New appointments in Canada

On Tuesday, October 15, 2013, His Holiness, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Mark Hagemoen, PH from the clergy of the Archdiocese of Vancouver (British Columbia) as the new Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith (NWT).

Bishop-elect Hagemoen was born and raised in Vancouver.  He completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of British Columbia and then traveled throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East and parts of Europe for one year before entering Saint Peter's Seminary in London (Ontario).  He completed the Master of Divinity degree there in 1990 and was ordained in May of that year for service within the Archdiocese of Vancouver.  He subsequently completed the program of studies for a National Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies and a Diploma for Advanced Studies in Ministry (1997) before completing the Doctor of Ministry program at Trinity Western University (2007).  In December of that year, he was named a Prelate of Honor by His Holiness, Benedict XVI in recognition of his work within the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

At the time of his episcopal appointment, then-Monsignor Hagemoen was serving as President of Corpus Cristi and Saint Mark's Colleges in Vancouver.  He also held prior responsibilities as Vicar of Pastoral Services and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.  He has continued to serve on a number of Archdiocesan committees as well as school boards, including the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Vancouver and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.  HE is a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Ministry Development at the Vancouver College, of which he is also an alumnus, and the Little Flower Academy High School located in Vancouver.

The See of Mackenzie-Fort Smith has been Vacant since December 6, 2012 when Pope Benedict XVI transferred His Excellency, Murray Chatlain from that responsibility to the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas.  At the time, Archbishop Chatlain was also named Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, a position he ceased to hold as of October 15 of this year.

Not long after his first Canadian episcopal appointment, His Holiness also named a new Archbishop for Winnipeg (Manitoba).  On Monday, October 28 of this year, the Holy Father accepted the resignation offered by His Excellency, James Vernon Weisgerber, who had served as Archbishop of Winnipeg since June 7, 2000.  Having reached his 75th birthday on May 1 of this year, Archbishop Weisgerber had submitted his resignation from the pastoral governance of the See of Winnipeg, and only a few months later, his successor has been named in the person of the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, who has most recently been serving as Bishop of Victoria (British Columbia).

Born in 1948 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Archbishop-elect Gagnon studied philosophy, history and English at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, and also earned a teaching certificate there.  After his seminary studies at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome, he was ordained in 1983 for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.  He served within that Archdiocese for many years as pastor, as Vicar General and as one of the Archdiocesan Consultors, as well as in the capacity of Director of the Office for Religious Education and as a member of the Presbyteral Council..  He has been serving as Bishop of Victoria since 2004.

The see of Victoria now stands vacant awaiting the appointment of its new shepherd.

New Cardinals to be named

News has been circulating in recent days that there is a possibility of a Consistory being called in February 2014.  Today, the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ held a press conference this morning in which he clarified the details.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Council of Cardinals at the beginning of this month (October 1-3), and again during the successive meeting of the Synod Council (October 7-8), the Holy Father informed the participants about his intention to convoke a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals on the occasion of the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, February 22, 2014.  Pope Francis decided to share this news at this time in order to allow also for the scheduling of other meetings at which the Cardinals from various parts of the world may have to participate.

We can anticipate that the Pope also intends to precede the Consistory, as his predecessors have also done before him, by a meeting of the College of Cardinals.

Before this meeting can take place, we also anticipate that on February 17 and 18, the third meeting of the Council of Cardinals (known also as the eight cardinals) will be held, and that after the Consistory, on February 24 and 25, the next meeting of the Synod Council will be held.

Also, the next meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the economic and organizational issues of the Holy See (the so-called Council of 15) will also be inserted in the calendar for the month of February (as it has been scheduled in former years) probably during the previous week.

For the day of families

Last Sunday, the Holy Father celebrated a special Mass in Saint Peter's Square to mark the Day of Families, one of the celebrations marking the Year of Faith.  Here is the English-language translation of the homily which was shared.

Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the Mass celebrated during the 

Day of Families

 The readings this Sunday invite us to reflect on some basic features of the Christian family.

First: the family prays. The Gospel passage speaks about two ways of praying, one is false – that of the Pharisee – and the other is authentic – that of the tax collector. The Pharisee embodies an attitude which does not express thanksgiving to God for his blessings and his mercy, but rather self-satisfaction. The Pharisee feels himself justified, he feels his life is in order, he boasts of this, and he judges others from his pedestal. The tax collector, on the other hand, does not multiply words. His prayer is humble, sober, pervaded by a consciousness of his own unworthiness, of his own needs. Here is a man who truly realizes that he needs God’s forgiveness and his mercy.

The prayer of the tax collector is the prayer of the poor man, a prayer pleasing to God. It is a prayer which, as the first reading says, will reach to the clouds (Sir 35:20), unlike the prayer of the Pharisee, which is weighed down by vanity.

In the light of God’s word, I would like to ask you, dear families: Do you pray together from time to time as a family? Some of you do, I know. But so many people say to me: But how can we? As the tax collector does, it is clear: humbly, before God. Each one, with humility, allowing themselves to be gazed upon by the Lord and imploring his goodness, that he may visit us. But in the family how is this done? After all, prayer seems to be something personal, and besides there is never a good time, a moment of peace… Yes, all that is true enough, but it is also a matter of humility, of realizing that we need God, like the tax collector! And all families, we need God: all of us! We need his help, his strength, his blessing, his mercy, his forgiveness. And we need simplicity to pray as a family: simplicity is necessary! Praying the Our Father together, around the table, is not something extraordinary: its easy. And praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a source of great strength! And also praying for one another! The husband for his wife, the wife for her husband, both together for their children, the children for their grandparents….praying for each other. This is what it means to pray in the family and it is what makes the family strong: prayer.

The second reading suggests another thought: the family keeps the faith. The Apostle Paul, at the end of his life, makes a final reckoning and says: I have kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7). But how did he keep the faith? Not in a strong box! Nor did he hide it underground, like the somewhat lazy servant. Saint Paul compares his life to a fight and to a race. He kept the faith because he didn’t just defend it, but proclaimed it, spread it, brought it to distant lands. He stood up to all those who wanted to preserve, to embalm the message of Christ within the limits of Palestine. That is why he made courageous decisions, he went into hostile territory, he let himself be challenged by distant peoples and different cultures, he spoke frankly and fearlessly. Saint Paul kept the faith because, in the same way that he received it, he gave it away, he went out to the fringes, and didn’t dig himself into defensive positions.

