At noon today in Rome (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 the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
It is true, today is a beautiful day ... Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The term holy places this family in the context of holiness which is a gift of God but, at the same time, holiness portrays a free and responsible acceptance of God's plan. This was true for the family of Nazareth: they were totally open to the will of God.
For example, how can we not to be amazed by Mary's docility to the action of the Holy Spirit who asks her to become the mother of the Messiah? Because Mary, like every young woman of her time, was about to fulfill her life plan, that is, to marry Joseph.
But when she realized that God was calling her to a particular mission, she did not hesitate to proclaim herself as a servant (cf Lk 1:38). Jesus would exalt her greatness not so much through her role as a mother, but through her obedience to God. Jesus said: Blessed are those who listen to the word of God and keep it! (Lk 11:28), just like Mary did. And when she did not fully understand the events that involved her, Mary silently meditated, reflected and loved the divine initiative. Her presence at the foot of the cross consecrated this total availability.
Then, as regards Joseph, the gospel does not recall one single word: he does not speak, but he acts in obedience. He is the man of silence, the man of obedience.
Today's gospel passage (cf Mt 2: 13-15; 19-23) recalls this obedience of the just Joseph three times, referring to the flight to Egypt and the return to the land of Israel. Under the guidance of God, represented by the Angel, Joseph removes his family from Herod's threats, and saves them. The Holy Family is therefore in solidarity with all the families of the world who are forced into exile, in solidarity with all those who are forced to abandon their land because of repression, violence and war.
Finally, the third person of the Holy Family, Jesus. He is the will of the Father: in him - says Saint Paul - there was no yes and no, but only yes (cf 2 Cor 1:19). And this manifested itself in many moments of his earthly life. For example, the episode in the temple when, to his parents who were anxiously looking for him, he replied: Did you not know that I must be about my Father's affairs? (Lk 2,49); his continual repeating: My food is to do the will of the One who sent me (Jn 4:34); his prayer in the Garden of Olives: My Father, if this cup cannot pass away without me drinking it, your will be done (Mt 26,42). All these events are the perfect realization of the same words spoken by the Christ who says: «You did not want sacrifice or offering ... Then I said: 'Behold, I come ... to do, your will, O God' (Heb 10: 5-7; Ps 40: 7-9).
Mary, Joseph, Jesus: the Holy Family of Nazareth represents a choral response to the Father's will: the three members of this family helped each other to discover the plan of God. They prayed, they worked, they communicated. And I wonder: do you, in your family, know how to communicate or are you like those people at the table, each with a cell phone, while they are chatting? At that table, there seems to be silence, as if they were at Mass ... But they don't communicate with each other. We must resume dialogue in the family: fathers, parents, children, grandparents and siblings must communicate with each other ... This is a task we must carry out today, beginning on this day of the Holy Family. The Holy Family can be the model for our families, so that parents and children support each other in remaining faithful to the gospel, the foundation of the holiness of the family.
Let us entrust to Mary, Queen of the family, all families of the world, especially those that are experiencing suffering or unease, and let us invoke her maternal protection upon them.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Let us pray to the Lord for the victims of the horrible terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Mogadishu (Somalia), where a car bomb exploded; more than 70 people were killed. I am close to all the families and to those who are mourning because of these deaths. Let us pray together:
Hail Mary ...
Then, I greet all the Romans, the pilgrims, the parish groups, the associations and the young people. Today, I offer a special greeting to families who are present and to those who are present from home, through television and radio. The family is a precious treasure: we always must maintain the family, care for families: keep up your efforts!
Then, I greet the students from Forlì, the young people from Adrara San Martino and Calcinate who have recently been Confirmed, and the group of adolescents from the parish of Saint Julian in Albino (Bergamo).
