"While Christians may think of themselves as divided into different churches and denominations, the devil actually sees that they are one in their faith in Jesus" - Pope Francis "Division is the work of the ‘Father of Lies,’ ‘the Father of Discord,’ who does everything possible to keep us divided" - Pope Francis "But there is someone who ‘knows’ that, despite our differences, we are one. It is he who is persecuting us. It is he who is persecuting Christians today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom. He knows that Christians are disciples of Christ: that they are one, that they are brothers! " - Pope Francis More here: Brothers and sisters, may the peace of Christ be with you. Forgive me if I speak in Spanish, but my English isn’t good enough for me to express myself properly. I speak in Spanish but, above all, I speak in the language of the heart. I have the invitation you sent me for this celebration of Christian Unity, this day of reconciliation. And I wish to join you from here. “Father, may we be one so that the world may believe you sent me”. This is the slogan, the theme of the meeting: Christ’s prayer to the Father for the grace of unity. Today, Saturday May 23rd, from 9in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, I will be with you spiritually and with all my heart. We will search together, we will pray together, for the grace of unity. The unity that is budding among us is that unity which begins under the seal of the one Baptism we have all received. It is the unity we are seeking along a common path. It is the spiritual unity of prayer for one another. It is the unity of our common labour on behalf of our brothers and sisters, and all those who believe in the sovereignty of Christ. Dear brothers and sisters, division is a wound in the body of the Church of Christ. And we do not want this wound to remain open. Division is the work of the Father of Lies, the Father of Discord, who does everything possible to keep us divided. Together today, I here in Rome and you over there, we will ask our Father to send the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and to give us the grace to be one, “so that the world may believe”. I feel like saying something that may sound controversial, or even heretical, perhaps. But there is someone who “knows” that, despite our differences, we are one. It is he who is persecuting us. It is he who is persecuting Christians today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom. He knows that Christians are disciples of Christ: that they are one, that they are brothers! He doesn’t care if they are Evangelicals, or Orthodox, Lutherans, Catholics or Apostolic…he doesn’t care! They are Christians. And that blood (of martyrdom) unites. Today, dear brothers and sisters, we are living an “ecumenism of blood”. This must encourage us to do what we are doing today: to pray, to dialogue together, to shorten the distance between us, to strengthen our bonds of brotherhood. I am convinced it won’t be theologians who bring about unity among us. Theologians help us, the science of the theologians will assist us, but if we hope that theologians will agree with one another, we will reach unity the day after Judgement Day. The Holy Spirit brings about unity. Theologians are helpful, but most helpful is the goodwill of us all who are on this journey with our hearts open to the Holy Spirit! In all humility, I join you as just another participant on this day of prayer, friendship, closeness and reflection. In the certainty that we have one Lord: Jesus is the Lord. In the certainty that this Lord is alive: Jesus is alive, the Lord lives in each one of us. In the certainty that He has sent the Spirit He promised us so that this “harmony” among all His disciples might be realised. Dear brothers and sisters, I greet you warmly, with an embrace. I pray for you. I pray with you. And I ask you, please, to pray for me. Because I need your prayers in order to be faithful to what the Lord wants from my Ministry. God bless you. May God bless us all.
Can Pope Francis succeed in reforming the Curia? http://ncronline.org/blogs/roman-observer/can-pope-francis-succeed-reforming-curia
Pope: coherent Christians draw people to Christ 10 32Print 2015-05-28 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ homily this morning focused on the Gospel account of Bartimaeus, the blind man who cried out to Jesus to be healed, and whom the disciples called to be silent. The Gospel led the Holy Father to reflect on three different groups of Christians. First, there are Christians who are concerned only with their own relationship with Jesus, a “closed, selfish” relationship, who do not hear the cries of others: “This group of people, even today, do not hear the cry of so many people who need Jesus. A group of people who are indifferent: they do not hear, they think that life is their own little group; they are content; they are deaf to the clamour of so many people who need salvation, who need the help of Jesus, who need the Church. These people are selfish, they live for themselves alone. They are unable to hear the voice of Jesus.” Then, the Pope continued, “there are those who hear this cry for help, but want to silence it,” like the disciples when they sent away the children, “so that they would not disturb the Master”: “He was their Master — He was for them, not for everyone. These people send away from Jesus those who cry out, who need the faith, who need salvation.” In this group one finds the “men of affairs, who are close to Jesus,” who are in the temple. They seem “religious,” but “Jesus chased them away because they were doing business there, in the house of God.” There are those who “do not want to hear the cry for help, but prefer to take care of their business, and use the people of God, use the Church for their own affairs.” In this group there are Christians “who do not bear witness”: “They are Christians in name, parlour room Christians, Christians at receptions, but their interior life is not Christian, it is worldly. Someone who calls himself Christian and lives like a worlding drives away those who cry out for help from Jesus. And then there are the rigorists, those whom Jesus rebukes, those who place such heavy weights on the backs of the people. Jesus devotes the whole of the twenty-third chapter of St Matthew to them: ‘Hypocrites,’ he says to them, ‘you exploit the people!’ And instead of responding to the cries of the people who cry out for salvation, they send them away.” There is, finally, a third group of Christians, “those who help [people] draw near to Jesus”: “There is the group of Christians who are consistent in what they believe and in how they live, and they help to draw near to Jesus, to the people who are crying out, seeking salvation, seeking grace, seeking spiritual health for their souls.” “It would be good for us to make an examination of conscience,” the Pope concluded, in order to understand whether we are Christians who drive people away from Jesus, or who draw people to Him because we hear the cry of the many people who are seeking help for their own salvation. (from Vatican Radio)
Pope focuses on dating in his General Audience: Stay away from 'Express Marriage' 2015-05-27 (-VIDEO ONLY-) In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis reflected on dating and marriage. The Pope reiterated that being called to marriage is a vocation that needs to be embraced. He also encouraged Christians to stay away from the so called 'Express Marriage,' which is solely based on fading emotions. He then highlighted that a life long union entails hard work. SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH: Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catechesis on marriage and the family, today we reflect on the importance of engagement as a preparation for marriage. The word "engagement” itself speaks of entrustment and commitment. Engagement is a time when couples come to know one another better in planning for the beautiful yet demanding enterprise of marriage. Love itself demands this preparation, which makes possible a free, generous and sober decision to enter into a life-long covenant of love. For this reason the Church stresses the importance of the period of engagement by offering courses of marriage preparation. With the help of Christian married couples, fiancés are challenged to reflect together on their love, their future and the importance of faith and prayer in the life they are about to share. Let us pray for young people looking forward to marriage, that they will prepare for the wedding day not in a worldly or banal way, but with the wisdom, hope and joy born of their faith in Christ. http://www.romereports.com/pg161577...-audience-stay-away-from-express-marriage--en
Criticisms of Pope Francis from within the Vatican Curia made public https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinio...cis-from-within-the-vatican-curia-made-public Today, with the distance of two years, some of those wearers of the purple color who were then joining in jubilation might regret to have given their own vote to the then-76-year-old Archbishop. A struggle for Rome has started, and it is not at all clear who stands where – also because Francis himself speaks in a contradictory way. But there is already taking place a wrestling [a grappling]. And from October 4 on when between 200 and 300 bishops will meet in Rome for the [2015] Synod in order to speak about family questions, it could come to even harder fights.
Pope FrancisVerified account@Pontifex 5h5 hours ago Christians are witnesses not to a theory, but to a Person: Christ risen and alive, the one Saviour of all
I listened to a radio show with 2 orthodox priests ,about Francis address to the Curia and how its a mistake to see this as a rebuke to the Curia. Rather, ALL the faithful should reflect on Francis words in there own life and apply it... Pope Francis' Christmas Address to the Roman Curia - Full Text by Pope Francis 12/21/2013 Comments (29) While our hearts are full of gratitude to God, who so loved us that he gave us his only-begotten Son, it is also good to make room for gratitude to one another. In this, my first Christmas as the Bishop of Rome, I also feel the need to offer sincere thanks to all of you as a community of service, and to each of you individually. I thank you for the work which you do each day: for the care, diligence and creativity which you display; and for your effort – I know it is not always easy – to work together in the office, both to listen to and to challenge one another, and to bring out the best in all your different personalities and gifts, in a spirit of mutual respect. Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/pope-francis-christmas-address-to-roman-curia-full-text/#ixzz3bRZfUQFA
"Pope Francis' expression of “Who am I to judge?” also finds much criticism: With this renunciation to judge, this 'sentence which has been abused by many media, Pope Francis did damage to the Church,' stressed another interlocutor from the Vatican with whom I met for lunch in Trastevere. 'He has, without intending it, favored the advance of the homosexual lobby which he claims to fight.'" If Pope Francis did not intend to advance the homosexual lobby, why didn't he clear up the confusion? Why hasn't he talked about the sinfulness of homosexual acts?
Judge not, that you may not be judged, For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? Matthew 7:1-3 Douay-Rheims -------------------------------------------------------- Seems to me to be in accordance with our blessed Saviour's teaching. I do not see anything conspiratory. God Bless!
