(Vatican Radio) Thousands of religious gathered in the Paul VI hall on Monday for an audience with Pope Francis concluding the Year for Consecrated Life.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
At the heart of Pope Francis’ address to the men and women religious were three words, prophesy, proximity and hope.
Putting aside his prepared remarks, the Pope spoke directly to those present about obedience and how difficult it is to be obedient all the time. That level of obedience, the Holy Father said, was what the Son of God had. But he added, that there were some religious men and women who had a high level of obedience and underlined that this gift from the heart was in its nature prophesy.
Turning his attention to the second word proximity, the Pope stressed how important it was for those consecrated persons to reach out to both Christians and non-Christians, in their sufferings, their problems.
The Holy Father also renewed is warning against the damage that can be caused by gossip in the religious life. He again compared the gossiping religious to a terrorist who throws a bomb into the middle of their community.
Finally, focusing on the word hope, the Pope said having hope was at times difficult for him, especially when it comes to vocations. He described his sadness hearing about orders and monasteries with few religious or communities where the priests and nuns were getting older without people to carry on their work. He also underlined that prayer not money was the answer to an increase in candidates to the consecrated life. Thanking in particular nuns for the work they do, the Pope said, “what would the Church be like without nuns.”
The Year for Consecrated Life concludes on February 2 nd with a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica presided over by the Holy Father.
(from Vatican Radio)…
There can be neither humility nor holiness
without taking the path of humiliation. Francis spoke of this truth as he
recalled the story of David during Mass at Santa Marta on Monday morning, 1 February. “In
the first reading the story of King David continues”, the Pope began, referring
to the day’s passage from the Second Book of Samuel (15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13).
The story, he explained, “began when Samuel went to the house of [David’s]
father, and David was anointed king”, even though he was still a boy. Then “he
grew up, he had his problems, but he was always a man respectful of the king
who did not like him”. In fact the king “knew that he would be his successor”.
And “in the end David managed to unite the kingdom of Israel: everyone together
with him”. However, “he was
feeling insecure and his zeal for the house of the Lord began to weaken”. Precisely “at that moment — we heard the
other day — David was one step away from becoming corrupt”, Francis continued.
Thus “the holy King David, a sinner but a saint, became corrupt”. But then “the
Prophet Nathan, sent by God” helped him “understand what a bad thing he had
done, an evil thing: because a corrupt person doesn’t realize it. It takes a
special grace to change the heart of a corrupt person”. Thus, “David, who still
had a noble heart”, recognized his sin, “he recognized his fault”. What did
Nathan say to him? These were his words: “The Lord has forgiven your sin, but
the corruption you have sown will grow. You killed an innocent man to hide
adultery. The sword shall never depart from your house”. Thus, the Pope
explained, “God forgives sin, David converts but the wounds of corruption are
difficult to heal. We see this in so many parts of the world”. This
is the point in David’s story, Francis affirmed, that “we arrive at in today’s
passage: David’s son battles against his father. He wants power: his son is
already corrupt”. But “what does David do? With the nobility that he had won
back after his sin — and also the penance he had done to save the son who had
died, the child of adultery — he rejoins his own: ‘Let us flee the city lest
Absalom — his son — should overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the
city to the sword’, as was customary in those times”. The
Pontiff recalled that “God castigates David harshly: ‘The sword shall never
depart from your house’”. But, Francis continued, “he defends the house and
flees, he leaves”. Is he perhaps “a coward? No, he is a father”. And “he allows
the ark to return”, he does not “use God to defend himself”. In other words,
David “leaves in order to save his people: this is the path of holiness that
David began to follow, after the moment in which he became corrupt”. The
passage, the Pope continued, presents David weeping as he climbs the steep
Mount of Olives. “His head was covered”,
a sign of mourning, and he was walking barefoot. He was doing penance.
“And all those who were with him also had their heads covered and they were
weeping as they went: weeping and penance”. Scripture also tells us that “some,
who did not like him, began to follow and curse him”. Among them was Shimei,
who called him “murderer”, reminding him of “the crime he had committed against
Uriah the Hittite in order to cover his adultery”. Abishai, one of the people
closest to David, “wanted to defend him” and wanted to take off Shimei’s head
in order to silence him. But David goes “a step further: ‘If he is cursing it
is because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’”. He then “says to his
servants: ‘My own son, who came forth form my loins, is seeking my life”. He is
referring to his son Absalom. This is why he turns again to his servants
saying: “Let this Benjaminite curse, for the Lord has told him to”. The
question, Francis explained, is that “David is able to see the signs: it is the
moment of his humiliation, it is the moment in which he is paying for his
fault”. Therefore, he says: “Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and
make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day”.
Basically, “he entrusts himself to the Lord’s hands: this is David’s path, from
the moment of corruption to this entrustment to the hands of the Lord. This is
holiness. This is humility”. The
Pope continued. “I think”, he said, “that each one of us, should someone say
something bad about us”, would react by saying “No, I didn’t do it, this isn’t
true, no!”. In fact, we “immediately try to say that it isn’t true”. Or else
“we do as Shimei did: we say something even worse in response”. But humility,
Francis stated, “can reach a heart only through humiliation: there is no
humility without humiliation”. And, he said, “if you are not able to bear some
humiliation in your life, you are not humble. That’s how it is: I would say it’s
that mathematical, it’s that simple!”. For
this reason, the Pope continued, “the only path to humility is humiliation”.