Here too, we can ask: How do we keep our faith as a family? Do we keep it for ourselves, in our families, as a personal treasure like a bank account, or are we able to share it by our witness, by our acceptance of others, by our openness? We all know that families, especially young families, are often racing from one place to another, with lots to do. But did you ever think that this racing could also be the race of faith? Christian families are missionary families. Yesterday in this square we heard the testimonies of missionary families. They are missionary also in everyday life, in their doing everyday things, as they bring to everything the salt and the leaven of faith! Keeping the faith in families and bringing to everyday things the salt and the leaven of faith.

And one more thought we can take from God’s word: the family experiences joy. In the responsorial psalm we find these words: let the humble hear and be glad (33/34:2). The entire psalm is a hymn to the Lord who is the source of joy and peace. What is the reason for this gladness? It is that the Lord is near, he hears the cry of the lowly and he frees them from evil. As Saint Paul himself writes: Rejoice always … The Lord is near (Phil 4:4-5). I would like to ask you all a question today. But each of you keep it in your heart and take it home. You can regard it as a kind of homework. Only you must answer. How are things when it comes to joy at home? Is there joy in your family? You can answer this question.

Dear families, you know very well that the true joy which we experience in the family is not superficial; it does not come from material objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well... True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something which we all feel in our hearts and which makes us experience the beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s journey. But the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming, merciful, and respectful towards all. And above all, a love which is patient: patience is a virtue of God and he teaches us how to cultivate it in family life, how to be patient, and lovingly so, with each other. To be patient among ourselves. A patient love. God alone knows how to create harmony from differences. But if God’s love is lacking, the family loses its harmony, self-centredness prevails and joy fades. But the family which experiences the joy of faith communicates it naturally. That family is the salt of the earth and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society as a whole.

Dear families, always live in faith and simplicity, like the Holy Family of Nazareth! The joy and peace of the Lord be always with you!

Communion among holy persons

Yesterday's General Audience took place in Saint Peter's Square beginning at 10:30am.  The Holy Father greeted pilgrims and visitors and shared with them his thoughts about the Communion of Saints.

Here is the English-language translation of the Holy Father's catechesis, which was followed (as usual) by greetings shared with the pilgrims and visitors.  The General Audience concluded with the recitation of the Our Father and the Apostolic Benediction.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!

Today I would like to speak about a very beautiful reality of our faith, namely, the communion of saints. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that two realities are meant by this expression: communion in holy things and among holy persons (n. 948). I wish to pause on the second meaning: this is one of the most consoling truths of our faith, since it reminds us that we are not alone but that there is a communion of life among all those who belong to Christ. It is a communion that is born of faith; indeed, the term saints refers to those who believe in the Lord Jesus and are incorporated by him into the Church through Baptism. That is why the first Christians were also called saints (cf. Acts 9:13,32,41; Rm 8:27; 1 Cor 6:1).

John’s Gospel states that, before his Passion, Jesus prayed to the Father for communion among his disciples, with these words: that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me (17:21). The Church, in her most profound truth, is communion with God, intimacy with God, a communion of love with Christ and with the Father in the Holy Spirit, which extends to brotherly communion. This relationship between Jesus and the Father is the matrix of the bond between us Christians: if we are intimately part of this matrix, this fiery furnace of love, then we can truly become of one single heart and one single soul among us. For God’s love burns away our selfishness, our prejudices, our interior and exterior divisions. The love of God even burns away our sins.

If we are rooted in the source of Love, which is God, then a reciprocal movement also occurs: from brothers to God. The experience of fraternal communion leads me to communion with God. Union among us leads to union with God, it leads us to this bond with God who is our Father. This is the second aspect of the communion of saints that I would like to underline: our faith needs the support of others, especially in difficult moments. If we are united our faith becomes stronger. How beautiful it is to support each other in the wonderful adventure of faith! I say this because the tendency to be closed and private has influenced the religious sphere as well, so much so that it often becomes difficult to ask for spiritual help from those would share this Christian life with us. Who among us has not experienced insecurity, confusion and even doubt on our journey of faith? We have all experienced this, myself as well. It is part of the journey of faith, it is part of our life. None of this should surprise us, because we are human beings, marked by fragility and limitations. We are all frail, we all have limitations. Nevertheless, in these difficult moments it is necessary to trust in God's help, through child-like prayer, and, at the same time, it is important to find the courage and the humility to open up to others, to ask for help, to ask for a helping hand. How often have we done this and then succeeded in emerging from our difficulty and finding God again! In this communion — communion means common-union — we form a great family, where every member is helped and sustained by the others.

And we come to another aspect: the communion of saints goes beyond earthly life, beyond death and endures for ever. This union among us goes beyond and continues in the next life; it is a spiritual communion born in Baptism and not broken by death, but, thanks to the Risen Christ, is destined to find its fullness in eternal life. There is a deep and indissoluble bond between those who are still pilgrims in this world — us — and those who have crossed the threshold of death and entered eternity. All baptized persons here on earth, the souls in Purgatory and all the blessed who are already in Paradise make one great Family. This communion between earth and heaven is realized especially in intercessory prayer.

Dear friends, we have this beauty! This is our reality, all of ours, that makes us brothers and sisters, that accompanies us on the journey of life and lets us find another face above in heaven. Let us go forward on this journey with trust, with joy. A Christian must be joyful, with the joy of having so many baptized brothers and sisters to journey with him; sustained by the help of brothers and sisters who are taking the same path toward heaven; and also by the help of brothers and sisters who are in heaven and are praying to Jesus for us. Go forward on this path with joy!

Modeling faith, charity and unity

Last Wednesday, October 23, the Holy Father continued his teachings on the Church in the Year of Faith.  During the General Audience held that morning in Saint Peter's Square, the Pope shared the following reflection.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!

