At noon today, the Solemnity of All the Saints, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The first two days of the month of November consist for all of us of an intense moment of faith, of prayer and reflection on the final things of life. In fact, celebrating all the Saints and commemorating all the faithful departed, the pilgrim Church on earth lives and experiences in the liturgy the spiritual triumph which unites it to the Church in heaven. Today we give praise to God for the countless host of holy men and women of all times: common, simple men and women, sometimes considered least by worldly standards, but first in the eyes of God. At the same time, we remember our beloved dead as we visit the cemeteries: it is a great source of consolation to think that they are in the company of the Virgin Mary, the apostles, the martyrs and all the holy men and women in Paradise!
Today's solemnity helps us to consider a fundamental truth of the Christian faith, which we profess in the Credo: the communion of saints. What does this mean: the communion of the saints? It is the communion that is born from faith and that unites all those who belong to Christ through Baptism. This is a spiritual union - we are all united! - that does not broken by death, but which continues in the other life. In fact. there is an unbreakable bond between us who live in this world and those who have crossed the threshold of death. We who are here on earth, along with those who have entered into eternity, form one large family, maintaining a sense of belonging.
This marvellous communion, this marvellous common union between earth and heaven is realized in the fullest sense in the liturgy, and above all in the celebration of the Eucharist, which expresses and brings about the most profound union between all the members of the Church. In the Eucharist, in fact, we encounter the living Jesus and his strength, and through Him, we enter into communion with our brothers and sisters in faith: those who live with us here on earth and those who have preceded us to the other life, life without end. This truth culminates in joy: it is good to have so many brothers and sisters in faith who journey with us, who sustain us with their help and who together with us, walk the same path toward heaven. And it is consoling to know that there are other brothers and sisters who have already reached heaven, who are waiting for us and praying for us, so that together, we can contemplate forever the glorious and merciful face of the Father.
In the great assembly of the Saints, God wanted to reserve the first place for the Mother of Jesus. Mary is at the centre of the communion of saints, as the singular guardian of the tie that binds the universal Church to Christ, the tie that unites the family. She is the Mother, she is our Mother, our Mother. For all those who wish to follow Jesus in the ways of the gospel, she is our surest guide because she is the first disciple. She is a caring and attentive Mother, to whom we can confide every one of our desires and our difficulties.
Together, let us pray to the Queen of all the Saints, asking her to help us respond generously and faithfully to God, who calls us to be holy as He is holy (cf Lev 19:2; Mt 5:48).
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today's liturgy speaks of the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem, the celestial Jerusalem. I invite you to pray that the Holy City, cherished by Jews, Christians and Muslims, which in these days has been witnessing various tensions, may always be a sign and a foretaste of the peace that God intends for the entire human family.
Today in Vitoria (Spain), the martyr Pietro Asúa Mendía, a humble and austere priest has been beatified. He preached the gospel through his holiness of life, the catechesis of dedication toward the poor and those in need. Arrested, tortured and killed for having shown his willingness to remain faithful to the Lord and to the Church, he represents for all of us an admirable example of strength in faith and a witness of charity.
I greet all the pilgrims who have come from Italy and from many other countries. In particular, I greet the pilgrims participating in the Saints Race and the Saints' Walk, organized respectively by the worldwide Don Bosco Foundation and the Association of Little Church Families. I congratulate you for this initiative which unites sports, Christian witness and humanitarian commitment. I also greet the young people from Modena who have recently celebrated their Confirmation, along with their parents and catechists, as well as the volunteers from the city of Sciacca and the sports group from the parish of Castegnato (Brescia).
This afternoon, I will go to the cemetery of Verano to celebrate Mass for the repose of the souls of all the deceased. By visiting the principal cemetery of Rome, I want to spiritually unite myself with all those who will visit in these days at the tombs of their deceased relatives in cemeteries around the world.
I wish you all a good feast of the Saints, and the joy of knowing that you are part of the great family of the Saints. Don't forget, please, to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch; good bye!
This afternoon at 4:00pm local time, the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of All the Saints at the entrance to the Cemetery of Verano. The Mass was followed by a moment of prayer for the dead and the blessing of the tombs. Present to concelebrate with the Holy Father was the Cardinal Vicar for Rome, His Eminence, Agostino Vallini; the Vice-Regent for the Diocese of Rome, His Excellency, Filippo Iannone; the Auxiliary Bishop for the central sector of Rome, His Excellency, Matteo Zuppi; the Bishop Vicar for the Lateran Capital, His Excellency, Luca Brandolini and the Pastor of the parish of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls, Father Armando Ambrosi.
Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The first two days of the month of November consist for all of us of an intense moment of faith, of prayer and reflection on the final things of life. In fact, celebrating all the Saints and commemorating all the faithful departed, the pilgrim Church on earth lives and experiences in the liturgy the spiritual triumph which unites it to the Church in heaven. Today we give praise to God for the countless host of holy men and women of all times: common, simple men and women, sometimes considered least by worldly standards, but first in the eyes of God. At the same time, we remember our beloved dead as we visit the cemeteries: it is a great source of consolation to think that they are in the company of the Virgin Mary, the apostles, the martyrs and all the holy men and women in Paradise!
Today's solemnity helps us to consider a fundamental truth of the Christian faith, which we profess in the Credo: the communion of saints. What does this mean: the communion of the saints? It is the communion that is born from faith and that unites all those who belong to Christ through Baptism. This is a spiritual union - we are all united! - that does not broken by death, but which continues in the other life. In fact. there is an unbreakable bond between us who live in this world and those who have crossed the threshold of death. We who are here on earth, along with those who have entered into eternity, form one large family, maintaining a sense of belonging.
This marvellous communion, this marvellous common union between earth and heaven is realized in the fullest sense in the liturgy, and above all in the celebration of the Eucharist, which expresses and brings about the most profound union between all the members of the Church. In the Eucharist, in fact, we encounter the living Jesus and his strength, and through Him, we enter into communion with our brothers and sisters in faith: those who live with us here on earth and those who have preceded us to the other life, life without end. This truth culminates in joy: it is good to have so many brothers and sisters in faith who journey with us, who sustain us with their help and who together with us, walk the same path toward heaven. And it is consoling to know that there are other brothers and sisters who have already reached heaven, who are waiting for us and praying for us, so that together, we can contemplate forever the glorious and merciful face of the Father.
In the great assembly of the Saints, God wanted to reserve the first place for the Mother of Jesus. Mary is at the centre of the communion of saints, as the singular guardian of the tie that binds the universal Church to Christ, the tie that unites the family. She is the Mother, she is our Mother, our Mother. For all those who wish to follow Jesus in the ways of the gospel, she is our surest guide because she is the first disciple. She is a caring and attentive Mother, to whom we can confide every one of our desires and our difficulties.
Together, let us pray to the Queen of all the Saints, asking her to help us respond generously and faithfully to God, who calls us to be holy as He is holy (cf Lev 19:2; Mt 5:48).
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today's liturgy speaks of the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem, the celestial Jerusalem. I invite you to pray that the Holy City, cherished by Jews, Christians and Muslims, which in these days has been witnessing various tensions, may always be a sign and a foretaste of the peace that God intends for the entire human family.
Today in Vitoria (Spain), the martyr Pietro Asúa Mendía, a humble and austere priest has been beatified. He preached the gospel through his holiness of life, the catechesis of dedication toward the poor and those in need. Arrested, tortured and killed for having shown his willingness to remain faithful to the Lord and to the Church, he represents for all of us an admirable example of strength in faith and a witness of charity.
I greet all the pilgrims who have come from Italy and from many other countries. In particular, I greet the pilgrims participating in the Saints Race and the Saints' Walk, organized respectively by the worldwide Don Bosco Foundation and the Association of Little Church Families. I congratulate you for this initiative which unites sports, Christian witness and humanitarian commitment. I also greet the young people from Modena who have recently celebrated their Confirmation, along with their parents and catechists, as well as the volunteers from the city of Sciacca and the sports group from the parish of Castegnato (Brescia).
This afternoon, I will go to the cemetery of Verano to celebrate Mass for the repose of the souls of all the deceased. By visiting the principal cemetery of Rome, I want to spiritually unite myself with all those who will visit in these days at the tombs of their deceased relatives in cemeteries around the world.
I wish you all a good feast of the Saints, and the joy of knowing that you are part of the great family of the Saints. Don't forget, please, to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch; good bye!
This afternoon at 4:00pm local time, the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of All the Saints at the entrance to the Cemetery of Verano. The Mass was followed by a moment of prayer for the dead and the blessing of the tombs. Present to concelebrate with the Holy Father was the Cardinal Vicar for Rome, His Eminence, Agostino Vallini; the Vice-Regent for the Diocese of Rome, His Excellency, Filippo Iannone; the Auxiliary Bishop for the central sector of Rome, His Excellency, Matteo Zuppi; the Bishop Vicar for the Lateran Capital, His Excellency, Luca Brandolini and the Pastor of the parish of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls, Father Armando Ambrosi.
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