I greet all of you, and I wish you all a good Sunday and a serene end to this year. Let us finish this year in peace, peace of heart: this is my wish. And in our families, let us communicate with each other. Thank you again for your good wishes and for your prayers. Please continue and pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
It is true, today is a beautiful day ... Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The term holy places this family in the context of holiness which is a gift of God but, at the same time, holiness portrays a free and responsible acceptance of God's plan. This was true for the family of Nazareth: they were totally open to the will of God.
For example, how can we not to be amazed by Mary's docility to the action of the Holy Spirit who asks her to become the mother of the Messiah? Because Mary, like every young woman of her time, was about to fulfill her life plan, that is, to marry Joseph.
But when she realized that God was calling her to a particular mission, she did not hesitate to proclaim herself as a servant (cf Lk 1:38). Jesus would exalt her greatness not so much through her role as a mother, but through her obedience to God. Jesus said: Blessed are those who listen to the word of God and keep it! (Lk 11:28), just like Mary did. And when she did not fully understand the events that involved her, Mary silently meditated, reflected and loved the divine initiative. Her presence at the foot of the cross consecrated this total availability.
Then, as regards Joseph, the gospel does not recall one single word: he does not speak, but he acts in obedience. He is the man of silence, the man of obedience.
Today's gospel passage (cf Mt 2: 13-15; 19-23) recalls this obedience of the just Joseph three times, referring to the flight to Egypt and the return to the land of Israel. Under the guidance of God, represented by the Angel, Joseph removes his family from Herod's threats, and saves them. The Holy Family is therefore in solidarity with all the families of the world who are forced into exile, in solidarity with all those who are forced to abandon their land because of repression, violence and war.
Finally, the third person of the Holy Family, Jesus. He is the will of the Father: in him - says Saint Paul - there was no yes and no, but only yes (cf 2 Cor 1:19). And this manifested itself in many moments of his earthly life. For example, the episode in the temple when, to his parents who were anxiously looking for him, he replied: Did you not know that I must be about my Father's affairs? (Lk 2,49); his continual repeating: My food is to do the will of the One who sent me (Jn 4:34); his prayer in the Garden of Olives: My Father, if this cup cannot pass away without me drinking it, your will be done (Mt 26,42). All these events are the perfect realization of the same words spoken by the Christ who says: «You did not want sacrifice or offering ... Then I said: 'Behold, I come ... to do, your will, O God' (Heb 10: 5-7; Ps 40: 7-9).
Mary, Joseph, Jesus: the Holy Family of Nazareth represents a choral response to the Father's will: the three members of this family helped each other to discover the plan of God. They prayed, they worked, they communicated. And I wonder: do you, in your family, know how to communicate or are you like those people at the table, each with a cell phone, while they are chatting? At that table, there seems to be silence, as if they were at Mass ... But they don't communicate with each other. We must resume dialogue in the family: fathers, parents, children, grandparents and siblings must communicate with each other ... This is a task we must carry out today, beginning on this day of the Holy Family. The Holy Family can be the model for our families, so that parents and children support each other in remaining faithful to the gospel, the foundation of the holiness of the family.
Let us entrust to Mary, Queen of the family, all families of the world, especially those that are experiencing suffering or unease, and let us invoke her maternal protection upon them.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Let us pray to the Lord for the victims of the horrible terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Mogadishu (Somalia), where a car bomb exploded; more than 70 people were killed. I am close to all the families and to those who are mourning because of these deaths. Let us pray together:
Hail Mary ...
Then, I greet all the Romans, the pilgrims, the parish groups, the associations and the young people. Today, I offer a special greeting to families who are present and to those who are present from home, through television and radio. The family is a precious treasure: we always must maintain the family, care for families: keep up your efforts!
Then, I greet the students from Forlì, the young people from Adrara San Martino and Calcinate who have recently been Confirmed, and the group of adolescents from the parish of Saint Julian in Albino (Bergamo).
I greet all of you, and I wish you all a good Sunday and a serene end to this year. Let us finish this year in peace, peace of heart: this is my wish. And in our families, let us communicate with each other. Thank you again for your good wishes and for your prayers. Please continue and pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
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