Pope Francis says "...we cannot forget the commitment of Saint Pius V to recommend prayer, in particular that of the Rosary." to Pilgrims and Children - FULL TEXT
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ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO PILGRIMS OF THE DIOCESE OF ALEXANDRIA E
TO THE CHILDREN OF THE CONFIRMATION OF THE DIOCESE OF SPOLETO-NORCIA
Paul VI Hall
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!
I thank Mons. Gallese and Mons. Boccardo for their presentations. I'll address the Alexandria pilgrims first - in alphabetical order!
Dear brothers and sisters of the Diocese of Alexandria, the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Pius V, the only Piedmontese Pope, born in Bosco Marengo, in the current territory of the Diocese of Alexandria, offers the opportunity for some very current considerations.
Pope Pius V, born Antonio Ghislieri, faced many pastoral and governmental challenges in just six years of his pontificate. He was a reformer of the Church, who made bold choices. Since then, the style of government of the Church has changed and it would be an anachronistic mistake to evaluate certain works of Saint Pius V with the mentality of today. Similarly, we must be careful not to reduce it to a nostalgic memory, to an embalmed memory, but to grasp its teaching and testimony. With this gaze, we can see that the backbone of his whole life was faith.
How can we decline his teachings today? First, they invite us to be seekers of the truth. Jesus is the Truth, not only in a universal sense but also in a communitarian and personal sense; and the challenge is to live today the search for truth in the daily life of the Church, of the Christian communities. This search can only take place through a personal and community discernment starting from the Word of God (cf. Evangelii gaudium, 30.50.175).
This commitment, carried out in discernment, makes a community grow in an ever more intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ; and then he, the truth, the Lord, becomes the foundation of community life, interwoven with bonds of love. Love is expressed in actions of sharing, from the physical to the spiritual dimension, actions that give visibility to the secret that we carry in our "clay vessels" (cf. 2 Cor 4,7).
The Word of God comes to life in particular in the Eucharistic celebration, both in the "table of the Word" and in the "table of the Eucharist", where in some way we touch the flesh of Christ. Saint Pius V was involved in reforming the Liturgy of the Church, and after four centuries the Second Vatican Council implemented a further reform to better adhere to the needs of today's world. In recent years there has been much talk of the Liturgy, especially of its external forms. But the greatest commitment must be made so that the Eucharistic celebration effectively becomes the source of the life of the community (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10).
In fact, faced with the crossroads of the journey of the communities, as well as the crosses of our personal lives, the Liturgy inserts us into the priesthood of Christ, giving us a new modality that St. Paul summarizes as follows: "I am happy in the sufferings I bear for you and give fulfillment of what Christ's sufferings lack in my flesh, in favor of his body which is the Church "(Col 1:24). At the end of the Liturgy, after having touched the Eucharistic Flesh of Christ, the evangelizing community is sent and "by means of works and gestures puts itself in the daily life of others, shortens the distance, lowers itself to the point of humiliation if necessary, and assumes the human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in the people "(Evangelii gaudium, 24).
And then we cannot forget the commitment of Saint Pius V to recommend prayer, in particular that of the Rosary. In fact, “the first steps of the Church into the world were marked by prayer. The apostolic writings and the great narration of the Acts of the Apostles give us back the image of a Church on the way, an industrious Church, which however finds in the prayer meetings the basis and the impulse for missionary action "(Catechesis, 25 November 2020).
In this way, dear friends of Alexandria, I have recalled you to the four coordinates that guide us on the ecclesial journey, according to Acts 2:42: "They were persevering in the teaching of the apostles and in communion, in the breaking of bread and in prayers". Follow the teaching of the Apostles, the doctrine of the Church; live in communion, not in war with each other; living Eucharistically, breaking bread, and praying: beautiful, isn't it? It can be done.
I invite you to walk together in the pastoral renewal of your Diocese, which in the coming days will begin the constitution of the Pastoral Units. May “all communities take steps to put in place the means necessary to advance on the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion, which cannot leave things as they are. No, you can't, you must always change. Now we don't need simple administration. Let us constitute ourselves in all regions of the earth in a permanent state of mission "(Evangelii gaudium, 25). This synodal journey calls for a tiring but fruitful growth in fraternal communion, between bishop, priests and laity. May the Lord bless your steps and make them fruitful with fruits that encourage all the faithful.
* * *
And now I turn to you, boys and girls of the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia. You are the Confirmation group: either you have already received it, or you will receive it shortly. I am very happy that you are also at this audience. You give us a more complete sense of family, because you represent the new generation; you are like so many flowers that are blooming. But then, and above all, because you are young disciples of Jesus: this is the greatest reality, which fills us with joy!
