Jesus describes Himself as the gate for the sheep was the focus of Pope Francis’ homily Monday morning. The Mass took place in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta with staff and journalists from the Vatican Press Office and Vatican Radio transmission centre.

 In Monday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that whoever does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, is not a shepherd, but a thief and a robber. In short, said Pope Francis, someone who seeks to profit for themselves, who only wants to climb the social ladder. The only gate to the Kingdom of God, to the Church - the Pope said - is Jesus Himself:

These social climbers exist even in the Christian communities, no? those people who are looking for their own... and consciously or unconsciously pretend to enter but are thieves and robbers. Why? Why steal the glory from Jesus? They want glory for themselves and this is what [Jesus] said to the Pharisees: You seek for each other's approval.... That’s something of a commercial religion, don’t you think? I give glory to you and you give glory to me. But these people did not enter through the true gate. The [true] gate is Jesus and those who do not enter by this gate are mistaken. How do I know that Jesus is the true gate? How do I know that this gate is Jesus’s gate? It’s enough to take the Beatitudes and do what the Beatitudes say. Be humble, poor, gentle, just ... .

Pope Francis continued, noting that Jesus is not only the gate, he is also the way, the path to follow on our journey. He said there are many paths that we can follow, some perhaps more advantageous than others in getting ahead, but they are misleading, they are not real: they are false. The only path is Jesus

Some of you may say: 'Father, you're a fundamentalist!'. No, simply put, this is what Jesus said : 'I am the gate', 'I am the path’ [He] gives life to us. Simple. It is a beautiful gate, a gate of love, it is a gate that does not deceive, it is not false. It always tells the truth. But with tenderness and love. However, we still have […] the source of original sin within us, is it not so? We still desire to possess the key to interpreting everything, the key and the power to find our own path, whatever it is, to find our own gate, whatever it is.

Sometimes - the Pope said - we are tempted to be too much our own bosses and not humble children and servants of the Lord.
 
And this is the temptation to look for other gates or other windows to enter the Kingdom of God. We can only enter by the gate whose name is Jesus. We can only enter by that gate which leads to a path and that path is called Jesus and brings to a life whose name is Jesus. All those who do something else - says the Lord – who try to enter through the window, are 'thieves and robbers'. He is simple, the Lord. His words are not complex: He is simple.

The Pope concluded by inviting all those present to ask for the grace to always knock on that gate: Sometimes it's closed: we are sad, we feel desolation, we have problems with knocking, with knocking at that gate. Do not go looking for other gates that seem easier, more comfortable, more at hand. Always the same one: Jesus. Jesus never disappoints, Jesus does not deceive, Jesus is not a thief, not a robber. He gave his life for me: each of us must say this: 'And you who gave your life for me, please, open, that I may enter.'

Be people of reconciliation, not revenge

Yesterday, at the Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusets, His Eminence Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap encouraged Catholics to build a civilization of love, or there will be no civilization at all.


Homily of His Eminence, Sean Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap
Archbishop of Boston
prepared for the celebration of a
Mass for Souls of the Bombing Victims


Jesus said they will strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter; that is what happened to His disciples after the Crucifixion, as they scattered in fear, doubt and panic.

On Easter Sunday the Good Shepherd returns to gather the scattered; Mary Magdalene in grief, Thomas in doubt, Peter in betrayal. We too are scattered and need the assurance of the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for us, who comes to gather us in our scattered sentiments, in our brokenness and pain, scattered by failed marriages, lost employment, estranged children, illness, the death of a loved one, soured relationships, disappointments and frustrations.

This week we are all scattered by the pain and horror of the senseless violence perpetrated on Patriots Day. Last Sunday at the 11:30 Mass here at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Fr. O’Leary led a special blessing for the many runners who participated in the Mass. Some people here were among those injured and those who witnessed the terrible events that unfolded at the finish line of the Marathon, but everyone was profoundly affected by the wanton violence and destruction inflicted upon our community by two young men unknown to all of us.

It is very difficult to understand what was going on in the young men’s minds, what demons were operative, what ideologies or politics or the perversion of their religion. It was amazing to witness, however, how much goodness and generosity were evidenced in our community as a result of the tragic events they perpetrated.

It reminds me of a passage in Dorothy Day’s autobiography where she speaks about experiencing a serious earthquake in California when she was a young girl. Suddenly neighbors that never spoke were helping each other, sharing their food and water, caring for children and the elderly. She was amazed and delighted, but a few weeks later people retreated to their former individualism and indifference.

Dorothy Day spent the rest of her life looking to recapture the spirit of community. That led her to the Communist Party and eventually it led her into the Catholic Church and to found the Catholic Worker Movement, dedicating herself to the care of the homeless and the drug addicts.