Continuing the catechesis on the Church, today I would like to look at Mary as an image and model of the Church. I do so taking up an expression of Vatican Council II. The Constitution Lumen Gentium says: As Saint Ambrose already taught, the Mother of God is figure of the Church in the order of faith, of charity and of perfect union with Christ (No. 63).

We begin with the first aspect, Mary as model of faith. In what sense does Mary represent a model for the faith of the Church? Let us think who the Virgin Mary was: a Jewish girl, who awaited with her whole heart the redemption of her people. But in the heart of that young daughter of Israel there was a secret which she herself did not yet know: in the design of God’s love she was destined to become the Mother of the Redeemer.

In the Annunciation, God’s Messenger called her full of grace and reveals this plan to her. Mary answered yes and from that moment Mary’s faith received a new light: she concentrated on Jesus, Son of God who had taken flesh from her, in which the promises were fulfilled of the whole history of salvation. Mary’s faith was the fulfillment of Israel’s faith, in Her the entire way, the entire path of that people awaiting redemption was concentrated, and in this sense it is the model of the faith of the Church, which has Christ as its centre, the incarnation of God’s infinite love.

How did Mary live this faith? In the simplicity of the thousands of daily occupations and preoccupations of every mother, such as providing food, clothes and caring for the home … In fact this normal existence of Our Lady was the terrain where a singular relationship took place and a profound dialogue between her and God, between her and her Son. Mary’s yes, already perfect at the beginning, grew even to the hour of the Cross. There her maternity was dilated embracing each one of us, our life, to lead us to her Son. Mary always lived immersed in the mystery of God made man, as his first and perfect disciple, meditating everything in her heart in the light of the Holy Spirit, to understand and put into practice the whole will of God.

Let us ask ourselves: do we let ourselves be illuminated by the faith of Mary our Mother? Or do we think of her as far away, too different from us? In moments of difficulty, of trial, of darkness, do we look at her as a model of trust in God, who wills always and only our good? Let us think about this, maybe it will do us well to find Mary as a model and figure of the Church in this faith that she had.

We come to the second aspect: Mary: model of charity. In what way is Mary a living example of love for the Church? We think of her willingness in her assistance to her cousin Elizabeth. Visiting her, the Virgin Mary did not only take her material help, this also, but she took Jesus, who was already living in her womb. To take Jesus to that home meant to take joy, the fullness of joy. Elizabeth and Zechariah were happy because of the pregnancy that seemed impossible at their age, but it is young Mary who takes to them the fullness of joy, that which comes from Jesus and from the Holy Spirit and is expressed in gratuitous charity, in sharing, in helping one another, in understanding each other.

Our Lady also wants to bring to us, to all of us, the great gift that is Jesus; and with Him she brings his love, his peace, his joy. Thus the Church is like Mary, the Church is not a business, it is not a humanitarian agency, the Church is not an NGO, the Church is sent to bring Christ and his Gospel; it does not bring itself - whether it is small, large, strong, weak, the Church brings Jesus and should be like Mary when she went to visit Elizabeth. What did Mary bring? Jesus. The Church brings Jesus: this is the centre of the Church, to bring Jesus! If, hypothetically, the Church at one time does not bring Jesus, that would be a dead Church! The Church should bring the charity of Jesus, the love of Jesus, the charity of Jesus.

We spoke of Mary, of Jesus. And us? We that are the Church? What love do we take to others? Is it the love of Jesus that shares, that forgives, that accompanies, or is it a watered down love, like watered down wine that resembles water? Is it a strong love, or so weak that it is pathetic, a love that seeks an exchange, a love with hidden interests. Another question: does Jesus like love with interests? No, he does not like it, because love must be free, like His. How are relationships in our parishes, in our communities? Do we treat one another as brothers and sisters? Or do we judge one another, speak badly of each other, each caring for their own turf, or do we care for one another. These are questions of charity!

And, briefly, a last aspect: Mary is a model of union with Christ. The life of the Holy Virgin was the life of a woman of her people: she prayed, worked, went to the synagogue … However, every action was always carried out in perfect union with Jesus. This union reached its climax on Calvary: here Mary unites herself to her Son in the martyrdom of the heart and in the offering of life to the Father for the salvation of humanity. Our Lady made her own the pain of her Son and with Him accepted the Father’s will, in that obedience that bears fruit, which gives the true victory over evil and death.

This reality that Mary teaches us is very beautiful: to be always united to Jesus. We can ask ourselves: do we remember Jesus only when something is not going well or when we are in need, or is our relationship constant, a profound friendship, also when it is a question of following him on the way of the cross?

Let us ask the Lord to give us the gift of his grace, his strength, so that in our life and in the life of every ecclesial community the model of Mary, Mother of the Church may be reflected. Amen!

On the Apostolic Church

Here is the English-language translation of the catechesis given by His Holiness, Pope Francis during the General Audience held in Saint Peter's Square on Wednesday, October 16 of this year.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

When we recite the Creed, we say: I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I don’t know if you have ever reflected on the meaning of the expression the Church is Apostolic. Perhaps never, or perhaps some time, coming to Rome, you thought of the importance of the Apostles Peter and Paul, who gave their life here to bring the Gospel and witness to it.

But it is more. To profess that the Church is Apostolic means to stress the profound, constitutive bond that she has with the Apostles, with that small group of twelve men that one day Jesus called to himself; He called them by name, so that they would stay with Him and to send them to preach (cf. Mark 3:13-19). Apostle, in fact, is a Greek work which means sent. An apostle is a person who is sent, he is sent forth to do something and the Apostles were chosen, called and sent by Jesus, to continue his work, that is, to pray - it is the first job of an apostle - and second, to announce the Gospel. This is important, because when we think of the Apostles we may think that they are only sent to announce the Gospel, to do so many works. But in the first moments of the Church there was a problem because the Apostles had so much to do so they formed deacons, so that there would be more time for the Apostles to pray and announce the Word of God. When we think of the successors of the Apostles, the Bishops, including the Pope because he is also a Bishop, we should ask ourselves if this successor of the Apostles first prays and then announces the Gospel: this is being an Apostles and for this the Church is apostolic. All of us, if we want to be apostles as I will explain now, we must ask ourselves: do I pray for the salvation of the world? Do I announce the Gospel? This is the apostolic Church! It is an associative bond we have with the Apostles.