Therefore, “David’s goal, which is holiness, is reached through humiliation”.
Also, “the goal of holiness that God gives to his children, gives to the
Church, comes through the humiliation of his Son who lets himself be cursed,
who lets himself be borne on the Cross, unjustly”. Francis clarified that “this
Son of God who humbles himself, is the path of holiness: David, with his attitude,
prophesies the humiliation of Jesus”. Before
ending his homily Francis asked of “the Lord, for each of us, for all the
Church, the grace of humility, but also the grace of understanding that it is
impossible to be humble without humiliation”….
(Vatican Radio) Humility is the way of holiness. That’s what Pope Francis said in his Homily at Monday morning’s Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope focused on the story of King David who, aware of his own sin, accepts humiliation in a spirit of trust in the Lord. While God forgives sin, the Pope observed, “the wounds of corruption are difficult to heal.”
King David “is one step away from corruption,” says the Pope – but the prophet Nathan, sent by God, makes him understand the evil he has done. David, adds Francis, is a “sinner, but holy.”
The wounds of corruption are difficult to heal
Though he is a sinner, David is not corrupt – the Pope notes – because “the corrupt do not realize that they are:”
“It takes a special grace to change the heart of a corrupt person. And David who had a noble heart, said: ‘Oh, it’s true: I have sinned!’ He acknowledges his guilt. And what does Nathan say? ‘The Lord forgives your sin, but the corruption that you have sown will grow. You killed an innocent man to hide adultery. The sword shall never depart from your house.’ God forgives the sin; David converts but the wounds of corruption are difficult to heal. We see this in many parts of the world.”
David finds his son Absalom has become corrupt, waging war on him. But the king gathers his men and decides to leave the city, allowing the Ark to return. He does not call on God to defend him. He leaves “to save his people.” And this, Pope Francis reveals, “is the way of holiness that David, after that moment of corruption, begins to follow.”
King David entrusts himself to God and so passes from sin to holiness
David, with covered head and weeping, leaves the city amid the jeers of some. Among these, Shimei calls him “murderous” and curses him. David accepts this because, the Pope says, if he is cursed, it is the Lord’s doing:
“Then David said to his servants: ‘My own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life:’ Absalom. And then, ‘let this Benjaminite go on cursing since it was the Lord who ordered him to.’ David knows how to see the signs: it is his moment of humiliation, it is the moment in which he is paying for his guilt. ‘Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction, and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day.’ And he puts himself in the hands of the Lord. This is the path of David, from the moment of corruption to this entrusting of himself into the hands of the Lord. And this is holiness. This is humility.”
“I think all of us, if somebody says something bad to us, would immediately say that it’s not true.” Or we do as Shimei does: “We offer an even uglier response.”
May Christians have the grace of humility
“Humility,” the Pope stresses, “can only get into the heart via humiliation. There is no humility without humiliation, and if you are not able to put up with some humiliations in your life, you are not humble.” It’s simply “mathematical,” the Pope stresses:
“The only way to humility is through humiliation. David’s destiny, which is holiness, comes through humiliation. The destiny of that holiness which God gives to his children, gives to the Church, comes through the humiliation of his Son, who allows himself to be insulted, who allows himself to be placed on the cross – unjustly … And this Son of God who humbles himself, this is the way of holiness. And David, through his behavior, prophesizes this humiliation of Jesus. Let us ask the Lord for the grace of humility for each of us, for the whole Church – but also for the grace to understand that humility cannot be achieved without humiliation. ”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Sunday that “No human condition constitutes grounds for exclusion from the heart of the Father.”
The Pope was speaking during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square on the day upon which we mark the International Day of Leprosy.
The only privilege in the eyes of God – Pope Francis told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square – is to have no privileges and to be abandoned in His hands.”
And calling on all men and women to guard themselves against the temptation of treating religion as a human investment and of thinking they can “bargain” with God seeking to obtain their own interests, the Pope urged the faithful to open their hearts to the Lord and to his Revelation.
Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel reading of the day in which Jesus, speaking at the Synagogue, mentions great prophets like Elijah and Elisha who were not given credit, and then he himself is driven out of town “but passed through the midst of them and went away”.
He said that the Scripture passage is fulfilled today as it was during the time of Jesus.
And he reminded the faithful that God the Father cares for all his creatures, even the smallest and the most insignificant in the eyes of men and that it is always He who takes the first step: “comes to visit us with his mercy, raises us from the dust of our sins”.
God – Pope Francis said – “holds out His hand to draw us back from the abyss into which we have been driven by our pride, and invites us to welcome the consoling truth of the Gospel and to walk on the right paths: He always comes to looking for us” and no human condition constitutes grounds for exclusion from His heart.
After the Marian prayer, the Pope turned his attention to the World Day of Leprosy.