This past week we have experienced a surge in civic awareness and sense of community. It has been inspiring to see the generous and at times heroic responses to the Patriots Day violence. Our challenge is to keep this spirit of community alive going forward. As people of faith, we must commit ourselves to the task of community building.

Jesus teaches us in the Gospel that we must care for each other, especially the most vulnerable; the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the foreigner; all have a special claim on our love. We must be a people of reconciliation, not revenge. The crimes of the two young men must not be the justification for prejudice against Muslims and against immigrants.

The Gospel is the antidote to the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth mentality. The parable of the Good Samaritan is the story about helping one’s neighbor when that neighbor was from an enemy tribe, a foreign religion, a hostile group. The Samaritan cuts through centuries of antipathy by seeing in the Jewish man who had been beaten and left for dead not a stranger or an enemy, but a fellow human being who has a claim of his humanity and compassion.

We know so little about the two young men who perpetrated these heinous acts of violence. One said he had no friends in this country, the other said his chief interests were money and his career. People need to be part of a community to lead a fully human life. As believers one of our tasks is to build community, to value people more than money or things, to recognize in each person a child of God, made in the image and likeness of our Creator.

The individualism and alienation of our age has spawned a culture of death. Over a million abortions a year is one indication of how human life has been devalued. Violent entertainment, films and video games have coarsened us and made us more insensitive to the pain and suffering of others. The inability of the Congress to enact laws that control access to automatic weapons is emblematic of the pathology of our violent culture.

When Pope John Paul II visited Madrid in 2003, addressing one million young people, he told them; Respond to the blind violence and inhuman hatred with the fascinating power of love. We all know that evil has its fascination and attraction but too often we lose sight of the fact that love and goodness also have the power to attract and that virtue is winsome. Passing on the faith means helping people to lead a good life, a moral life, a just life. Thus part of our task as believers is to help our people become virtuous.

Plato thought that virtue was knowledge. As Chain Ginott, the concentration camp survivor, reminds us, doctors, nurses, scientists and soldiers were part of the Holocaust machinery, showing that knowledge is not virtue, and often science and technology have been put at the service of evil. It is only a culture of life and an ethic of love that can rescue us from the senseless violence that inflicts so much suffering on our society.

Like Christ our Good Shepherd, we who aspire to be Jesus’ disciples and to follow His way of life, we too must work to gather the scattered, to draw people into Christ’s community. It is in His Gospel that we find the answers to the questions of life and the challenging ideals that are part of discipleship; mercy, forgiveness, self sacrifice, service, justice and truth.

John Lennon once said, Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end. Our faith goes beyond that optimism. Love is stronger than death. We are going to live forever in the Resurrection Christ won for us on the Cross. The innocent victims who perished this week; Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi, Officer Sean Collier, will live in eternity. Life is not ended, merely changed – that is the message of Easter. As Martin Luther King expressed, Death is a comma, not a period at the end of a sentence.

Although the culture of death looms large, our Good Shepherd rose from the grave on Easter Sunday and His light can expel the darkness and illuminate for us a path that leads to life, to a civilization of solidarity and love. I hope that the events of this past week have taught us how high the stakes are. We must build a civilization of love, or there will be no civilization at all.

Renewed energy to build a just and reconciled world

Today, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a message in the name of the Holy Father to the faithful who are participating in the IV National Eucharistic Congress in Costa Rica, being held in the city of Cartago from April 14 to 21.  The theme of this National Eucharistic Congress is The Eucharist: bread of life for our people.

The Holy Father's greeting, originally written in Spanish, was shared with the participants by his official representative, Archbishop Piero Marini, President of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, who is present in Cartago for the Conference.


Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
to the delegates participating in the
IV National Eucharistic Congress in Cartago, Costa Rica

The Holy Father, Pope Francis is pleased to convey a cordial greeting to the organizers of and the participants in the National Eucharistic Congress, convoked upon the theme of The Eucharist: bread of life for our people.

On this occision, His Holiness invites all the participants to intensify their lives of prayer, making the Eucharist the true centre of Christian communities where praise and thanksgiving are motivated by renewed commitment to evangelization and ecclesial communion.  May all the baptised draw renewed spiritual energy from the Blessed Sacrament in order to build a world that is increasingly just and reconciled, according to the will of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

With these sentiments, the Supreme Pontiff confides to the loving care of Our Lady of the Angels, all the pastors and faithful who are on pilgrimage toward the Father's House in Costa Rica, and as a sign of abundant divine gifts, he affectionately imparts the desired Apostolic Blessing.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
The Holy Father's Secretary of State

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Pope calls for prayers for newly-ordained

At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica this morning, during which ten of the transitional deacons of the Diocese of Rome were ordained Priests, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of the studio of the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Coeli with the faithful and the pilgrims who had assembled in Saint Peter's Square for the regular Sunday meeting with him.


Address of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
introducing the Regina Coeli


Dear brothers and sisters, hello!

