This morning's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from various parts of the world.
During his speech, the Pope shared his meditation on the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last Sunday, the Holy Door was opened in the Cathedral of Rome, the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran, and Doors of Mercy were also opened in the Cathedrals of every diocese of the world, as well as in shrines and in other churches chosen by some bishops. The Jubilee is taking place all over the world, not only in Rome. I wanted this sign of the Holy Door to be present in every particular Church, so that the Jubilee of Mercy could be an experience shared by every people. In this way, the Holy Year has begun in the entire Church and will be celebrated in every diocese including Rome. Also, the first Holy Door was opened in the very heart of Africa, and Rome, here, is the visible sign of universal communion. May this ecclesial communion be always increasingly intense, so that the Church will be a living sign of the love and mercy of the Father throughout the world.
Also, the date of December 8 was chosen to highlight this need by connecting, fifty years later, the beginning of the Jubilee with the conclusion of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. In fact, the Council had contemplated and presented the Church in the light of the mystery of communion. Spread around the world and organized into many particular Churches, it is however always and only the unique Church of Jesus Christ, which he intended, for which he offered his very self. The one Church that lives the very communion of God.
This mystery of communion, that makes the Church a sign of the love of the Father, grows and matures in our hearts when love, which we recognize in the Cross of Christ and in which we immerse ourselves, makes us love ourselves as He loves us. It's a love that has no limits, that has the face of forgiveness and mercy.
However, mercy and forgiveness should not remain only beautiful words; they should be lived in our daily lives. Loving and forgiving are concrete and visible signs that faith has been transformed our hearts and allows us to increase in us the very life of God. Loving and forgiving like God loves and forgives. This is a programme of life that cannot encounter interruptions or exceptions, but one that is driven and always goes beyond without every growing tired, with the certitude of being supported by the paternal presence of God.
This great sign of the Christian life is therefore transformed into many other signs which are characteristics of Jubilee. I think of the many individuals who will pass through one of the Holy Doors, which during this year are truly Doors of Mercy. The Door is Jesus himself who said: I am the door: if someone enters through me, he will be saved; he will enter and go out and will find pasture (Jn 10:9). The Holy Door is a sign of our trust in the Lord Jesus who did not come to judge, but to save (cf Jn 12:47). Be careful that some clever person should not tell you that you have to pay: no! Salvation has no price. Salvation cannot be bought. The Door is Jesus, and Jesus is free! He himself speaks about those who do not live as they should, and simply says that they are thieves and brigands. Again, be careful: salvation is free. Passing through the Holy Door is a sign of a true conversion of heart. When we pass through those Doors it is good to remember that we must always keep the doors of our hearts open. I stand before the Holy Door and ask: Lord, help me to open the door of my heart! It would not be very good during this Holy Year if the doors of our hearts would not allow Christ to enter in and to drive us to go out toward others, in order to take Him and his love to them. Therefore, just as the Holy Door remains open because it is a sign of the welcome that God himself offers, so too our doors, the doors of our hearts, should be opened wide so that no one will be excluded. Not even someone who bothers me: no one.
Another important sign of the Jubilee is Confession. To receive the Sacrament by which we are reconciled with God is to have a direct experience of his mercy, and to find the Father who forgives: God forgives everything. God understands us, even with all our limitations, he understands us even with all our contradictions. Not only this, through is love, he tells us that as soon as we recognize our sins he is already closer to us, encouraging us to look ahead. He also says that when we recognize our sins and ask for forgiveness, there is a celebration in Heaven. Jesus throws a party: this is his mercy; he does not discourage us. Go on, keep going!
How many times I have heard it said: Father, I can't forgive my neighbour, my co-worker, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law. Everyone has felt this way: I can't forgive. How can we ask God to forgive us, if we ourselves are not capable of forgiving? It's a really good thing to forgive, but it's not easy to forgive because our hearts are poor and we cannot forgive because of our own strength alone. Many time,s I have heard it said: I can't even look at that person: I hate her. But one day, I went to the Lord and asked for forgiveness for my sins, and I was also able to forgive that person. These are everyday things, and we too can do these things.
Therefore, take heart! Let us live this Jubilee beginning with these signs that carry with them the great strength of love. May the Lord be always with us to lead us to experience other important signs for our lives. Take courage, let's go!
