Pope Francis says “With God nothing will be impossible” and Prays for "an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, starting with Gaza" FULL TEXT
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POPE FRANCIS at the GENERAL AUDIENCE
in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall on
Wednesday, 7 August 2024
The Pope’s General Audiences began again after pausing for the month of July, with the Holy Father resuming his reflections on the work of the Holy Spirit.
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The following text includes parts that were not read out loud, but should be considered as such.
Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 5. Incarnate by the work of the Holy Spirit, from the Virgin Mary. How to conceive and bear Jesus
FULL TEXT Message of Pope Francis: Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
With today’s catechesis, we enter into the second phase of salvation history. After contemplating the Holy Spirit in the work of Creation, we will contemplate it for a few weeks in the work of Redemption, namely of Jesus Christ. So, let us move on to the New Testament, and see the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
Today’s theme is the Holy Spirit in the Incarnation of the Word. In the Gospel of Luke, we read: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” – to Mary – “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (1:35). The evangelist Matthew confirms this fundamental fact that regards Mary and the Holy Spirit, saying that Mary “was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit” (1:18).
The Church took up this revealed fact and very soon positioned it at the heart of her Symbol of faith. In the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, in 381 – which defined the divinity of the Holy Spirit – this article enters into the formula of the “Creed”. It is therefore an ecumenical fact of faith, because all Christians profess together that same Symbol of faith. Catholic piety, since time immemorial, has drawn from it one of its daily prayers, the Angelus.
This article of faith is the foundation that enables us to speak of Mary as the quintessential Bride, who is a figure of the Church. Indeed, Jesus, as Saint Leo the Great writes, “just as He was born by the Holy Spirit from a virgin mother, so He makes the Church, His unblemished Bride, fruitful with the life-giving breath of the same Spirit”. [1] This parallelism is taken up in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, which says: “By her belief and obedience, [Mary] brought forth on earth the very Son of the Father, showing an undefiled faith, not in the word of the ancient serpent, but in that of God’s messenger… The Church indeed, contemplating her hidden sanctity, imitating her charity and faithfully fulfilling the Father’s will, by receiving the Word in faith becomes herself a mother. By her preaching she brings forth to a new and immortal life the sons who are born to her in baptism, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of God” (nos. 63-64).
Let us conclude with a practical reflection for our life, suggested by the insistence of the Scripture on the verbs “to conceive” and “to bear”. In the prophecy of Isaiah we hear: “Behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son” (7:14), and the Angel says to Mary, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son” (Lk 1:31). Mary first conceived, then bore Jesus: first she welcomed Him into herself, in her heart and her flesh, then she gave birth to Him.
This happens for the Church: first she welcomes the Word of God, letting it “speak tenderly to her” (cf. Hos 2:14), and “fill [her] stomach” (cf. Ez 3:3), in accordance with two biblical expressions, and then she gives birth to it with her life and preaching. The second operation is sterile without the first.
The Church too, when faced with tasks beyond her strength, spontaneously asks the same question: “How is this possible?”. How is it possible to proclaim Jesus Christ and His salvation to a world that seems to seek only well-being? The answer is also the same as then: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). Without the Holy Spirit the Church cannot move forward, the Church does not grow, the Church cannot preach.
What is said about the Church in general also applies to us, to every baptized person. All of us sometimes find ourselves, in life, in situations beyond our strength and ask ourselves: “How can I cope with this situation?”. It helps, in such cases, to repeat to ourselves what the angel said to the Virgin: “With God nothing will be impossible” (Lk 1:37).
Brothers and sisters, let us too, every time, resume our journey with this comforting certainty in our hearts: “With God nothing will be impossible”. And if we believe this, we will perform miracles. With God nothing will be impossible. Thank you.
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[1] 12th Sermon on the Passion, 3, 6: PL 54, 356.
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APPEAL
I continue to follow the situation in the Middle East with great concern, and I reiterate my appeal to all the parties involved that the conflict does not spread, and that there may be an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, starting with Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious and unsustainable. I pray that the sincere search for peace will extinguish strife, love will overcome hatred and vengeance will be disarmed by forgiveness.
I ask you to join in my prayer also for tormented Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan: may these war-torn populations soon find the peace for which they yearn.
Let us join our efforts and prayers that ethnic discrimination in regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan be eliminated, and especially discrimination against women.
____________________________________________
Special Greetings
I extend a cordial welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from Ireland. I invoke upon you and your families the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
Je salue cordialement les personnes de langue française, particulièrement l’Association des anciens élèves du Collège de la Retraite de Yaoundé. Frères et sœurs, confions toutes les personnes qui traversent des situations difficiles à la Vierge Marie, afin que, par son intersession, le Saint Esprit ravive dans leurs cœurs la certitude que rien n’est impossible à Dieu. Que Dieu vous bénisse !
