At 10:30am today, in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of the Mass marking the occasion of the Marian Jubilee. This celebration is taking place in Rome from October 7 to 9 in the context of the Jubilee of Mercy.
This Sunday’s Gospel (cf Lk 17:11-19) invites us to acknowledge God’s gifts with wonder and gratitude. On the way to his death and resurrection, Jesus meets ten lepers, who approach him, keep their distance and tell their troubles to the one whom their faith perceived as a possible saviour: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! (Lk 17:13). They are sick and they are looking for someone to heal them. Jesus responds by telling them to go and present themselves to the priests, who according to the Law were charged with certifying presumed healings. In this way, Jesus does not simply make them a promise; he tests their faith. At that moment, in fact, the ten were not yet healed. They were restored to health after they set out in obedience to Jesus’ command. Then, rejoicing, they showed themselves to the priests and continued on their way. They forgot the Giver, the Father, who cured them through Jesus, his Son made man.
All but one: a Samaritan, a foreigner living on the fringes of the chosen people, practically a pagan! This man was not content with being healed by his faith, but brought that healing to completion by returning to express his gratitude for the gift received. He recognized in Jesus the true Priest, who raised him up and saved him, who can now set him on his way and accept him as one of his disciples.
To be able to offer thanks, to be able to praise the Lord for what he has done for us: this is important! So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying Thank you? How many times do we say Thank you in our family, our community, and in the Church? How many times do we say Thank you to those who help us, to those close to us, to those who accompany us through life? Often we take everything for granted! This also happens with God. It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to return and give thanks ... That is why Jesus so emphasizes the failure of the nine ungrateful lepers: Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? (Lk 17:17-18).
On this Jubilee day, we are given a model, indeed the model, to whom we can look: Mary, our Mother. After hearing the message of the Angel, she lifted up her heart in a song of praise and thanksgiving to God: My soul magnifies the Lord… Let us ask our Lady to help us recognize that everything is God’s gift, and to be able to say Thank you. Then, I assure you, our joy will be complete. Only those who know how to say Thank you, will experience the fullness of joy.
It also takes humility to be able to give thanks. In the first reading we heard part of the story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Aram (cf 2 Kings 5:14-17). In order to be cured of his leprosy, he accepts the suggestion of a poor slave and entrusts himself to the prophet Elisha, whom he considered to be an enemy. Naaman was nonetheless ready to humble himself. Elisha asks nothing of him, but simply orders him to bathe in the waters of the River Jordan. This request leaves Naaman perplexed, even annoyed. Can a God who demands such banal things truly be God? He would like to turn back, but then he agrees to be immersed in the Jordan and immediately he is cured.
The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting God’s gifts. In order to become man, God chose precisely her, a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things. Let us ask ourselves – it will do us good – if we are prepared to accept God’s gifts, or prefer instead to shut ourselves up within our forms of material security, intellectual security, the security of our plans.
It is interesting to note that Naaman and the Samaritans were two foreigners. How many foreigners, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside! Those living beside us, who may be scorned and sidelined because they are foreigners, can instead teach us how to walk on the path that the Lord wishes. The Mother of God, together with Joseph her spouse, knew what it was to live far from home. She too was a foreigner in Egypt, far from her relatives and friends. Yet her faith was able to overcome the difficulties. Let us cling to this simple faith of the Holy Mother of God; let us ask her to help us always come back to Jesus and express our thanks for the many benefits we have received from his mercy.
(Original text in Italian)
At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Square on the occasion of the Marian Jubilee, before reciting the Angelus, the Holy Father offered the following greetings:
Dear brothers and sisters,
With sadness, I have received the news concerning the grave consequences of the hurricane that in recent days has struck the Caribbean, especially Haiti, leaving numerous victims and displacing people, as well as substantial property damage. I assure my closeness to the people of that land and express my trust in the sense of solidarity among the members of the International community, the Catholic institutions and people of good will. I invite you to be united with me in prayer for our brothers and sisters, so sorely being tried.
Yesterday in Oviedo (Spain), Father Gennaro Fueyo Castañón and three lay faithful were proclaimed Blessed. We praise the Lord for these heroic witnesses to the faith, who join the ranks of the martyrs who have offered their lives in the name of Christ.
I offer my most cordial greetings to all of you, dear pilgrims, who have participated in this Marian Jubilee. Thank you for being here! With you, I wish to repeat the words that Saint John Paul II spoke on 8 October 2000 in the Jubilee Act of Entrustment to Mary: O Mother, we want to entrust to you the future that awaits us. Humanity can make this world a garden, or reduce it to a pile of rubble. At this point, may the Virgin help us to choose life, to welcome and to practice the gospel of Christ our Saviour.
