At noon today in Rome (6:00am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study inside 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!
On this second Sunday of Christmas time, the bible readings help us to widen our view, so that we can have a fuller understanding of the significance of Jesus' birth.
With the Prologue of Saint John, the gospel shows us its shocking newness: the eternal Word, the Son of God took on flesh (Jn 1:14). Not only did he come to live among people, but he was made one of these people, one of us! Following this event, to orient our lives, we no longer have only a law, an institution, but a Person, a divine Person, Jesus, who directs our lives, who entices us to go out into the streets because He has done this before.
Saint Paul blesses God for his loving plan which was revealed in Jesus Christ (cf Eph 1: 3-6.15-18). In this plan, each of us finds our own fundamental vocation. What is this vocation? Saint Paul says: we are predestined to be children of God through the work of Jesus Christ. The Son of God became man in order to make us who are men, children of God. This is why the eternal Son took on flesh: to introduce us into his filial relationship with the Father.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, while we continue to contemplate the admirable sign of the Nativity scene, today's Liturgy tells us that the Gospel of Christ is not a fairy tale, it is not a myth, simply an edifying story, no. The Gospel of Christ is the full revelation of God's plan, God's plan for mankind and for the world. It is a message that is both simple and grandiose, a message which prompts us to ask ourselves: what concrete plan has the Lord placed in me, what plan is his birth among us still bringing about among us?
It is the apostle Paul who suggests the answer: (God) has chosen us ... to be holy and immaculate before him in charity (Eph 3:4). This is the meaning of Christmas. If the Lord continues to appear among us, if he continues to give us the gift of his Word, it is so that each of us can respond to this call: to become saints in love. Holiness is belonging to God, it is communion with him, transparency of his infinite goodness. Holiness is a matter of protecting the gift that God has given us. Simply this: protecting gratuity. This is what being a saint means. Therefore, whoever accepts holiness as a gift of grace cannot fail to translate it into concrete action in everyday life. This gift, this grace that God has given me, I translate into concrete actions in everyday life, in meeting with others. This charity, this mercy towards our neighbour, a reflection of God's love, at the same time purifies our hearts and disposes us to forgiveness, making us immaculate day after day. But immaculate not in the sense that I remove a stain: immaculate in the sense that God enters us, the gift, the gratuitousness of God enters us and we keep it and give it to others. May the Virgin Mary help us to welcome the divine plan of love made known in Jesus Christ with joy and gratitude.
Dear brothers and sisters,
In many parts of the world, there is a terrible air of tension. War brings only death and destruction. I call on all parties to keep the flame of dialogue and self-control burning and to ward off the shadow of enmity. Let us pray in silence for the Lord to give us this grace.
I offer a cordial greeting to all of you, pilgrims who have come from Italy and from other countries. I greet families, associations, parish groups, in particular youth who have recently been Confirmed, and have come from Mozzo and Almè - you have a very good sign there! - from the dioceses of Bergamo, and the group from Fraterna Domus.
On this first Sunday of the year, I renew my greetings of serenity and peace in the Lord to all of you. In joyful moments and in difficult moments, let us entrust ourselves to Him, who is our hope! I also recall the commitment that we made on New Year's Day, the Day of Peace: Peace as a journey of hope: dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion. With the grace of God, we can put this into practice.
I wish you all a good Sunday. And, please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye until tomorrow when we celebrate the Epiphany.
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!
On this second Sunday of Christmas time, the bible readings help us to widen our view, so that we can have a fuller understanding of the significance of Jesus' birth.
With the Prologue of Saint John, the gospel shows us its shocking newness: the eternal Word, the Son of God took on flesh (Jn 1:14). Not only did he come to live among people, but he was made one of these people, one of us! Following this event, to orient our lives, we no longer have only a law, an institution, but a Person, a divine Person, Jesus, who directs our lives, who entices us to go out into the streets because He has done this before.
Saint Paul blesses God for his loving plan which was revealed in Jesus Christ (cf Eph 1: 3-6.15-18). In this plan, each of us finds our own fundamental vocation. What is this vocation? Saint Paul says: we are predestined to be children of God through the work of Jesus Christ. The Son of God became man in order to make us who are men, children of God. This is why the eternal Son took on flesh: to introduce us into his filial relationship with the Father.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, while we continue to contemplate the admirable sign of the Nativity scene, today's Liturgy tells us that the Gospel of Christ is not a fairy tale, it is not a myth, simply an edifying story, no. The Gospel of Christ is the full revelation of God's plan, God's plan for mankind and for the world. It is a message that is both simple and grandiose, a message which prompts us to ask ourselves: what concrete plan has the Lord placed in me, what plan is his birth among us still bringing about among us?
It is the apostle Paul who suggests the answer: (God) has chosen us ... to be holy and immaculate before him in charity (Eph 3:4). This is the meaning of Christmas. If the Lord continues to appear among us, if he continues to give us the gift of his Word, it is so that each of us can respond to this call: to become saints in love. Holiness is belonging to God, it is communion with him, transparency of his infinite goodness. Holiness is a matter of protecting the gift that God has given us. Simply this: protecting gratuity. This is what being a saint means. Therefore, whoever accepts holiness as a gift of grace cannot fail to translate it into concrete action in everyday life. This gift, this grace that God has given me, I translate into concrete actions in everyday life, in meeting with others. This charity, this mercy towards our neighbour, a reflection of God's love, at the same time purifies our hearts and disposes us to forgiveness, making us immaculate day after day. But immaculate not in the sense that I remove a stain: immaculate in the sense that God enters us, the gift, the gratuitousness of God enters us and we keep it and give it to others. May the Virgin Mary help us to welcome the divine plan of love made known in Jesus Christ with joy and gratitude.
Dear brothers and sisters,
In many parts of the world, there is a terrible air of tension. War brings only death and destruction. I call on all parties to keep the flame of dialogue and self-control burning and to ward off the shadow of enmity. Let us pray in silence for the Lord to give us this grace.
I offer a cordial greeting to all of you, pilgrims who have come from Italy and from other countries. I greet families, associations, parish groups, in particular youth who have recently been Confirmed, and have come from Mozzo and Almè - you have a very good sign there! - from the dioceses of Bergamo, and the group from Fraterna Domus.
On this first Sunday of the year, I renew my greetings of serenity and peace in the Lord to all of you. In joyful moments and in difficult moments, let us entrust ourselves to Him, who is our hope! I also recall the commitment that we made on New Year's Day, the Day of Peace: Peace as a journey of hope: dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion. With the grace of God, we can put this into practice.
I wish you all a good Sunday. And, please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye until tomorrow when we celebrate the Epiphany.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
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