Beginning, precisely, from this I would like to underline briefly three meanings of the adjective Apostolic applied to the Church.

The Church is Apostolic because she was founded on the preaching and prayer of the Apostles, on the authority that was given to them by Christ himself. Saint Paul wrote to the Christians of Ephesus: You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (2:19-20) he therefore compares Christians with the living stones that make up the building that is the Church, and this building is founded upon the apostles, as columns, and the rock that holds everything is Jesus Himself. Without Jesus the Church cannot exist! Jesus is the very basis of the Church, the foundation! The Apostles lived with Jesus, they listened to his words, they shared his life. Above all they were witnesses of his Death and Resurrection. Our faith, the Church that Christ desired, is not founded on an idea, on a philosophy, but on Christ himself. And the Church is like a plant that has grown in the course of the centuries; she has developed, borne fruit, but her roots are well planted in Him and the fundamental experience of Christ that the Apostles had, chosen and sent by Jesus, reaching down to us. From that small plant to our times: that is how the Church is in the whole world.

But let’s ask ourselves: how is it possible for us to connect with that witness, how can what the Apostles lived with Jesus, what they heard from him, reach us? Consider a second meaning of the term apostolicity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Church is Apostolic because with the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the ‘good deposit’,’ the salutary words she has heard from the Apostles (no. 857). The Church keeps, throughout the centuries, this precious treasure, which is the Sacred Scripture, the Doctrine, the Sacraments, the ministry of Pastors, so that we can be faithful to Christ and participate in his very life. It is as a river that runs in history, it develops, irrigates, but the running water is always that which comes from the source, from Christ himself: He is the Risen One, the Living One, and his words do not pass away, because He does not pass away, He is alive, He is here with us today, He hears and we speak with Him, He is in our hearts. Jesus is with us, today! This is the beauty of the Church: the presence of Jesus Christ among us. Do we ever think of how important this gift is that Christ has given us, the gift of the Church, where we can encounter Him?  Do we ever think how it is precisely the Church in her long journey throughout these centuries – despite the difficulties, the problems, the weaknesses, our sins – that transmits to us the authentic message of Christ? That she gives us the certainty that what we believe in is really what Christ has communicated to us?

The last thought: the Church is Apostolic because she is sent to take the Gospel to the whole world. The same mission that Jesus entrusted to the Apostles continues in the journey of history: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). This is what Jesus told us to do! I insist on this aspect of missionary activity, because Christ invites all of us to go and meet others, he sends us, he asks us to move out, to take the joy of the Gospel! Once again we ask ourselves: are we missionaries with our words and above all with our Christian life, with our witness? Or are we Christians that are closed in our hearts and in our churches, sacristy Christians? Christians only by word but who live like pagans? We should ask ourselves these questions, which are not a rebuke. I too tell myself the same: how am I a Christian, with a true witness?

The Church has her roots  in the teaching of the Apostles, authentic witnesses of Christ, but she always looks to the future, she has the firm awareness of being sent - sent by Jesus - of being missionary, carrying the name of Jesus with prayer, announcement and witness. A Church that is shut-in on herself and in the past, a Church that looks only at the small rules of habit, of attitude, is a Church that betrays her own identity; a closed Church betrays its own identity! Now then, let us rediscover today all the beauty and the responsibility of being an Apostolic Church! And remember: we are an apostolic Church because we pray - our first task - and because we announce the Gospel with our life and with our words.

Courage for the chaplains

Last Wednesday morning, prior to the General Audience, Pope Francis met with representatives of the National Congress of Chaplains of the Italian Prisons.  The meeting took place in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican.

Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to the National Congress of Chaplains

of the Italian Prisons

Dear Brothers,

I thank you and I would like to take advantage of this meeting with you, who work in the prisons of the whole of Italy, to have my greeting reach all those detained. Please tell them that I pray for them, I keep them in my heart, I pray to the Lord and Our Lady that they will be able to surmount positively this difficult period of their life. That they not be discouraged or close themselves. You know that one day everything goes well, but another day one is down, and that wave is difficult. The Lord is close, but say it with gestures, with words , with the heart that the Lord doesn’t stay outside, he does not stay outside of their cell, he does not stay outside of prisons, but inside; he is there. You can say this: the Lord is inside with them; he too is a prisoner, again today, prisoner of our egoisms, of our systems, of so many injustices, because it is easy to punish the weakest, but the big fish swim freely in the waters. No cell is so isolated as to exclude the Lord, none. He is there, he weeps with them, works with them, waits with them. His paternal and maternal love reaches everywhere. I pray that each one will open his heart to this love. When I received a letter from one of them at Buenos Aires, I visited him, whereas now when those of Buenos Aires write to me again, sometimes I call them, especially on Sunday, I have a chat. Then when I finish I think: why is he there and not I who have so many more reasons to be there? It does me good to think this: because the weaknesses we have are the same, why did he fall and I didn’t fall? This is a mystery for me which makes me pray and makes me come close to prisoners.

And I also pray for you Chaplains, for your ministry, which isn’t easy; it is very demanding and very important, because it expresses one of the works of mercy, renders visible the Lord’s presence in prisons, in the cell. You are a sign of Christ’s closeness to these brothers who are in need of hope, of open doors, of horizons. This isn’t a utopia, it can be done. It’s not easy because our weaknesses are everywhere, the devil is also everywhere, temptations are everywhere, but there is always need for us to be tested.

May the Lord always be with you; may He bless you and Our Lady take care of you; always by the hand of Our Lady, because she is the Mother of all of you and of all those in prison. This is what I wish for you, thank you! And let us ask the Lord to bless you and your men and women friends of the prisons; but first let us pray to Our Lady, that she will lead us always to Jesus: Hail Mary …

A message to the fire-weary

On October 21, Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement to those affected by wildfires in Australia.  As he usually does with such messages, the text was sent by the Vatican Secretary of State on behalf of the Holy Father.

Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the victims of wildfires in New South Wales

From the Vatican, 19 October, 2013

His Holiness Pope Francis has asked me to express his concern for the people of New South Wales and all who are affected by the devastation wrought by the extensive fires in the region.

