“Rise and go”, the Lord said to Saul, who
had fallen to the ground on the road to Damascus, and He sent Ananias to
baptize the converted persecutor. “Rise and go”, the Pope said, is also a call
to each of us, because a Christian “must be on his feet with his head held
high”, while “a man with a closed heart is a man who is down”. For Mass at
Santa Marta on Friday, 15 April, with a meditation on the biblical account of
the conversion of Saul, taken from the Acts of the Apostles (9:1-20), Pope
Francis continued to discuss the importance of docility to the action of the
Holy Spirit, and to reflect “on the attitude of those people who have a closed
heart, a hard heart, an arrogant heart”.
The
liturgy of the preceding day had highlighted how both the Apostle Philip and
the queen’s minister had their hearts open to the voice of the Spirit”. This
Friday of the Third Week of Easter, then brings us the story of Saul, “the
story of a man who lets God change his heart: the transformation from a closed,
hard, misguided heart to a man with a heart docile to the Holy Spirit”.
Saul,
the Pontiff explained, “was present at the martyrdom of Stephen” and “agreed”.
He was “a strong, brave young man, zealous in his faith, but with a closed
heart”. In fact not only “did he not want to hear about Jesus Christ” but he
went even further and began “to persecute Christians”. Thus, confident, he
asked permission to “do the same” in Damascus.
While
he was travelling, the Pope continued, “suddenly a light from heaven flashed
about him”. Then “he fell to the ground and heard a voice”. This man, “the
strong, confident Saul, was on the ground”, in other words, he was “down”. And
as he was down, Francis continued, he “understood his truth; he understood that
he was not a man as God wanted, because created us, all of us, to be on our
feet, heads held high”.
At
this point the Lord said “a key phrase, the same one he had said to Philip in
giving him the mission to go and find the Ethiopian proselyte: ‘You, rise and
go!’”. Moreover, the Lord said to Saul, a confident man who knew it all: “enter
the city, and you will be told what you are to do”. It was as if to say: “You
still have to learn”. It was humiliation, and that’s not all.
Rising
from the ground Saul “realized he was blind” and thus “let himself be guided”.
Here, the Pope remarked, “his heart began to open”, as he was compelled to be
led by the hand to Damascus. “This man was down”, and he “understood
immediately that he had to accept this humiliation”. In this regard the Pontiff
explained that “humiliation” is “precisely the path to open the heart”. Indeed,
“when the Lord sends us humiliation or allows humiliation to come to us, it is
precisely for this reason: so the heart may be opened, may be docile” and “ be
converted to the Lord Jesus”.
The
narrative then moves on to Ananias. To him too, the Lord said: “Go. Rise and
go”. So the disciple “departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on
him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me that you may regain your sight
and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. It is a key phrase which embraces a
fundamental detail: “the main character in these stories”, Francis pointed out,
“is not the doctors of the law, nor Stephen, nor Philip, nor the eunuch, nor
Saul… it is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a protagonist of the Church
who leads the People of God”.
At
this point in the Acts we read that “something like scales fell” from Saul’s
eyes “and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized”. His “hardness
of heart”, with the experience of humiliation, became “docility to the Holy
Spirit”. He, “who believed that he was the one with the truth, and who
persecuted Christians, received the Lord’s grace to see and understand his
truth: ‘You are a man down and you must rise!’”.
It
is a lesson for everyone: “it is beautiful”, the Pope said, “to see that the
Lord is able to change hearts and make a hard, stubborn heart become a heart
docile to the Spirit”. However, Francis added, it is important that “we not
forget those key words”. First and foremost: “Rise”, because “a Christian must
be on his feet with his head held high”. Then: “Go”, because “a Christian must
go, must not be closed in on himself”. Finally, “let yourself be led”, as did
Paul who “let himself be led like a child; entrusted himself to the hands of
another, whom he did not know”. There is, in all of this, the Pontiff
explained, “the work of the Holy Spirit”.
