Pope Francis Asks Everyone to Join in Prayer of the Rosary on Friday, May 8th for Peace in the World - Full Text-Video
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Apostolic Palace Library
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today we begin a new cycle of catechesis on the theme of prayer . Prayer is the breath of faith, it is its most proper expression. Like a cry that comes from the heart of those who believe and trust in God.
Let's think of the story of Bartimeo, a character of the Gospel (cf. Mk 10: 46-52 and par.) And, I confess, for me the cutest of all. He was blind, sat begging on the side of the road on the outskirts of his city, Jericho. He is not an anonymous character, he has a face, a name: Bartimeo, that is "son of Timaeus". One day he hears that Jesus would pass by. In fact, Jericho was a crossroads of people, continuously crossed by pilgrims and merchants. Then Bartimeo lurks: he would have done everything possible to meet Jesus. Many people did the same: remember Zacchaeus, who climbed the tree. Many wanted to see Jesus, too.
So this man enters the Gospels like a voice crying out loud. He does not see us; he does not know if Jesus is near or far, but he hears him, understands him from the crowd, which at a certain point increases and approaches ... But he is completely alone, and nobody cares about it. And what does Bartimeo do? Shout. And screams, and continues to scream. He uses the only weapon in his possession: the voice. Start shouting: "Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!" (v. 47). And so he continues, shouting.
His repeated screams annoy, do not seem polite, and many scold him, tell him to keep quiet: "But be polite, do not do this!". But Bartimaeus is not silent, on the contrary, he shouts even louder: «Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!» (v. 47). That stubborn stubbornness of those who seek grace and knock knock on the door of the heart of God. He shouts, knocks. That expression: "Son of David" is very important; it means "the Messiah" - confesses the Messiah - it is a profession of faith that comes out of the mouth of that man despised by all.
And Jesus listens to his cry. Bartimaeus' prayer touches his heart, the heart of God, and the doors of salvation are opened for him. Jesus calls him. He leaps to his feet and those who previously told him to keep quiet now lead him to the Master. Jesus speaks to him, asks him to express his desire - this is important - and then the cry becomes a question: "May I see again, Lord!" (see v. 51).
Jesus says to him: "Go, your faith has saved you " (v. 52). He recognizes that poor, helpless, despised man, all the power of his faith, which attracts the mercy and power of God. Faith is to have two hands raised, a voice that cries out to implore the gift of salvation. The Catechism states that "humility is the foundation of prayer" ( Catechism of the Catholic Church , 2559). Prayer comes from the earth, from humus - from which derives "humble", "humility" -; it comes from our precarious state, from our continuous thirst for God (cf. ibid ., 2560-2561).
Faith, we have seen it in Bartimeo, is a cry; non-faith is stifling that cry. That attitude that people had, in silencing him: they were not people of faith, but he was. Suffocating that cry is a kind of "silence". Faith is protest against a painful condition for which we do not understand why; non-faith is limited to suffering a situation to which we have adapted. Faith is hope of being saved; non-faith is to get used to the evil that oppresses us and to continue like this.
Dear brothers and sisters, let's begin this series of catecheses with the cry of Bartimeo, because perhaps everything has already been written in a figure like his. Bartimeo is a persevering man. Around him there were people who explained that begging was useless, that it was an unanswered shouting, that it was a noise that only disturbed, that please stop shouting: but he did not remain silent. And in the end he got what he wanted.
Stronger than any contrary argument, in the heart of man there is a voice that invokes. We all have this voice inside. A voice that comes out spontaneously, without anyone commanding it, a voice that questions the meaning of our journey down here, especially when we are in the dark: “Jesus, have mercy on me! Jesus, have mercy on me! ". Beautiful prayer, this.
But perhaps these words are not carved in the whole of creation? Everything invokes and pleads for the mystery of mercy to find its definitive fulfillment. Not only do Christians pray: they share the cry of prayer with all men and women. But the horizon can still be widened: Paul says that the whole creation "groans and suffers the pains of childbirth" ( Rom 8:22 ). Artists often make themselves interpreters of this silent cry of creation, which presses in every creature and emerges above all in the heart of man, because man is a "beggar of God" (cf CCC , 2559). Beautiful definition of man: "beggar of God". Thanks.
Regards:
Je salue cordially les fidèles de langue française. Chers frères et sœurs, les temps difficult que nous vivons sont favorables pour redécouvrir la nécessité de la prière dans notre vie! Ouvrons largement les portes de notre cœur à l'amour de Dieu notre Père, qui saura nous écouter! Que Dieu vous bénisse!
[ I cordially greet the French-speaking faithful. Dear brothers and sisters, the difficult moments in which we live are conducive to the rediscovery of the need for prayer in our life! Let's open the doors of our hearts to the love of God our Father, who will know how to listen to us! God bless you! ]
I greet the English-speaking faithful joining us through the media. In this Easter season, I invoke upon you and your families the joy and strength that come from the Risen Christ. May God bless you!