He prays especially for those who have died and for those who have lost their homes and workplaces, as well as for the numerous personnel working to combat the fires and provide comfort and care for those who are suffering.

Invoking the spiritual gifts of solidarity and perseverance upon the communities touched by these trying events, the Holy Father sends his blessing.

Archbishop Pietro Parolin,

Secretary of State

Lutherans and Catholics working for unity

Last Monday morning at 11:00am local time, Pope Francis met with a delegation of the World Lutheran Federation and Members of the Lutheran-Catholic Commission for Unity.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the meeting with the World Lutheran Federation

and Members of the Lutheran-Catholic Commission for Unity

Dear Lutheran Brothers and Sisters, and Dear Catholic Brethren,

I gladly welcome all of you, delegation of the Lutheran World Federation and representatives of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic International Commission on Unity. This meeting follows the very cordial and pleasant one I had with you, esteemed Bishop Younan, and with the Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, Reverend Junge, on the occasion of the celebration of the beginning of my ministry as Bishop of Rome.

I look, with a sense of profound gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ, at the numerous steps that relations between Lutherans and Catholics have taken in the last decades, and not only through theological dialogue, but also through fraternal collaboration in many pastoral areas, above all, in the commitment to progress in spiritual ecumenism. The latter constitutes, in a certain sense, the soul of our journey to full communion, and enables us to look forward henceforth to some fruit, even if imperfect: in the measure in which we come close with humility of spirit to Our Lord Jesus Christ, we are certain to come close also between ourselves,  and in the measure in which we invoke from the Lord the gift of unity, we are certain that He will take us by the hand and He will be our guide. We must let ourselves be taken by the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This year, as a result of theological dialogue that is now in its fiftieth year, and in view of the commemoration of the fifth centenary of the Reformation, the text of the Commission for Lutheran-Catholic Unity was published with the significant title: From Conflict to Communion: The Lutheran-Catholic Interpretation of the Reformation in 2017. The effort seems very important to me that we all confront one another in dialogue on the historical necessity of the Reformation, on its consequences and on the answers that have been given to it. Catholics and Lutherans can ask for forgiveness for the evil caused to one another and for the offenses committed before God, and together to rejoice for the nostalgia of unity that the Lord has reawakened in our hearts, and which makes us look ahead with a look of hope.

In the light of the journey in these decades, and of so many examples of fraternal communion between Lutherans and Catholics, of which we are witnesses, comforted by trust in the grace that is given to us in the Lord Jesus Christ, I am certain that we will be able to go forward on our path of dialogue and communion, also addressing the fundamental questions, as well as the divergences that arise, in the anthropological and ethical field. Of course, difficulties are not lacking and will not be lacking; they will again require patience, dialogue, and reciprocal understanding, but let us not be fearful! We know well – as Benedict XVI reminded us many times – that unity is not primarily the fruit of our effort but of the action of the Holy Spirit, to whom we must open our hearts with trust so that He can lead us on the path to reconciliation and communion.

Blessed John Paul II wondered: How to proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation without at the same time being committed to work for the reconciliation of Christians? (Encyclical Letter Ut unum sint, 98). May faithful and constant prayer in our communities be able to sustain the theological dialogue, the renewal of life and the conversion of hearts so that, with the help of God One and Triune, we are able to walk towards the fulfillment of the desire of the Son, Jesus Christ, that all may be one. 

Thank you.

The Pope on food

I`ve got a bit of catching up to do so here goes.  In the next couple of days, I`ll try to post the major highlights which have happened in the past couple of weeks.

First of all, on the occasion of World Food Day, which this year will focus on the theme: Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent a message to the Director General of the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), Mister José Graziano da Silva: a message which was shared with the Holy See`s Permanent Observer to the FAO, His Excellency, Luigi Travaglino, during the solemn celebration which was held on October 16 in Rome.

Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to Mister José Graziano da Silva

Director General of the UN Organization

for Food and Agriculture

The World Food Day places us before one of the most serious challenges for humanity: that of the tragic condition in which millions of hungry and malnourished people still live, among them many children. This acquires even greater gravity at a time like ours, characterized by unprecedented progress in many fields of science and ever greater possibilities of communication.

It is a scandal that there is still hunger and malnutrition in the world. It is not just a question of responding to immediate emergencies, but of addressing together, in all areas, a problem that challenges our personal and social conscience, to achieve a just and lasting solution. No one should be obliged to abandon his country and his own cultural environment because of the lack of essential means of subsistence. Paradoxically, at a time in which globalization enables us to know the situations of need in the world and to multiply exchanges and human relations, the tendency seems to be growing to individualism and to shutting ourselves in on ourselves, which leads to a certain attitude of indifference – at the personal, institutional and State level – vis-a-vis those who are dying of hunger or suffer malnutrition, almost as if it were an unavoidable fact. However, hunger and malnutrition can never be considered a normal event to which one must become accustomed, as if it were part of the system. Something has to change in ourselves, in our mentality, in our societies. What can we do? I think that an important step is to bring down, with determination, the barriers of individualism, of being shut-in on ourselves, of the slavery of profit at all cost; and this, not only in the dynamic of human relations, but also in the global economic and financial dynamic. I think it is necessary, today more than ever, to educate ourselves in solidarity, to rediscover the value and meaning of this very uncomfortable word, often left to one side, and to make it become a background attitude in decisions on the political, economic and financial plane, in relations between persons, overcoming egoistic and partisan visions, in the end, we will also be able to achieve the objective of eliminating forms of indigence determined by the lack of food. A solidarity that is not reduced to different forms of welfare, but which makes an effort to ensure that an ever greater number of persons are economically independent. Many steps have been taken in different countries, but we are still far from a world where all can live with dignity.

