Pope says to be saints we just need to do our duty "with hearts open to God"
"The last word on man's history is not hatred, it is not death, it is not war. At every moment of life we are assisting the hand of God, and also the discreet presence of all the believers who have preceded us with the sign of faith. "
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - To be saints you do not have to spend all the time in prayer. But "you have to do your duty all day long: praying, going to work, guarding your children. But everything needs to be done with a heart open to God, so that work, even in sickness and suffering, even in difficulties, is open to God. And in doing so you can become a saint."
Holiness was the theme this week of Pope Francis’ general audience with 15,000 people present in St. Peter's Square, which also gave the Pope a chance to return to support the cause of the migrants.
He said: "On the occasion of World Refugee Day yesterday, on Monday I wanted to meet with a representation of refugees who are hosted by Roman parishes and religious institutes. Yesterday's World Day also me to express my sincere appreciation for the campaign for the new migration law: 'I was a stranger - Humanity that is good', which enjoys the official support of Italian Caritas, the Migrantes Foundation and other Catholic organizations " .
Earlier, discussing "Saints, Witnesses and Companions of Hope" (cf. Eb 11,40-12,2a), the Pope had stated that the "saints, our older brothers and sisters" who preceded us marked by the faith, are "beside us" and holiness is the aspiration of every Christian.
"On the day of our Baptism," he said, "the invocation of the saints resonated for us. Many of us at that time were children, carried by our parents. Shortly before the anointing with the Catechumens Oil, a symbol of God's strength in the fight against evil, the priest invited the whole assembly to pray for those who were about to receive Baptism, invoking the intercession of the saints . That was the first time in our life that we were given this company of brothers and sisters who travelled the same path, who knew our own hard work and now live forever in the embrace of God. The Letter to the Jews defines this company that surrounds us with the expression "multitude of witnesses" (12: 1). Christians in the fight against evil do not despair. Christianity cultivates an ingrained trust: it does not believe that negative and evil forces can prevail. The last word on man's history is not hatred, it is not death, it is not war. At every moment of life we are assisting the hand of God, and also the discreet presence of all believers who "preceded us with the sign of faith" (Roman Canon). Their existence tells us first of all that Christian life is not an unreachable ideal. And together we are comforted: we are not alone, the Church is made of innumerable brothers and sisters, often anonymous, who have preceded us and who, through the action of the Holy Spirit, are involved in the affairs of those who still live here. "
"Baptism's is not the only invocation of the saints that marks the path of Christian life. When two lovers consecrate their love in the sacrament of marriage, the intercession of the saints are invoked again for them - this time as a couple. And this invocation is a source of trust for the two young people who start off on the 'journey' of marital life. Those who really love have the desire and courage to say 'forever', but they know that they need the grace of Christ and the help of the saints. Therefore, in the liturgy, their presence is invoked. And in difficult moments, you must have the courage to raise your eyes to heaven, thinking of many Christians who have gone through the tribulation and have kept their baptismal clothes white, washing them in the blood of the Lamb (cf. Acts 7:14). God never abandons us: whenever we need it, his angel will come back to us and give us consolation. 'Angels' sometimes with a human face and a heart, because the saints of God are always here, hidden in our midst. Priests also remember an invocation of the saints pronounced upon them. It is one of the most touching moments of the ordination liturgy. Candidates lie on the floor, face down. And all the assembly, led by the bishop, invokes the intercession of the saints upon them. A man could be crushed under the weight of the mission entrusted to him, but feeling that all heaven is behind him, that the grace of God will not fail because Jesus remains faithful, then he can go forward serene and refreshed. We are not alone".
"We are dust that aspires to heaven. We are weak in our strength, but powerful is the mystery of grace that is present in the lives of Christians. We are faithful to this earth, which Jesus loved at every moment of his life, but we know and want to hope in the transfiguration of the world, in its final fulfillment, where there will no longer be tears, wickedness and suffering, that the Lord gives us the hope of being holy, which is the great gift that each of us can make to the world. May he give us the grace of believing so deeply in Him that we may become Christ's image for this world. Our history needs 'mystics': people who reject all domination, aspiring to charity and fraternity. Men and women who live by accepting even suffering, because they are burdened by the fatigue of others, but without these men and women the world would not hope. "
Before going to St. Peter's Square, Francis received the delegation from the National Football League (NFI) in the Paul VI Hall. In a brief greeting, the Pope said that "the world we live in, and especially the young, need models, people who show us how to bring out the best of ourselves, to bring the gifts and talented gifted to us by God and, in doing so, point the way for a better future for our societies. Teamwork, fair play and striving for the best are values - in the religious sense of the term - that guide your commitment on the playing field. However, these values are urgently needed outside the camp, in all dimensions of community life. These are the values that help build a culture of encounter in which we anticipate and sustain the needs of our brothers and sisters and fight the exaggerated individualism, indifference and injustice that prevent us from living as one human family . How greatly the world needs this culture of encounter!"
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11/08/2017 20:05