I have already posted on this most auguste, righteous of missions by our blessed Holy Father, but I wish to reiterate the importance of unity between all Christian brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ; our Redeemer and Judge. Let us unite in Love and Peace - for indeed as Jesus, has said: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God." Furthermore: Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets. "The blood of Christ unites Christians, Pope Francis said in a video-message addressed to the “John 17 Movement,” meeting in Phoenix in the United States. The group is dedicated to promoting ecumenical initiatives open to Christians of all denominations. On the Day for Christian Unity, with the theme “Father, may they be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me”, Pope Francis, speaking in Spanish, recalled that unity is sealed in Baptism, and that division is the work of the father of lies. “It is he who is persecuting Christians today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom. He knows that Christians are disciples of Christ” and doesn’t care about the differences."
Pope Francis: Civilization’s Progress Is Measured by Its Ability to Protect Life 39 232Print 2015-05-30 Vatican Radio “The degree of progress of a civilization is measured by its ability to protect life, especially in its most fragile stages.” These were the words of Pope Francis during an audience with the Science and Life Association, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Listen to Junno Arocho's report: (from Vatican Radio)
Pope: the Holy Trinity exhorts us to live "one with the other" 47 292Print 2015-05-31 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says that Holy Trinity Sunday exhorts us to live “one with the other”, to “welcome the beauty of the Gospel message” and to learn to ask forgiveness. Speaking on Sunday morning during the Angelus to some 50,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope also spoke of the need of ecclesial communities to become ever more “family”. Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-the-holy-trinity-exhorts-us-to-live-one-with
Pope: Remember why we exist and what we fight for 2015-06-01 Speaking during the liturgical feast of Holy Trinity Sunday, Pope Francis said that the day was a call to welcome the beauty of the Gospel and to live for one another. POPE FRANCIS "We are not called to live without the other, above or against the other, but with the other, for the other and in the other.” The Pope delivered a rousing call to action for Christians around the world, and his words were specifically inspired by the feast day. POPE FRANCIS "So let’s pitch our lives high, remembering for which glory we exist, we work, we fight, we suffer; and in which immense prize we are called to participate in.” It's well known that Pope Francis has a special devotion to Mary. He said that she understands the mystery of the Holy Trinity better than anyone, and that she can be an inspiration to us all. POPE FRANCIS "In this last day of the month of May, the month of Mary, we entrust ourselves to the Virgin Mary. She, more than any other creature has known, adored, and loved the mystery of the Holy Trinity, lead us by hand, helped us to grasp in the world events the signs of the presence of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Approximately 50,000 pilgrims came to St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis speak. He greeted pilgrims from throughout the world and reminded them that the traditional Corpus Christi procession would be taking place this Thursday. He closed with a request many have come to expect from Pope Francis: The Pope asked people to pray for him. http://www.romereports.com/pg161633-pope-remember-why-we-exist-and-what-we-fight-for-en
Pope Francis to Sarajevo Faithful: I Come to You As A Messenger of Peace http://vatican.com/news/frame.aspx?...aithful-i-come-to-you-as-a-messenger-of-peace “I am preparing myself to come among you as a brother messenger of peace, to express to everyone - to everyone! - my respect and friendship.” Pope Francis said these words in a video message addressed to the people of Sarajevo and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Holy Father will be visiting the country on Saturday, June 6th. In his message, the Pope said that he was visiting in order to “confirm the Catholic faithful in the faith, to support ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and above all to encourage peaceful coexistence in your country.” Addressing the people of Bosnia & Herzegovina, the 78 year old Pontiff encouraged the faithful to stand side by side with their fellow citizens as “witnesses of faith and the love of God” Concluding his message, Pope Francis expressed his joy at his upcoming visit and invoked a blessing upon the country. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s video message: Dear brothers and sisters, There are only a few days left until the journey that will take me in your midst, in Sarajevo. This thought gives me joy, and I wish now to address my most cordial greeting to you all who live in this city and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I come among you, with the help of God, to confirm the Catholic faithful in the faith, to support ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and above all to encourage peaceful coexistence in your country. I invite you to join in my prayers, so that this Apostolic trip may produce the desired fruits for the Christian community and for the whole society. “Peace be with you”. This is the theme of my Visit. They are words with which the Risen Jesus greeted his disciples when he appeared in their midst in the Cenacle, the evening of Passover. It is He, the Lord, our strength and our hope, who gives us His peace, so that we may receive Him in our hearts and to spread it with joy and love. For my part, I am preparing myself to come among you as a fraternal messenger of peace, to express to everyone - to everyone! - my respect and friendship. I would like to announce to every person, every family, every community the mercy, tenderness and love of God. Dear brothers and sisters of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I assure to you all my affection and my strong spiritual closeness. I encourage you Catholics to stand beside your fellow citizens as witnesses of faith and the love of God, working for a society that walks towards peace, in brotherhood and mutual cooperation. Awaiting to meet you, I invoke upon Sarajevo and upon the entire country the blessing of the Lord and the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary. Thank you and see you soon!