The above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance at this morning's Audience. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from England, Ukraine, Indonesia and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment profound spiritual renewal, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
During his speech, the Pope shared his meditation on the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last Sunday, the Holy Door was opened in the Cathedral of Rome, the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran, and Doors of Mercy were also opened in the Cathedrals of every diocese of the world, as well as in shrines and in other churches chosen by some bishops. The Jubilee is taking place all over the world, not only in Rome. I wanted this sign of the Holy Door to be present in every particular Church, so that the Jubilee of Mercy could be an experience shared by every people. In this way, the Holy Year has begun in the entire Church and will be celebrated in every diocese including Rome. Also, the first Holy Door was opened in the very heart of Africa, and Rome, here, is the visible sign of universal communion. May this ecclesial communion be always increasingly intense, so that the Church will be a living sign of the love and mercy of the Father throughout the world.
Also, the date of December 8 was chosen to highlight this need by connecting, fifty years later, the beginning of the Jubilee with the conclusion of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. In fact, the Council had contemplated and presented the Church in the light of the mystery of communion. Spread around the world and organized into many particular Churches, it is however always and only the unique Church of Jesus Christ, which he intended, for which he offered his very self. The one Church that lives the very communion of God.
This mystery of communion, that makes the Church a sign of the love of the Father, grows and matures in our hearts when love, which we recognize in the Cross of Christ and in which we immerse ourselves, makes us love ourselves as He loves us. It's a love that has no limits, that has the face of forgiveness and mercy.
However, mercy and forgiveness should not remain only beautiful words; they should be lived in our daily lives. Loving and forgiving are concrete and visible signs that faith has been transformed our hearts and allows us to increase in us the very life of God. Loving and forgiving like God loves and forgives. This is a programme of life that cannot encounter interruptions or exceptions, but one that is driven and always goes beyond without every growing tired, with the certitude of being supported by the paternal presence of God.
This great sign of the Christian life is therefore transformed into many other signs which are characteristics of Jubilee. I think of the many individuals who will pass through one of the Holy Doors, which during this year are truly Doors of Mercy. The Door is Jesus himself who said: I am the door: if someone enters through me, he will be saved; he will enter and go out and will find pasture (Jn 10:9). The Holy Door is a sign of our trust in the Lord Jesus who did not come to judge, but to save (cf Jn 12:47). Be careful that some clever person should not tell you that you have to pay: no! Salvation has no price. Salvation cannot be bought. The Door is Jesus, and Jesus is free! He himself speaks about those who do not live as they should, and simply says that they are thieves and brigands. Again, be careful: salvation is free. Passing through the Holy Door is a sign of a true conversion of heart. When we pass through those Doors it is good to remember that we must always keep the doors of our hearts open. I stand before the Holy Door and ask: Lord, help me to open the door of my heart! It would not be very good during this Holy Year if the doors of our hearts would not allow Christ to enter in and to drive us to go out toward others, in order to take Him and his love to them. Therefore, just as the Holy Door remains open because it is a sign of the welcome that God himself offers, so too our doors, the doors of our hearts, should be opened wide so that no one will be excluded. Not even someone who bothers me: no one.
Another important sign of the Jubilee is Confession. To receive the Sacrament by which we are reconciled with God is to have a direct experience of his mercy, and to find the Father who forgives: God forgives everything. God understands us, even with all our limitations, he understands us even with all our contradictions. Not only this, through is love, he tells us that as soon as we recognize our sins he is already closer to us, encouraging us to look ahead. He also says that when we recognize our sins and ask for forgiveness, there is a celebration in Heaven. Jesus throws a party: this is his mercy; he does not discourage us. Go on, keep going!
How many times I have heard it said: Father, I can't forgive my neighbour, my co-worker, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law. Everyone has felt this way: I can't forgive. How can we ask God to forgive us, if we ourselves are not capable of forgiving? It's a really good thing to forgive, but it's not easy to forgive because our hearts are poor and we cannot forgive because of our own strength alone. Many time,s I have heard it said: I can't even look at that person: I hate her. But one day, I went to the Lord and asked for forgiveness for my sins, and I was also able to forgive that person. These are everyday things, and we too can do these things.
Therefore, take heart! Let us live this Jubilee beginning with these signs that carry with them the great strength of love. May the Lord be always with us to lead us to experience other important signs for our lives. Take courage, let's go!
The above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance at this morning's Audience. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from England, Ukraine, Indonesia and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment profound spiritual renewal, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
No comments:
Post a Comment