The topic chosen by FAO for this year’s celebration speaks of “sustainable food systems for food security and nutrition.” I think I read in it an invitation to rethink and renew our food systems from a perspective of solidarity, overcoming the logic of unbridled exploitation of creation and orienting better our commitment to cultivate and look after the environment and its resources, to guarantee food security and progress towards sufficient and healthy food for all. This implies a serious question on the need to really change our lifestyle, including that of food, which in so many areas of the planet is marked by consumerism, the waste and squandering of food. The data furnished, in this connection, by FAO indicates that approximately one third of the global production of food is not available because of ever greater losses and wastefulness. It would be enough to eliminate them to reduce drastically the number of hungry people. Our parents educated us in appreciating what we receive and have, considered as a precious gift of God.

However, the waste of food is but one of the fruits of the “throw away culture” which often leads to sacrificing men and women to the idols of profit and consumption; a sad sign of the “globalization of indifference,” which makes us “accustomed” slowly to the suffering of others, as if it were something normal. The challenge of hunger and malnutrition does not just have an economic or scientific dimension, which refers to the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the food chain, but also and above all and ethical and anthropological dimension. To educate in solidarity means , therefore, to educate ourselves in humanity: to build a society that is truly human means to always put the person and his/her dignity at the center, and never sell him/her off cheaply to the logic of profit. The human being and his/her dignity are “pillars on which to build shared rules and structures that, overcoming pragmatism or the mere technical data are capable of eliminating divisions and of more than satisfying the existing differences” (cf. Address to the Participants in the 38th Session of FAO, June 20, 2013).

We are already at the doors of the International Year that, by FAO’s initiative, will be dedicated to the rural family. This offers me the opportunity to propose a third element for reflection: education in solidarity and in a way of life that overcomes the “throw away culture” and really puts every person and his/her dignity at the center, as is characteristic of the family. From it, which is the first educational community, we learn to take care of the other, the good of the other, to love the harmony of sustainable creation. To support and protect the family so that it educates to solidarity and to respect, is a decisive step in moving towards a more equitable and human society.

The Catholic Church follows this path with you, aware that charity, love , is the soul of her mission. May today’s celebration not be a simple annual event but a real opportunity to urge us and institutions to act according to a culture of encounter and solidarity, to give adequate answers to the problem of hunger and malnutrition, as well as to other problems that affect the dignity of every human  being.

In formulating cordially my best wishes, Mr. Director General, that FAO’s work is ever more effective, I invoke upon you, and upon all those who collaborate in this fundamental mission, the Blessing of Almighty God.

Vatican, October 16, 2013

In thanksgiving

Here is the text of the homily I shared with the community gathered in prayer this weekend: a few thoughts about the often-neglected habit of giving thanks.

Politeness, even in prayer

Happy Thanksgiving!  This is the first weekend in the scholastic year when the students who went away to university last month are home, so welcome home.  This is the weekend when all across Canada, families are gathering around dinner tables to share a meal: at least that’s the way it’s portrayed, but the truth is that there are many in this land who will not sit at any table this weekend either because there is no table to sit at, or perhaps the act of sitting at a table to eat a meal is so removed from the established routine that to do so would be awkward at best or strained with tension at the worst.

Fortunately, around this table, all are welcome.  There are those among us who are quite familiar with the established ritual and quite comfortable with the way things are done, but there may very well be some who even here are unfamiliar with the way the meal we call the Eucharist is shared.  If this is the first time you have sat around this table, if this is the first time you have been present in this church, and even if it is not but you still feel apprehensive about whether or not you belong here, know that Jesus welcomes you, that I welcome you in his name, and that we welcome you to pray with us and to share all that we have.

The scripture passages for this weekend propose two attitudes of prayer: two aspects of the conversation that takes place around this table.  When they heard that Jesus was passing through their region, many people came to meet him.  Some wanted to listen to his words, others perhaps had heard about the fact that he could feed multitudes, and there was also a group of ten lepers – outcasts – who dared to hope that he might listen if they cried out.  Lepers were no longer considered people by the society of the day.  There was so much concern about the contagious nature of the disease that lepers became things, things to be avoided.  Even today there are lepers in our society: those who are no longer looked upon as people, but rather as things.  In a world of such abundance, it can be a matter of convenience to ignore the human needs and wants of lepers who may bear no outward, visible marks, but they still cry out: Jesus, son of God, have mercy on us.  This cry is raised from the lips of those who are weakened by disease, by those who are isolated by age or circumstances, who are preoccupied or worried by uncertainty either for themselves or for those they love, and by so many more.  Jesus hears our cries for help, and he is always ready to respond in the same way: granting our petitions and asking us to do nothing other than to recognize that our prayers have been answered.

The second aspect of the conversation we call prayer is the simple act of giving thanks.  Why is it that surrounded with such abundance, we know very well how to present petitions but we so often forget to give thanks?  Polite manners suggest that every petition should be preceded by the word please, and that every gift received should be answered with thank you.  The same is true for the prayers we offer to God.  Having discovered that they had been cured of their leprosy, Jesus was perhaps expecting that all ten would have returned excitedly to thank him, but there was only one.

As we break bread and share the chalice, our act of thanksgiving is also united with the gestures of thanksgiving offered by others like Naaman, the Syrian mentioned in today’s first reading, and like Paul who wrote from his prison cell to Timothy to encourage him to continue feeding and strengthening his belief that we are all meant to live with Jesus, to truly live in and through him.

Dear friends, there is room at this table for everyone, for saints and sinners alike, for family and friends, but also for strangers and outcasts.  Around this table, we are united in offering our supplications.  Around this table, let us give thanks for the gifts we have received. 

God surprises his faithful and gives them strength

This morning in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father presided at the celebration of the Mass which was attended by participants in the Marian Day of Prayer, part of the Year of Faith celebrations.  During the course of the Mass, the Holy Father shared the following thoughts.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the celebration of the Mass

commemorating the Marian Day of Prayer

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things (Ps 98:1). Today we consider one of the marvellous things which the Lord has done: Mary! A lowly and weak creature like ourselves, she was chosen to be the Mother of God, the Mother of her Creator.

Considering Mary in the light of the readings we have just heard, I would like to reflect with you on three things: God surprises us, God asks us to be faithful, God is our strength.