We
are all affected by this message, because we all “have hardness in our heart”:
he “who doesn’t have it”, the Pope added, “raise your hand, please!”.
Therefore, Francis suggested, “let us ask the Lord to make us see that this
hardness knocks us to the ground; may he send us the grace and also — if
necessary — humiliation so as not to remain down but rise, with the dignity
with which God created us, which is the grace of a heart open and docile to the
Holy Spirit”.
…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis made his customary visit to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Thursday evening, ahead of his Apostolic Journey to the Greek island of Lesbos this Saturday.
During the course of his 30-minute visit to the Salus populi Romani icon, the Holy Father presented a bouquet of white and blue roses – the colors of the Greek flag – to the ancient Marian icon before pausing for a moment of silent prayer.
The Vatican released the official program of Holy Father’s visit to Lesbos earlier on Thursday.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Click to download bulletin for April 24, 2016
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will spend six hours on the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, April 16, where – together with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymus II – he will spend time with refugees.
“Lesbos … is very close to the Turkish coast, just a few kilometers,” explained Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, at a press briefing on Thursday. “This is the reason so many migrants go to the island of Lesbos.”
Father Lombardi said the visit will have a humanitarian and ecumenical perspective.
“It does not directly touch on political positions, or other such things, but their focus is fundamentally humanitarian, experienced in an ecumenical key,” Father Lombardi said.
After arriving by plane on the island, Pope Francis will meet briefly with the Prime Minister of Greece, and then travel to the Mòria refugee camp, which is home to about 2,500 people.
The three religious leaders will have a special meeting with minors at the camp, as well as 250 selected asylum-seekers.
“The presence of minors, children, orphans – even those on their own – is very typical in these situations,” – Father Lombardi said – “Therefore, it is right to give them particular attention.”
While at the camp, a joint declaration will be signed, and Pope Francis and the other religious leaders will have lunch with some of the refugees.
Pope Francis will also have a meeting with the small local Catholic community. There are about 100 Catholics on Lesbos, and other Catholics in Greece will travel to the island to attend the encounter.
“Keep in mind that there is also a presence of the Catholic Church in Greece. Although very small in quantitative terms, it is still present,” Father Lombardi said.
At the end of the visit, the three religious leaders will hold a memorial for all the victims of the migration crisis, and observe a moment of silence for those who have died.
Returning to the airport, Pope Francis will meet privately with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymus and have a second private meeting with the prime minister before leaving for Rome.
The full schedule of Pope Francis’ visit to the island of Lesbos in Greece (all times local)
07:00 Departure from Rome-Fiumicino International airport for Mytilene (capital of Lesbos)
10:20 Arrival at the international airport of Mytilene
WELCOMING CEREMONY
The Holy Father is received by the Prime Minister; and is then welcomed by His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His Beatitude Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, and after this, by Bishop Franghískos Papamanólis, O.F.M. Cap., Chairman of the Greek Episcopal Conference.
10:35 PRIVATE MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER (at the airport)
10:55 Transfer by minibus with His Holiness Bartholomew and his Beatitude Ieronymos to Mòria refugee camp(16 Km).
11:15 Arrival at Mòria refugee camp(home to around 2.500 asylum-seekers)
VISIT WITH REFUGEES
Along the barricades will be gathered about 150 minors who are guests of the center. The religious leaders will go across the courtyard dedicated to the registration of refugees and will arrive at the big tent to individually greet about 250 asylum seekers.
12.25: Speech by Archbishop Ieronymos; by Patriarch Bartholemew; and by Pope Francis at the podium of the courtyard for refugee registration.
12.40: Signing of the joint declaration.
12.45: Lunch with the three religious leaders with the some of the refugees in the space behind the podium.
13.30 transfer by minibus to the port (8 Km)
13.45 arrival at the headquarters of the Coast Guard.
MEETING WITH CITIZENS AND THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.
MEMORIAL FOR THE VICTIMS OF MIGRATION.
SPEECH BY THE HOLY FATHER
At the end, the three religious leaders will each recite a brief prayer for the victims of migration.