[ I greet the English-speaking faithful connected through the social media. In this Easter season I invoke upon you and your families the joy and fortitude that come from the risen Christ. God bless you! ]
Von Herzen grüße ich die Brüder und Schwestern deutscher Sprache. Das Gebet ist der schönste Ausdruck des Glaubens in Gott und des Vertrauens in seine barmherzige Liebe. Bitten wir Gott, uns ein demütiges Herz zu schenken, dass alles von ihm erhofft und immer den Durst nach ihm verspürt. Der auferstandene Herr erfülle in dieser österlichen Zeit unsere Herzen mit seinem Frieden und seiner Freude.
[ With affection I greet the German-speaking brothers and sisters. Prayer is the most beautiful expression of faith in God, of trust in his merciful love. We ask God to give us a humble heart that hopes for everything from him and always feels thirsty for him. In this Easter season, the Risen Lord fill our hearts with his peace and joy .]
I cordially greet you to the words of the language that you sign to the través de los medios de comunicación social. Pidamos a Jesús, el buen Pastor, que nos concede ser hombres y mujeres de oración, que con confianza y perseverancia presentemos al Padre compasivo nuestras necesidades y las de todos nuestros hermanos. Pasado mañana, 8 de mayo, if celebrating the fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Luján in Argentina. That, Mother of God and Mother of God, intercede por nosotros y nos obtenga de su Hijo las gracias necesarias en este tiempo de dificultad que el mundo atraviesa. Que Dios los bendiga.
Saúdo cordially os fiéis de língua portuguesa. Queridos amigos, a oração abre a porta da nossa vida a Deus and nos ajuda a sair de nós mesmos para ser solidários com os outros que vivem na provação. Assim, sobretudo neste momento de pandemia, poderemos levar-lhes consolação, luz e esperança. Sobre vós e vossas famílias, desça a bênção do Senhor.
[ I cordially greet the Portuguese-speaking faithful. Dear friends, prayer opens the door of our life to God and helps us to go out of ourselves to be in solidarity with others immersed in the trial. Thus, especially in this pandemic moment, we can bring them comfort, light and hope. May the blessing of the Lord come upon you and your families .]
أحيي جميع المؤمنين الناطقين باللغة العربية ، المتابعين لهذه المقابلة عَبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي. لنتعلم من صلاة بَرطيماوُس الأعمى أن نطلب أولاً رحمة الله بإلحاح وإيمان. ولنترك للربّ أن يُظهر رحمته علينا بالطريقة التي يراها هو مناسبة لخلاصنا. ليبارككم الرب جميعًا ويحرسكم دائمًا من كل شر!
[ I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful who follow this meeting through the social media. We learn from the prayer of the blind Bartimaeus to ask first of all the mercy of God with insistence and faith. Let us allow the Lord to show us his mercy in the way he considers it appropriate for our salvation. The Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil! ]Pozdrawiam wszystkich Polaków. Drodzy bracia i siostry, pojutrze będziecie obchodzili uroczystość św. Stanisława, biskupa i męczennika, patroness Polski. Od wieków ten wielki Święty pozostaje w pamięci iw duchowości Polaków jako nieugięty obrońca wiary, porządku moralnego i społecznego, opiekun najsłabszych i bezbronnych, pasterz gotwie za. Przez jego wstawiennictwo módlmy się za Kościół w Polsce i za naród polski, aby - w dzisiejszej, trudnej sytuacji światowej spowodowanej pandemią, iw każdym czasie - mógł cawyłę. Z serca wam błogosławię!
[ I greet all the Poles. Dear brothers and sisters, the day after tomorrow you will celebrate the solemnity of St. Stanislaus, bishop and martyr, patron of Poland. For centuries this great saint has remained in the memory and spirituality of the Poles as an intrepid defender of the faith, of the moral and social order, protector of the weakest and most defenseless, a shepherd ready to give his life for Christ and his sheep. Through his intercession, we pray for the Church in Poland and for the Polish people, so that - in today's difficult world situation caused by the pandemic and at all times - they can enjoy the blessing of God, peace and prosperity. I bless you from my heart! ]
APPEAL
On the occasion of May 1st, I received several messages relating to the world of work and its problems. In particular, I was struck by that of agricultural laborers, including many immigrants, who work in the Italian countryside. Unfortunately, many times they are harshly exploited. It is true that there is a crisis for everyone, but the dignity of people must always be respected. Therefore, I welcome the appeal of these workers and all the exploited workers and call on the crisis to be an opportunity to put the dignity of the person and the dignity of work at the center.************
The day after tomorrow, Friday 8 May, the intense prayer of the "Supplication to Our Lady of the Rosary" will rise at the Shrine of Pompeii. I urge everyone to join spiritually in this popular act of faith and devotion, so that through the intercession of the Holy Virgin, the Lord may grant mercy and peace to the Church and to the whole world.
I address a special thought to the elderly, young people, the sick and newlyweds. Place yourself confidently under the maternal protection of Mary and be sure that she will not make you miss her comfort in the hour of trial. The Lord bless you and Our Lady protect you.
FULL TEXT + IMAGE Source: Vatican.va - Translation from Italian
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