First: God surprises us. The story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, is striking. In order to be healed of leprosy, he turns to the prophet of God, Elisha, who does not perform magic or demand anything unusual of him, but asks him simply to trust in God and to wash in the water of the river. Not, however, in one of the great rivers of Damascus, but in the little stream of the Jordan. Naaman is left surprised and perplexed. What kind of God is this who asks for something so simple? He wants to turn back, but then he goes ahead, he immerses himself in the Jordan and is immediately healed. There it is: God surprises us. It is precisely in poverty, in weakness and in humility that he reveals himself and grants us his love, which saves us, heals us and gives us strength. He asks us only to obey his word and to trust in him.

This was the experience of the Virgin Mary. At the message of the angel, she does not hide her surprise. It is the astonishment of realizing that God, to become man, had chosen her, a simple maid of Nazareth: not someone who lived in a palace amid power and riches, or who had done extraordinary things, but simply someone who was open to God and put her trust in him, even without understanding everything: Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word (Lk 1:38). God always surprises us, he bursts our categories, he wreaks havoc with our plans. And he tells us: Trust me, do not be afraid, let yourself be surprised, leave yourself behind and follow me!

Today let us all ask ourselves: Do I fear what God might ask of me, or what he does ask of me? Do I let myself be surprised by God, as Mary was, or do I remain caught up in my own security, in my plans? Do I truly let God into my life? How do I respond to him?

In the passage from Saint Paul which we have heard, the Apostle tells his disciple Timothy: Remember Jesus Christ: if we persevere with him, we will also reign with him. This is the second thing: to remember Christ always and to persevere in faith. God surprises us with his love, but he asks us to be faithful in following him. Think of all the times we were excited about something or other, some initiative, some task, but then, at the first sign of difficulty, we threw in the towel. Sadly, this also happens in the case of fundamental decisions, such as marriage. It is the difficulty of remaining steadfast, faithful to decisions we have made and to commitments we have taken on. Often it is easy enough to say yes, but then we fail to repeat this yes each and every day.

Mary said her yes to God: a yes which upset her simple life in Nazareth, and not only once. Any number of times she had to utter a heartfelt yes at moments, moments of joy and sorrow, culminating in the yes she spoke at the foot of the Cross. Here today there are many mothers present; think of the full extent of Mary's faithfulness to God: seeing her only Son on the cross.

Am I a Christian by fits and starts, or am I a Christian full-time? The culture of the ephemeral, the relative, also takes it toll on the way we live our faith. God asks us to be faithful to him, daily, in our everyday actions. He goes on to say that, even if we are sometimes unfaithful to him, he remains faithful. In his mercy, he never tires of stretching out his hand to lift us up, to encourage us to continue our journey, to come back and tell him of our weakness, so that he can grant us his strength.

The last thing: God is our strength. I think of the ten lepers in the Gospel who were healed by Jesus. They approach him, and keeping their distance, they call out: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! (Lk 17:13). They are sick, they need love and strength, and they are looking for someone to heal them. Jesus responds by freeing them from their disease. Strikingly, however, only one of them comes back, praising God and thanking him in a loud voice. Jesus notes this: ten asked to be healed and only one returned to praise God in a loud voice and to acknowledge that he is our strength. To know how to give thanks, to give praise for everything that the Lord has done for us.

Let us look to Mary. After the Annunciation, her first act is one of charity towards her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth. Her first words are: My soul magnifies the Lord: the Magnificat, a canticle of praise and thanksgiving to God not only for what he did for her, but for what he has done throughout the history of salvation. Everything is his gift; he is our strength! Saying thank you is so easy, and yet so hard! How often do we say thank you to one another in our families? How often do we say thank you to those who help us, those close to us, those at our side throughout life? Often we take everything for granted! This happens with God too. As we continue our celebration of the Eucharist, let us invoke Mary's intercession. May she help us to be open to God's surprises, to be faithful to him each and every day, and to praise and thank him, for he is our strength. Amen.

A final word about the Marian Day

At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration which took place this morning in Saint Peter's Square, marking the Marian Day, part of the Year of Faith celebrations, the Holy Father recited a prayer of entrustment to the Blessed Virgin of Fatima, and then led the recitation of the Angelus, along with pilgrims and the faithful who were present in the Square.

Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

today in Tarragona, Spain, there are about five hundred newly beatified martyrs who were killed for their faith during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930's. We praise the Lord for the bravery of these witnesses, and we beseech their intercession to rid the world of violence.

I thank all of you who have come in large numbers from Rome, from other parts of Italy, and from many parts of the world for this celebration of faith dedicated to Mary our Mother.

I affectionately greet the Panamanian group which has come here to Rome and I confide you to the protection of Our Lady of Antigua, celestial patron of that beloved nation.

I greet the children of the International Orchestra for Peace - the Little Footprints, and the National Association of Labour Invalids from Maimed.

I greet the young people of Rome who in recent days have committed themselves to the mission Jesus at the centre. Always be missionaries of the Gospel, every day and in every place! And I gladly greet also the inmates of the prison in Castrovillari.

And now let us pray together:

Angelus Domini ...

I wish you a good Sunday, and a good lunch. Goodbye!

Entrusted to Mary

At the conclusion of the Mass which was celebrated in Saint Peter's Square this morning for the Marian Day, part of the celebrations of the Year of Faith, His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization spoke words of greeting to the Holy Father on behalf of all those who were present.

The Holy Father then spoke the words of an Act of Entrustment to the Blessed Virgin of Fatima.

Prayer of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

Entrusting all humanity to the care of the

Blessed Virgin of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima,

with renewed gratitude for your motherly presence

we join our voices to that of all the generations

who call you blessed.

We celebrate with you the great works of God,

which never tired of bending with mercy

toward humanity, beset by evil and wounded by sin,

to heal and to save it.

Welcome with benevolence O Mother,

the act of entrusting which we do today with confidence,

before this your image, which to so many his held dear.

We are confident that each of us is precious in your sight

and that nothing which resides in our hearts is unknown to you.

We are looked upon by your sweet eyes

and we receive the comforting caress of your smile.

Keep our lives safe in your arms:

bless and strengthen every desire for goodness;

revitalize and nourish our faith;

sustain and brighten our hope;

inspire and enliven our charity;

guide all of us in the path of holiness.

Teach us your special love and concern

for the young and the poor,

for the excluded and the suffering,

for sinners, and the faint-hearted:

gather us all under your protection

and take us all to your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus.