The fourth Sunday of the Easter Season is characterized by the Gospel of the Good Shepherd that we read every year. Today’s passage cites these words of Jesus: My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they know me and follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one (John 10:27-30). These 4 verses contain Jesus’ whole message, the central nucleus of his Gospel: he calls us to participate in his relationship with the Father, and this is eternal life.

Jesus wants to establish a relationship with his friends that is the reflection of the one he himself has with the Father: a relation of mutual belonging in total confidence, in intimate communion. Jesus uses the image of the shepherd and his sheep to express this profound shared understanding, this relationship of friendship. The shepherd calls his sheep and they recognize his voice, they respond to his call and follow him. This is a beautiful parable! The mystery of the voice is suggestive: we think about how from our mother’s womb we learn to recognize her voice and our father’s voice; from the tone of someone’s voice we can perceive love or scorn, affection or coldness. Jesus’s voice is unique! If we learn to distinguish it from others, he will lead us along the path of life, a path that stretches even beyond death.

But Jesus at a certain point says, referring to his sheep: My Father, who gave them to me... (John 10:29). This is very important, it is a profound mystery, it is not easy to understand: if I feel attracted by Jesus, if his voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father, who has placed in me the desire for love, for truth, for life, for beauty... and Jesus is all of this in its fullness! This helps us to understand the mystery of vocation, especially of calls to a special consecration. Sometimes Jesus calls us, invites us to follow him, but perhaps it occurs that we do not realize that it is him, as happened to the young Samuel. There are many young people here today in the piazza. There are a lot of you, no? We see... Aha! There are many young people here today in the piazza. I would like to ask you: Have you heard the Lord’s voice at some time in a desire, in upheaval, invite you to follow him more closely? Have you heard it? I can’t hear you. Okay... Have you wanted to be apostles of Jesus? Youth must be placed at the service of great ideals. Do you think so? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants of you and be courageous! Be courageous! Ask him! Behind and prior to every vocation to the priesthood or the consecrated life there is always someone’s powerful and intense prayer: a grandmother’s, a grandfather’s, a mother’s, a father’s, a community’s... This is why Jesus said: Pray to the Lord of the harvest, that is, God the Father, that he might send workers for the harvest! (Matthew 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I would like to underscore this today, which is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Let us pray in particular for the new priests of the Diocese of Rome, whom I had the joy to ordain this morning. And let us invoke Mary’s intercession. Today there were 10 young men who said Yes to Jesus and were ordained priests this morning... This is beautiful! Let us invoke Mary’s intercession, she who is the Woman of Yes. Mary said Yes her whole life! She learned to recognize Jesus’ voice from the time she carried him in her womb. Mary our Mother, help us to recognize Jesus’ voice always better and to follow it to walk along the path of life! Thank you.

Thanks so much for the greeting, but greet Jesus too. Cry out Jesus, loudly... Let us all pray together to Our Lady.

Regina coeli, laetare, Alleluia!
Quia quem meruisti Portare, Alleluia!
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, Alleluia!
Ora pro nobis Deum, Alleluia!
Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia!
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii Tui,
Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum laetificare dignatus es:
praesta quaesumus ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae.
Per eumdem Christum Cominum nostrum. Amen.

After the conclusion of the Regina Coeli, the Pope continued:  I am attentively following the events unfolding in Venezuela. I follow them with much concern, with intense prayer and with the hope that just and peaceful means are sought to get through this time of grave difficulty that the country is experiencing. I invite the dear Venezuelan people, in a special way institutional leaders and politicians, firmly to reject any sort of violence and to establish dialogue based upon truth in mutual respect, in pursuit of the common good and in love for the nation. I call upon believers to pray and to work for reconciliation and peace. Let us join together in a prayer full of hope for Venezuela, placing her in the hands of Our Lady of Coromoto.

My thoughts also go out to those affected by the earthquake in southwest continental China. Let us pray for the victims and for those who are suffering because of this violent quake.

This afternoon in Sondrio, Italy Don Nicolò Rusca will be proclaimed blessed. He was a Valtellinese priest who lived during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He was an exemplary parish priest in Sondrio and was killed during the political and religious struggles that tormented Europe at that time. Let us praise the Lord for his witness!

I affectionately greet all the pilgrims who have come from different countries: the families, the many church groups, associations, candidates for confirmation, schools. I greet in particular the numerous children of the Diocese of Venice, the catechists of the Diocese of Gubbio led by their Pastor, and the seminary community of Lecce with the ministers of the diocese, and the representation from the Lions Club of Italy. In this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, founded fifty years ago thanks to the happy intuition of Pope Paul VI, I invite everyone to a special prayer that the Lord will send many laborers for His harvest. May Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia, an apostle of prayer for vocations, remind us of this important commitment.

Have a good Sunday and a good lunch!