A history of little miracles – behind Pope Francis' devotion to St. Therese http://vatican.com/news/frame.aspx?...cnewsagency/dailynews-vatican/~3/DHc79i0s08s/ Pope Francis receives a gift of a bas relief of St. Therese of Lisieux from journalist Caroline Pigozzi of Paris Match, Jan. 15, 2015. Credit: Alan Holdren/CNA. Vatican City, Jun 2, 2015 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on several occasions has spoken of his strong devotion to the Little Flower saint as well as his habit of asking her for favors: favors, his former press secretary says, which have often come in the form little miracles. One of those miracles came Aug. 7, 2010, when the then-cardinal Bergoglio was accompanied by his press secretary, Federico Wals, to celebrate Mass honoring St. Cajetan on his feast day. The cardinal was set to celebrate a Mass at the saint’s shrine in Buenos Aires and then walk to greet a long line of pilgrims, as he did every year. “When leaving he told me that he had already asked Santa Teresita (St. Therese of Liseux) to send him a sign,” Wals said in an interview withBolivian newspaper “El Deber” published May 31. “When he told me this I was very skeptical and asked myself ‘A sign?’” The former press secretary for Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – now Pope Francis – gave an interview to El Deber in which he detailed personal stories and memories from his time working with the then-archbishop of Buenos Aires. Located on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the Shrine of St. Cajetan draws thousands of pilgrims each year on the feast of his death. Mass is celebrated each hour on the Aug. 7 feast, and after attending faithful queue and wait as long as 10 hours to pass in front of a small statue of the saint and kiss the glass separating it from them. As archbishop of Buenos Aires then-cardinal Bergoglio would preside over a Mass himself, and then walk down the line of pilgrims – which sometimes extended 15 blocks – to greet people, speak with them and bless the children. That day in 2010 “he didn't feel very well, but we were going to go anyway,” Wals said, explaining that Bergoglio had asked St. Therese to send him a sign as to whether to go all the way or not, since after the Mass he had to walk 15 blocks down the line of faithful. After celebrating Mass the cardinal was in too much pain to walk the whole distance, and decided to go just two blocks before heading back to the center of Buenos Aires, Wals recalled. However, as they reached the second block Wals said they came across a man “taller than (the cardinal), dressed with a black overcoat and he had his right hand inside the coat.” Before they could blink the man “pulled out a white rose,” he said, explaining that Bergoglio was “surprised,” blessed the rose and tried to move out of the way. At that moment the man told the future Pope “you don't understand anything: this is the sign that you are waiting for.” He then smiled and handed Bergoglio the rose. Once Bergoglio heard what the man said he immediately grabbed the rose, Wals said. The cardinal then told him, “Federico, Santa Teresita did not abandon me, I'm going to walk until the end of the line (of faithful).” “At that moment the man disappeared, we never saw each other again. Bergoglio's countenance changed, he was radiant and continued until the end.” Wals has met with Bergoglio since his election as Bishop of Rome, and said that as Pope, other similar things have happened. One of them took place in January while the Pope was on his way to the Philippines. During his flight from Sri Lanka to Manila Pope Francis received a bas-relief, or carving, of St. Therese from French journalist Caroline Pigozzi. After receiving the image, Francis told other journalists present that “I have the habit, when I don't know how things will go, to ask St. Therese the little child, St. Therese of Jesus, to ask her if she takes a problem in hand, some thing, that she send me a rose.” “I asked also for this trip, that she'd take it in hand and that she would send me a rose. But instead of a rose she came herself to greet me,” he said. Pigozzi spoke with CNA later, saying that she had originally found the image in a Paris flea market, and had polished it herself to give to the Pope as part of a set for Christmas and for his Dec. 17 birthday.
"Pope Francis holds up a medallion of St Therese of Lisieux after answering questions from the media aboard his flight to Manila"
I heard the other day on EWTN a homily about the Pharisees asking Jesus a question to which Jesus replied with a question about whether the baptism of John the Baptist was of supernatural origin or worldly origin. The Pharisees answered that they did not know. It reminded me of Pope Francis and Medjugorje. In effect, his silence is saying that he does not know. The Vatican has an exhaustive, years-long study of Medjugorje. I hope that some reporter will ask him when he is going to make a decision.
So are you saying Pope Francis reminds you of or perhaps in your mind IS a Pharisee? Why mince what you have to say. Quite frankly, I don't think I've seen one positive comment from you about the Vicar of Christ? It's ok for you to have your opinions and in fact I credit you with at least be open unlike the cowardly Curial officials who ask to be anonymous as they castigate their and our Holy Father. It says more about them than it does the pope. It proves once again just how truly mystical and awesome our church is because any other non-divinly originated organization would have long ago collapsed under the weakness of the human beings who operate within it.