Amen.

The Marian Day prayer begins

At 5:00pm today in Saint Peter's Square, there was a special Marian Celebration held in the context of the Marian Day which is part of the celebrations for the Year of Faith.

A procession began at 4:00pm and crossed various sectors of Saint Peter's Square.  Included in the procession was the statue of the Madonna of Fatima which had been transported to Rome by air from Portugal.  The Holy Father was present in Saint Peter's Square, near the area in front of the doors to the Basilica to officially welcome the statue when it arrived at that spot shortly before 5:00pm.

Following a word of welcome which was offered by the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, the statue of the Madonna of Fatima was enthroned in its assigned place near the altar.

At the conclusion of the Marian Prayer which followed the form of the Via Matris, the Holy Father shared a catechesis with the faithful who had gathered there.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Vigil of Prayer to inaugurate the Marian Day of Prayer

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This event of the Year of Faith is devoted to Mary, the Mother of Christ and the Mother of the Church, our Mother. The statue of Our Lady which has come from Fatima helps us to feel her presence in our midst. It is a fact: Mary always brings us to Jesus. She is a woman of faith, a true believer. But we can ask: What was Mary’s faith like?

The first aspect of her faith is this: Mary’s faith unties the knot of sin (cf. Lumen Gentium, 56). What does that mean? The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council took up a phrase of Saint Irenaeus, who states that the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith (Adversus Haereses, III, 22, 4).

The knot of disobedience, the knot of unbelief. When children disobey their parents, we can say that a little knot is created. This happens if the child acts with an awareness of what he or she is doing, especially if there is a lie involved. At that moment, they break trust with their parents. You know how frequently this happens! Then the relationship with their parents needs to be purified of this fault; the child has to ask forgiveness so that harmony and trust can be restored. Something of the same sort happens in our relationship with God. When we do not listen to him, when we do not follow his will, we do concrete things that demonstrate our lack of trust in him – for that is what sin is – and a kind of knot is created deep within us. These knots take away our peace and serenity. They are dangerous, since many knots can form a tangle which gets more and more painful and difficult to undo.

But we know one thing: nothing is impossible for God’s mercy! Even the most tangled knots are loosened by his grace. And Mary, whose yes opened the door for God to undo the knot of the ancient disobedience, is the Mother who patiently and lovingly brings us to God, so that he can untangle the knots of our soul by his fatherly mercy. We all have some of these knots and we can ask in our heart of hearts: What are the knots in my life? Father, my knots cannot be undone! It is a mistake to say anything of the sort! All the knots of our heart, every knot of our conscience, can be undone. Do I ask Mary to help me trust in God’s mercy, to undo those knots, to change? She, as a woman of faith, will surely tell you: Get up, go to the Lord: he understands you. And she leads us by the hand as a Mother, our Mother, to the embrace of our Father, the Father of mercies.

A second aspect is that Mary’s faith gave human flesh to Jesus. As the Council says: Through her faith and obedience, she gave birth on earth to the very Son of the Father, without knowing man but by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit (Lumen Gentium, 63). This was a point on which the Fathers of the Church greatly insisted: Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said yes to the message God gave her through the angel. What does this mean? It means that God did not want to become man by bypassing our freedom; he wanted to pass through Mary’s free assent, through her yes. He asked her: Are you prepared to do this? And she replied: Yes.

But what took place most singularly in the Virgin Mary also takes place within us, spiritually, when we receive the word of God with a good and sincere heart and put it into practice. It is as if God takes flesh within us; he comes to dwell in us, for he dwells in all who love him and keep his word. It is not easy to understand this, but really, it is easy to feel it in our heart.

Do we think that Jesus’ incarnation is simply a past event which has nothing to do with us personally? Believing in Jesus means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst. It means giving him our hands, to caress the little ones and the poor; our feet, to go forth and meet our brothers and sisters; our arms, to hold up the weak and to work in the Lord’s vineyard, our minds, to think and act in the light of the Gospel; and especially to offer our hearts to love and to make choices in accordance with God’s will. All this happens thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit. And in this way we become instruments in God’s hands, so that Jesus can act in the world through us.

The third aspect is Mary’s faith as a journey. The Council says that Mary advanced in her pilgrimage of faith (ibid., 58). In this way she precedes us on this pilgrimage, she accompanies and sustains us.

How was Mary’s faith a journey? In the sense that her entire life was to follow her Son: he – Jesus – is the way, he is the path! To press forward in faith, to advance in the spiritual pilgrimage which is faith, is nothing other than to follow Jesus; to listen to him and be guided by his words; to see how he acts and to follow in his footsteps; to have his same sentiments. And what are these sentiments of Jesus? Humility, mercy, closeness to others, but also a firm rejection of hypocrisy, duplicity and idolatry. The way of Jesus is the way of a love which is faithful to the end, even unto sacrificing one’s life; it is the way of the cross. The journey of faith thus passes through the cross. Mary understood this from the beginning, when Herod sought to kill the newborn Jesus. But then this experience of the cross became deeper when Jesus was rejected. Mary was always with Jesus, she followed Jesus in the midst of the crowds and she heard all the gossip and the nastiness of those who opposed the Lord. And she carried this cross! Mary’s faith encountered misunderstanding and contempt. When Jesus’ hour came, the hour of his passion, when Mary’s faith was a little flame burning in the night, a little light flickering in the darkness. Through the night of Holy Saturday, Mary kept watch. Her flame, small but bright, remained burning until the dawn of the resurrection. And when she received word that the tomb was empty, her heart was filled with the joy of faith: Christian faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Faith always brings us to joy, and Mary is the Mother of joy! May she teach us to take the path of joy, to experience this joy! That was the high point – this joy, this meeting of Jesus and Mary, and we can imagine what it was like. Their meeting was the high point of Mary’s journey of faith, and that of the whole Church. What is our faith like? Like Mary, do we keep it burning even at times of difficulty, in moments of darkness? Do I feel the joy of faith?

This evening, Mother, we thank you for our faith, the faith of a strong and humble woman; we renew our act of trust in you, Mother of our faith. Amen.