A “disease – he said – that while being in regression, unfortunately still affects the poorest and most marginalized.”
And stressing the fact that it is important to show solidarity to these brothers and sisters who are disabled as a result of this disease, the Pope assured them of his prayers and pledged his support to those who assist them.
Pope Francis also had a special greeting for a group of boys and girls of the Italian Catholic Action movement from the Diocese of Rome.
Commending them for having just passed through the Holy Door of Mercy, he encouraged them to be instruments of peace and mercy among their peers.
Finally, the launch of coloured balloons symbolizing peace and a request that has become customary from Pope Francis but that never fails to touch one’s heart: “Please do not forget to pray for me.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a video-message for the conclusion of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, Philippines. To the participants of the 51st IEC who have just wrapped up weeklong event which focussed and reflected upon the Eucharist, Pope Francis revealed that the next such Congress will take place in Budapest, Hungary in 2020. Listen to the Pope’s message:
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet all of you gathered in Cebu for the Fifty-first International Eucharistic Congress. I thank Cardinal Bo, who is my representative among you, and I offer a special greeting to Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop Palma and the bishops, priests and faithful in Cebu. I also greet Cardinal Tagle and all the Catholics of the Philippines. I am particularly happy that this Congress has brought together so many people from the vast continent of Asia and from throughout the world. Just one year ago, I visited the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. I was able to witness at first hand the deep faith and resilience of its people. Under the protection of Santo Niño, the Filipino people received the Gospel of Jesus Christ some five hundred years ago. Ever since, they have given the world an example of fidelity and deep devotion to the Lord and his Church. They have also been a people of missionaries, speading the light of the Gospel in Asia and to the ends of the earth. The theme of the Eucharistic Congress – Christ in You, Our Hope of Glory – is very timely. It reminds us that the risen Jesus is always alive and present in his Church, above all in the Eucharist, the sacrament of his Body and Blood. Christ’s presence among us is not only a consolation, but also a promise and a summons. It is a promise that everlasting joy and peace will one day be ours in the fullness of his Kingdom. But it is also a summons to go forth, as missionaries, to bring the message of the Father’s tenderness, forgiveness and mercy to every man, woman and child. How much our world needs this message! When we think of the conflicts, the injustices and the urgent humanitarian crises which mark our time, we realize how important it is for every Christian to be a true missionary disciple, bringing the good news of Christ’s redemptive love to a world in such need of reconciliation, justice and peace. So it is fitting that this Congress has been celebrated in the Year of Mercy, in which the whole Church is invited to concentrate on the heart of the Gospel: Mercy. We are called to bring the balm of God’s merciful love to the whole human family, binding up wounds, bringing hope where despair so often seems to have the upper hand. As you now prepare to “go forth” at the end of this Eucharistic Congress, there are two gestures of Jesus at the Last Supper which I would ask you to reflect on. Both have to do with the missionary dimension of the Eucharist. They are table fellowship and the washing of feet. We know how important it was for Jesus to share meals with his disciples, but also, and especially, with sinners and the outcast. Sitting at table, Jesus was able to listen to others, to hear their stories, to appreciate their hopes and aspirations, and to speak to them of the Father’s love. At each Eucharist, the table of the Lord’s Supper, we should be inspired to follow his example, by reaching out to others, in a spirit of respect and openness, in order to share with them the gift we ourselves have received. In Asia, where the Church is committed to respectful dialogue with the followers of other religions, this prophetic witness most often takes place, as we know, through the dialogue of life. Through the testimony of lives transformed by God’s love, we best proclaim the Kingdom’s promise of reconciliation, justice and unity for the human family. Our example can open hearts to the grace of the Holy Spirit, who leads them to Christ the Savior. The other image which the Lord offers us at the Last Supper is the washing of feet. On the eve of his passion, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of humble service, of the unconditional love with which he gave his life on the Cross for the salvation of the world. The Eucharist is a school of humble service. It teaches us readiness to be there for others. This too is at the heart of missionary discipleship. Here I think of the aftermath of the typhoon. It brought immense devastation to the Philippines, yet it also brought in its wake an immense outpouring of solidarity, generosity and goodness. People set about rebuilding not just homes, but lives. The Eucharist speaks to us of that power, which flows from the Cross and constantly brings new life. It changes hearts. It enables us to be caring, to protect the poor and the vulnerable, and to be sensitive to the cry of our brothers and sisters in need. It teaches us to act with integrity and to reject the injustice and corruption which poison the roots of society. Dear friends, may this Eucharistic Congress strengthen you in your love of Christ present in the Eucharist. May it enable you, as missionary disciples, to bring this great experience of ecclesial communion and missionary outreach to your families, your parishes and communities, and your local Churches. May it be a leaven of reconciliation and peace for the entire world. Now, at the end of the Congress, I am happy to announce that the next International Eucharistic Congress will take place in 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. I ask all of you to join me in praying for its spiritual fruitfulness and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all engaged in its preparation. As you return to your homes renewed in faith, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and your families as a pledge of abiding joy and peace in the Lord. God Bless you: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (from Vatican Radio)…