The journey of the Sacrament of Confirmation, or Confirmation, is beautiful, because it brings to life the experience of the first disciples of Jesus: Simon, Andrew, James, John, and then Mary of Magdala, Martha and Mary of Bethany, and the others. You too can add to these names your names, each your own, which you received in Baptism.
And in this regard I would like to ask you a question, to each of you. Be careful. Do you know the date of your baptism? What do you reply? Yes or no? Those who know her raise your hand. Few. Think about it. Do you know the day you were or were baptized or baptized? No. Each answer within himself ... None of you, three or four or five, remembered it. And the others who did not remember this date, when you return home, ask your parents, or grandparents, or godparents: "When was I baptized?". Agree? It seems that you disagree ... Okay? [they answer: “Yes!”] But are you alive or dead, you? Agree or disagree? [applause] What do you have to do as soon as you get home? [they answer: “Ask for the date of our baptism”] “On what day was I baptized?”. It's important! It is especially important for you confirmed or confirmed, because Confirmation confirms Baptism. For this it is called Confirmation. Christian life is a home built on the foundations of Baptism. All time. At eleven, at twenty, at forty, at eighty. The foundation is always the same: Baptism. This is why it is important to remember the day we were baptized, and also to celebrate it, in the heart! Agree? But remember the day well! And never forget it: it was the beginning of my Christian life, of my friendship with God.
I said earlier that the Christian life is a house to be built. You come from an area where many buildings have been ruined or damaged by the earthquake. You know the difference between a solid house that resists shocks and a fragile house that collapses. Jesus too, as you know, used this image. When he wanted to make it clear that one enters the Kingdom of God not with beautiful words: "Lord, Lord!", But by doing God's will, putting it into practice in our life (cf. Mt 7: 24-27). He said: "Whoever enters like this builds a house on the rock".
Today you brought me a stone from the ancient Abbey of Sant’Eutizio, to be blessed and placed as a symbol of its reconstruction. Here are boys and girls, today I bless each of you to become a living stone for building the Christian community: a living stone in the family, a living stone in the parish, a living stone in the company of friends, a living stone in the sport environment ... and so on . But being alive, not dead. Alive! Being living stones: this is possible with the power of the Holy Spirit, who in Confirmation confirms you as baptized, children of God and members of the Church. So, I leave you these two words: Baptism - when I have been baptized or baptized - and living stone. Baptism and stone. Go ahead with this: to build the house on the rock!
And I say this to everyone, including you from the Diocese of Alexandria. And I bless you all from my heart. May Our Lady always accompany you. And please, please don't forget to pray for me. Thank you!
TO PILGRIMS OF THE DIOCESE OF ALEXANDRIA E
TO THE CHILDREN OF THE CONFIRMATION OF THE DIOCESE OF SPOLETO-NORCIA
Paul VI Hall
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!
I thank Mons. Gallese and Mons. Boccardo for their presentations. I'll address the Alexandria pilgrims first - in alphabetical order!
Dear brothers and sisters of the Diocese of Alexandria, the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Pius V, the only Piedmontese Pope, born in Bosco Marengo, in the current territory of the Diocese of Alexandria, offers the opportunity for some very current considerations.
Pope Pius V, born Antonio Ghislieri, faced many pastoral and governmental challenges in just six years of his pontificate. He was a reformer of the Church, who made bold choices. Since then, the style of government of the Church has changed and it would be an anachronistic mistake to evaluate certain works of Saint Pius V with the mentality of today. Similarly, we must be careful not to reduce it to a nostalgic memory, to an embalmed memory, but to grasp its teaching and testimony. With this gaze, we can see that the backbone of his whole life was faith.
How can we decline his teachings today? First, they invite us to be seekers of the truth. Jesus is the Truth, not only in a universal sense but also in a communitarian and personal sense; and the challenge is to live today the search for truth in the daily life of the Church, of the Christian communities. This search can only take place through a personal and community discernment starting from the Word of God (cf. Evangelii gaudium, 30.50.175).
This commitment, carried out in discernment, makes a community grow in an ever more intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ; and then he, the truth, the Lord, becomes the foundation of community life, interwoven with bonds of love. Love is expressed in actions of sharing, from the physical to the spiritual dimension, actions that give visibility to the secret that we carry in our "clay vessels" (cf. 2 Cor 4,7).
The Word of God comes to life in particular in the Eucharistic celebration, both in the "table of the Word" and in the "table of the Eucharist", where in some way we touch the flesh of Christ. Saint Pius V was involved in reforming the Liturgy of the Church, and after four centuries the Second Vatican Council implemented a further reform to better adhere to the needs of today's world. In recent years there has been much talk of the Liturgy, especially of its external forms. But the greatest commitment must be made so that the Eucharistic celebration effectively becomes the source of the life of the community (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10).
