At noon today (6:00am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with pilgrims and the faithful who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, we begin the journey of Advent, which culminates with Christmas. Advent is the season that allows us to welcome the Lord who comes to meet us, and to verify our desire for God, to look ahead and to prepare ourselves for Christ's return. He will come to us at the Feast of Christmas, when we remember his historical coming in human form, in all humility; but he also arrives inside each one of us every time we are disposed to receiving him, and he will come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. For this reason, we must always be vigilant and wait for the Lord in hopes of encountering him. Today's liturgy introduces us to this suggestive theme of vigilance and waiting.
In the gospel (cf Mk 13:33-37), Jesus encourages us to pay attention and to be vigilant, to be ready to welcome him at the moment of his return. He tells us: Pay attention, be vigilant, for you do not know the moment ..., be sure that when he appears, suddenly, you are not found to be sleeping (Mk 13:36).
The person who pays attention is the one who, amidst the noise of the world, dos not allow himself to be overwhelmed by distractions or superficial things, but who lives in a full and conscious manner, with a concern aimed first and foremost toward others. With such an attitude, we become aware of the tears and the needs of others and we can also grasp human and spiritual capacities and qualities. The person who is attentive then also turns to the world, seeking to counter the indifference and cruelty that is present, and rejoicing in the treasures of beauty that also exist and need to be maintained. It is a matter of looking with concern and seeking to understand in order to recognize the suffering and the poverty of individuals and of society, and of recognizing the hidden treasure of little every-day things, right there where the Lord has placed us.
A vigilant person is one who welcomes an invitation to watch, which is to say not to be overwhelmed by the sleep of discouragement, the lack of hope, by disappointment; and at the same time, one who rejects the solicitation of many vanities with which the world is overflowing and behind which, sometimes, personal and family time and serenity are sacrificed. This is the painful experience of the people of Israel, recounted by the prophet Isaiah: God seemed to have left his people wandering far from his ways (cf Is 63:17), but this was the result of the infidelity of this same people (cf Is 64:4b). We too sometimes find ourselves in similar situations of infidelity to the call of the Lord. He shows us the good way, the way of faith, the way of love, but we seek our happiness elsewhere.
Being alert and vigilant are pre-conditions for not continuing to wander away from the ways of the Lord, lost in our sins and our infidelities; being attentive and being vigilant are the conditions for allowing God to break into our existence, for restoring meaning and value with his presence which is full of goodness and tenderness.
May blessed Mary, a model of waiting for God is an icon of vigilance, lead us to meet her son Jesus, and revive our love for Him.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
During this past night, I returned from my Apostolic Voyage to Myanmar and Bangladesh. I thank all those who accompanied me with their prayer, and I invite you to be united with me in giving thanks to the Lord, who allowed me to meet those people, especially the Catholic communities, and to be edified by their witness. The memory of many faces tested by life, but noble and smiling, has remained impressed upon me. I carry them all in my heart and in my prayer. Thank you very much to the people of Myanmar and the people of Bangladesh!
In my prayer, I also remember especially the people of Honduras; may they overcome their current moment of difficulty in a peaceful way.
I send my greetings to you, Romans and pilgrims who are present here. I particularly greet the faithful who have come from Bratislava (Slovakia) and from Ludwigshafen in Germany.
I greet the group from Pregaziol (Treviso) and the young people from Mestrino (Padua) who were recently Confirmed; as well as the members of the Romanian community who are living here in Italy and who today are celebrating the national day of Romania.
I wish you all a good Sunday and a fruitful journey through Advent. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, we begin the journey of Advent, which culminates with Christmas. Advent is the season that allows us to welcome the Lord who comes to meet us, and to verify our desire for God, to look ahead and to prepare ourselves for Christ's return. He will come to us at the Feast of Christmas, when we remember his historical coming in human form, in all humility; but he also arrives inside each one of us every time we are disposed to receiving him, and he will come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. For this reason, we must always be vigilant and wait for the Lord in hopes of encountering him. Today's liturgy introduces us to this suggestive theme of vigilance and waiting.
In the gospel (cf Mk 13:33-37), Jesus encourages us to pay attention and to be vigilant, to be ready to welcome him at the moment of his return. He tells us: Pay attention, be vigilant, for you do not know the moment ..., be sure that when he appears, suddenly, you are not found to be sleeping (Mk 13:36).
The person who pays attention is the one who, amidst the noise of the world, dos not allow himself to be overwhelmed by distractions or superficial things, but who lives in a full and conscious manner, with a concern aimed first and foremost toward others. With such an attitude, we become aware of the tears and the needs of others and we can also grasp human and spiritual capacities and qualities. The person who is attentive then also turns to the world, seeking to counter the indifference and cruelty that is present, and rejoicing in the treasures of beauty that also exist and need to be maintained. It is a matter of looking with concern and seeking to understand in order to recognize the suffering and the poverty of individuals and of society, and of recognizing the hidden treasure of little every-day things, right there where the Lord has placed us.
A vigilant person is one who welcomes an invitation to watch, which is to say not to be overwhelmed by the sleep of discouragement, the lack of hope, by disappointment; and at the same time, one who rejects the solicitation of many vanities with which the world is overflowing and behind which, sometimes, personal and family time and serenity are sacrificed. This is the painful experience of the people of Israel, recounted by the prophet Isaiah: God seemed to have left his people wandering far from his ways (cf Is 63:17), but this was the result of the infidelity of this same people (cf Is 64:4b). We too sometimes find ourselves in similar situations of infidelity to the call of the Lord. He shows us the good way, the way of faith, the way of love, but we seek our happiness elsewhere.
Being alert and vigilant are pre-conditions for not continuing to wander away from the ways of the Lord, lost in our sins and our infidelities; being attentive and being vigilant are the conditions for allowing God to break into our existence, for restoring meaning and value with his presence which is full of goodness and tenderness.
May blessed Mary, a model of waiting for God is an icon of vigilance, lead us to meet her son Jesus, and revive our love for Him.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
During this past night, I returned from my Apostolic Voyage to Myanmar and Bangladesh. I thank all those who accompanied me with their prayer, and I invite you to be united with me in giving thanks to the Lord, who allowed me to meet those people, especially the Catholic communities, and to be edified by their witness. The memory of many faces tested by life, but noble and smiling, has remained impressed upon me. I carry them all in my heart and in my prayer. Thank you very much to the people of Myanmar and the people of Bangladesh!
In my prayer, I also remember especially the people of Honduras; may they overcome their current moment of difficulty in a peaceful way.
I send my greetings to you, Romans and pilgrims who are present here. I particularly greet the faithful who have come from Bratislava (Slovakia) and from Ludwigshafen in Germany.
I greet the group from Pregaziol (Treviso) and the young people from Mestrino (Padua) who were recently Confirmed; as well as the members of the Romanian community who are living here in Italy and who today are celebrating the national day of Romania.
I wish you all a good Sunday and a fruitful journey through Advent. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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