After a minute of silence is called for, the three leaders will receive from three children laurel wreaths, which will be thrown into the sea.
14:15 transfer by minibus to the airport (3 Km).
14:30 In the airport:
PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND ALL GREECE
PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
15:00 DEPARTURE CEREMONY
15:15 Departure by plane from the international airport of Mytilene for Rome.
16:30 Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport.
_____________________
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Offer your lives “completely” to the Lord; “we too are living in a time of martyrdom, and in the midst of a culture so often hostile to the Gospel:” that’s the message Pope Francis gave to staff and students at the Pontifical Scots College Thursday as they celebrate the 400 th anniversary of its founding as a seminary.
The Scots College in Rome was founded by Pope Clement VIII in 1600 for Catholic education at a time when Catholic instruction and preaching were illegal at home. On 10th March 1616, the Pontifical Scots College became a seminary.
In his discourse to those present Thursday, Pope Francis held up as a model of committed priesthood the martyred Scottish Jesuit Saint John Ogilvie who died for the faith in 1615. The saint was hanged and drawn at Glasgow Cross for clandestinely celebrating Mass in the homes of the few Catholics remaining in Scotland and for refusing to pledge allegiance to King James VI.
In 1616, and inspired by Ogilvie’s determined ministry, the College’s first 16 students vowed to return to Scotland as priests to follow in his footsteps.
Pope Francis said that the martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie, “which was meant to silence the Catholic faith, instead was an impetus for its promotion and for defending the Church’s freedom to remain in communion with the See of Peter. The ‘yes’ proclaimed by the sixteen men four hundred years ago was eloquent not simply for their good intentions, but rather because they persevered, and prepared themselves in every way, returning to Scotland to face the hardships that awaited them, even if it meant becoming martyrs themselves.”
Below please find the official English translation of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks:
Dear Archbishop Tartaglia, Archbishop Cushley,
Dear Members of Staff and Seminarians of the Pontifical Scots College,
It am pleased to welcome you today, as together we commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the transformation of the Pontifical Scots College into a seminary for priestly formation. This anniversary is significant not only for the many years it marks, but even more so because we recall the fidelity of the sixteen men who, on 11 March 1616, were resolute in their determination to return to Scotland as priests to preach the Gospel. That decision was born of a martyr’s blood.
The martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie, which was meant to silence the Catholic faith, instead was an impetus for its promotion and for defending the Church’s freedom to remain in communion with the See of Peter. The “yes” proclaimed by the sixteen men four hundred years ago was eloquent not simply for their good intentions, but rather because they persevered, and prepared themselves in every way, returning to Scotland to face the hardships that awaited them, even if it meant becoming martyrs themselves. Theirs was a life which sought the joys and peace that Christ alone could offer. Looking out at you today, I can see that, through the grace of God, the martyrdom of Saint John and the courage of those sixteen men has borne fruit in your beloved homeland.
We too are living in a time of martyrdom, and in the midst of a culture so often hostile to the Gospel. I urge you to have that same selfless spirit as your predecessors did. Love Jesus above all things! Let your “yes” be marked by a firm resolve to give yourselves generously to your priestly formation, so that your years in Rome may prepare you to return to Scotland and to offer your lives completely. If you have this same passion as your brothers from four hundred years ago, that same love for the Church and Scotland, you will honour the history and sacrifices we recall today. You will also become in this moment a sign to the Scottish people, especially the youth, if you encounter them in their everyday lives, if you reach out to those who are furthest from Christ. Show them, each and every one, that God is always with us and that his mercy endures for ever.
In this Jubilee of Mercy, I pray that the Lord may grant you the courage and grace to be faithful to his will, by being dedicated to prayer, by loving Jesus, especially in the Holy Eucharist, and by entrusting yourselves to the care of Mary our Mother. Upon you and all the faithful in Scotland, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and peace in the Lord. God bless you all!
(from Vatican Radio)…