In fact, faced with the crossroads of the journey of the communities, as well as the crosses of our personal lives, the Liturgy inserts us into the priesthood of Christ, giving us a new modality that St. Paul summarizes as follows: "I am happy in the sufferings I bear for you and give fulfillment of what Christ's sufferings lack in my flesh, in favor of his body which is the Church "(Col 1:24). At the end of the Liturgy, after having touched the Eucharistic Flesh of Christ, the evangelizing community is sent and "by means of works and gestures puts itself in the daily life of others, shortens the distance, lowers itself to the point of humiliation if necessary, and assumes the human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in the people "(Evangelii gaudium, 24).
And then we cannot forget the commitment of Saint Pius V to recommend prayer, in particular that of the Rosary. In fact, “the first steps of the Church into the world were marked by prayer. The apostolic writings and the great narration of the Acts of the Apostles give us back the image of a Church on the way, an industrious Church, which however finds in the prayer meetings the basis and the impulse for missionary action "(Catechesis, 25 November 2020).
In this way, dear friends of Alexandria, I have recalled you to the four coordinates that guide us on the ecclesial journey, according to Acts 2:42: "They were persevering in the teaching of the apostles and in communion, in the breaking of bread and in prayers". Follow the teaching of the Apostles, the doctrine of the Church; live in communion, not in war with each other; living Eucharistically, breaking bread, and praying: beautiful, isn't it? It can be done.
I invite you to walk together in the pastoral renewal of your Diocese, which in the coming days will begin the constitution of the Pastoral Units. May “all communities take steps to put in place the means necessary to advance on the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion, which cannot leave things as they are. No, you can't, you must always change. Now we don't need simple administration. Let us constitute ourselves in all regions of the earth in a permanent state of mission "(Evangelii gaudium, 25). This synodal journey calls for a tiring but fruitful growth in fraternal communion, between bishop, priests and laity. May the Lord bless your steps and make them fruitful with fruits that encourage all the faithful.
* * *
And now I turn to you, boys and girls of the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia. You are the Confirmation group: either you have already received it, or you will receive it shortly. I am very happy that you are also at this audience. You give us a more complete sense of family, because you represent the new generation; you are like so many flowers that are blooming. But then, and above all, because you are young disciples of Jesus: this is the greatest reality, which fills us with joy!
The journey of the Sacrament of Confirmation, or Confirmation, is beautiful, because it brings to life the experience of the first disciples of Jesus: Simon, Andrew, James, John, and then Mary of Magdala, Martha and Mary of Bethany, and the others. You too can add to these names your names, each your own, which you received in Baptism.
And in this regard I would like to ask you a question, to each of you. Be careful. Do you know the date of your baptism? What do you reply? Yes or no? Those who know her raise your hand. Few. Think about it. Do you know the day you were or were baptized or baptized? No. Each answer within himself ... None of you, three or four or five, remembered it. And the others who did not remember this date, when you return home, ask your parents, or grandparents, or godparents: "When was I baptized?". Agree? It seems that you disagree ... Okay? [they answer: “Yes!”] But are you alive or dead, you? Agree or disagree? [applause] What do you have to do as soon as you get home? [they answer: “Ask for the date of our baptism”] “On what day was I baptized?”. It's important! It is especially important for you confirmed or confirmed, because Confirmation confirms Baptism. For this it is called Confirmation. Christian life is a home built on the foundations of Baptism. All time. At eleven, at twenty, at forty, at eighty. The foundation is always the same: Baptism. This is why it is important to remember the day we were baptized, and also to celebrate it, in the heart! Agree? But remember the day well! And never forget it: it was the beginning of my Christian life, of my friendship with God.
I said earlier that the Christian life is a house to be built. You come from an area where many buildings have been ruined or damaged by the earthquake. You know the difference between a solid house that resists shocks and a fragile house that collapses. Jesus too, as you know, used this image. When he wanted to make it clear that one enters the Kingdom of God not with beautiful words: "Lord, Lord!", But by doing God's will, putting it into practice in our life (cf. Mt 7: 24-27). He said: "Whoever enters like this builds a house on the rock".
Today you brought me a stone from the ancient Abbey of Sant’Eutizio, to be blessed and placed as a symbol of its reconstruction. Here are boys and girls, today I bless each of you to become a living stone for building the Christian community: a living stone in the family, a living stone in the parish, a living stone in the company of friends, a living stone in the sport environment ... and so on . But being alive, not dead. Alive! Being living stones: this is possible with the power of the Holy Spirit, who in Confirmation confirms you as baptized, children of God and members of the Church. So, I leave you these two words: Baptism - when I have been baptized or baptized - and living stone. Baptism and stone. Go ahead with this: to build the house on the rock!
And I say this to everyone, including you from the Diocese of Alexandria. And I bless you all from my heart. May Our Lady always accompany you. And please, please don't forget to pray for me. Thank you!
Source: Vatican.va
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