(Original text in Italian)
Angelus Domini ...
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Marian Jubilee
This Sunday’s Gospel (cf Lk 17:11-19) invites us to acknowledge God’s gifts with wonder and gratitude. On the way to his death and resurrection, Jesus meets ten lepers, who approach him, keep their distance and tell their troubles to the one whom their faith perceived as a possible saviour: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! (Lk 17:13). They are sick and they are looking for someone to heal them. Jesus responds by telling them to go and present themselves to the priests, who according to the Law were charged with certifying presumed healings. In this way, Jesus does not simply make them a promise; he tests their faith. At that moment, in fact, the ten were not yet healed. They were restored to health after they set out in obedience to Jesus’ command. Then, rejoicing, they showed themselves to the priests and continued on their way. They forgot the Giver, the Father, who cured them through Jesus, his Son made man.
All but one: a Samaritan, a foreigner living on the fringes of the chosen people, practically a pagan! This man was not content with being healed by his faith, but brought that healing to completion by returning to express his gratitude for the gift received. He recognized in Jesus the true Priest, who raised him up and saved him, who can now set him on his way and accept him as one of his disciples.
To be able to offer thanks, to be able to praise the Lord for what he has done for us: this is important! So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying Thank you? How many times do we say Thank you in our family, our community, and in the Church? How many times do we say Thank you to those who help us, to those close to us, to those who accompany us through life? Often we take everything for granted! This also happens with God. It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to return and give thanks ... That is why Jesus so emphasizes the failure of the nine ungrateful lepers: Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? (Lk 17:17-18).
On this Jubilee day, we are given a model, indeed the model, to whom we can look: Mary, our Mother. After hearing the message of the Angel, she lifted up her heart in a song of praise and thanksgiving to God: My soul magnifies the Lord… Let us ask our Lady to help us recognize that everything is God’s gift, and to be able to say Thank you. Then, I assure you, our joy will be complete. Only those who know how to say Thank you, will experience the fullness of joy.
It also takes humility to be able to give thanks. In the first reading we heard part of the story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Aram (cf 2 Kings 5:14-17). In order to be cured of his leprosy, he accepts the suggestion of a poor slave and entrusts himself to the prophet Elisha, whom he considered to be an enemy. Naaman was nonetheless ready to humble himself. Elisha asks nothing of him, but simply orders him to bathe in the waters of the River Jordan. This request leaves Naaman perplexed, even annoyed. Can a God who demands such banal things truly be God? He would like to turn back, but then he agrees to be immersed in the Jordan and immediately he is cured.
The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting God’s gifts. In order to become man, God chose precisely her, a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things. Let us ask ourselves – it will do us good – if we are prepared to accept God’s gifts, or prefer instead to shut ourselves up within our forms of material security, intellectual security, the security of our plans.
It is interesting to note that Naaman and the Samaritans were two foreigners. How many foreigners, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside! Those living beside us, who may be scorned and sidelined because they are foreigners, can instead teach us how to walk on the path that the Lord wishes. The Mother of God, together with Joseph her spouse, knew what it was to live far from home. She too was a foreigner in Egypt, far from her relatives and friends. Yet her faith was able to overcome the difficulties. Let us cling to this simple faith of the Holy Mother of God; let us ask her to help us always come back to Jesus and express our thanks for the many benefits we have received from his mercy.
(Original text in Italian)
At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Square on the occasion of the Marian Jubilee, before reciting the Angelus, the Holy Father offered the following greetings:
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
With sadness, I have received the news concerning the grave consequences of the hurricane that in recent days has struck the Caribbean, especially Haiti, leaving numerous victims and displacing people, as well as substantial property damage. I assure my closeness to the people of that land and express my trust in the sense of solidarity among the members of the International community, the Catholic institutions and people of good will. I invite you to be united with me in prayer for our brothers and sisters, so sorely being tried.
Yesterday in Oviedo (Spain), Father Gennaro Fueyo Castañón and three lay faithful were proclaimed Blessed. We praise the Lord for these heroic witnesses to the faith, who join the ranks of the martyrs who have offered their lives in the name of Christ.
I offer my most cordial greetings to all of you, dear pilgrims, who have participated in this Marian Jubilee. Thank you for being here! With you, I wish to repeat the words that Saint John Paul II spoke on 8 October 2000 in the Jubilee Act of Entrustment to Mary: O Mother, we want to entrust to you the future that awaits us. Humanity can make this world a garden, or reduce it to a pile of rubble. At this point, may the Virgin help us to choose life, to welcome and to practice the gospel of Christ our Saviour.
(Original text in Italian)
Angelus Domini ...
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