[Rivolgo il mio cordiale saluto alle persone di lingua francese, in particolare all’Associazione degli ex alunni del Collège de la Retraite di Yaoundé. Fratelli e sorelle, affidiamo alla Vergine Maria tutti coloro che stanno attraversando situazioni difficili, affinché per sua intercessione lo Spirito Santo riaccenda nei loro cuori la certezza che nulla è impossibile a Dio. Dio vi benedica!]
Liebe Brüder und Schwestern deutscher Sprache, beten wir täglich den Angelus, den „Engel des Herrn“, um das Geheimnis der Menschwerdung des Wortes beständig zu betrachten und so den Menschen das Heil in Christus zu verkünden.
[Cari fratelli e sorelle di lingua tedesca, recitiamo ogni giorno la preghiera dell’Angelus per contemplare costantemente il mistero dell’Incarnazione del Verbo e così annunciare agli uomini la salvezza in Cristo.]
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española. Se ve que hay muchos hoy. Hay muchos de lengua española, y veo banderas de varios países. La semana próxima celebraremos la solemnidad de la Asunción de la Virgen María. Pidámosle a nuestra Madre del cielo que interceda por nosotros para que acojamos las palabras de su Hijo, las encarnemos en nuestro obrar y vivamos siempre orientados hacia Él. Que Jesús los bendiga y la Virgen Santa los cuide. Muchas gracias.
Queridos peregrinos de língua portuguesa, a todos vós dirijo uma cordial saudação de boas-vindas e desejo que a vossa presença em Roma seja uma oportunidade para revigorar a fé: abandonai-vos completamente nas mãos da Mãe de Deus, e segui sempre o que vos inspirar. O Senhor vos abençoe!
[Cari pellegrini di lingua portoghese, a tutti voi rivolgo il mio cordiale benvenuto e auguro che la vostra presenza a Roma sia un’occasione per rinvigorire la fede: affidatevi totalmente nelle mani della Madre di Dio, e seguite sempre le sue ispirazioni. O Senhor vos abençoe!]
أُحَيِّي المُؤمِنينَ النَّاطِقينَ باللغَةِ العربِيَّة. نحن مدعوُّونَ إلى أنْ نَسيرَ بِثِقَةٍ مع اللهِ لأنَّ "ما مِن شَيءٍ يُعجِزُه"، وهذا اليقينُ هو ما يُعزِّزُ قلوبَنا ويقودُنا في مسيرَتِنا الرُّوحِيَّة. باركَكُم الرّبُّ جَميعًا وحَماكُم دائِمًا مِن كُلِّ شَرّ!
[Saluto i fedeli di lingua araba. Siamo chiamati a camminare con fiducia in Dio perché “Nulla è impossibile a Lui”, e questa certezza è ciò che rafforza i nostri cuori e ci guida nel nostro cammino spirituale. Il Signore vi benedica tutti e vi protegga sempre da ogni male!]
Pozdrawiam serdecznie pielgrzymów polskich. Codziennie stajecie wobec wielu pytań i w sytuacjach życiowych, wobec których brak rozwiązań i zrozumienia. Właśnie w tych momentach, On pragnie objawić wam swoją czułą opiekę i moc miłości. Uczcie się od Maryi z Nazaretu postawy ufności i dziecięcego zawierzenia Bogu i Jego zbawczemu planowi. Wszystkim wam błogosławię.
[Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini polacchi. Ogni giorno vi trovate di fronte a molte domande e situazioni nella vita per le quali vi mancano soluzioni. Proprio in questi momenti Dio desidera rivelarvi la sua tenera sollecitudine e la forza dell’amore. Imparate da Maria di Nazareth un atteggiamento di fiducia e di affidamento filiale a Dio e al suo piano salvifico. Vi benedico tutti.]
_________________________________________
_______________________________________
The following text includes parts that were not read out loud, but should be considered as such.
Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 5. Incarnate by the work of the Holy Spirit, from the Virgin Mary. How to conceive and bear Jesus
FULL TEXT Message of Pope Francis: Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
With today’s catechesis, we enter into the second phase of salvation history. After contemplating the Holy Spirit in the work of Creation, we will contemplate it for a few weeks in the work of Redemption, namely of Jesus Christ. So, let us move on to the New Testament, and see the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
Today’s theme is the Holy Spirit in the Incarnation of the Word. In the Gospel of Luke, we read: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” – to Mary – “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (1:35). The evangelist Matthew confirms this fundamental fact that regards Mary and the Holy Spirit, saying that Mary “was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit” (1:18).
The Church took up this revealed fact and very soon positioned it at the heart of her Symbol of faith. In the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, in 381 – which defined the divinity of the Holy Spirit – this article enters into the formula of the “Creed”. It is therefore an ecumenical fact of faith, because all Christians profess together that same Symbol of faith. Catholic piety, since time immemorial, has drawn from it one of its daily prayers, the Angelus.
This article of faith is the foundation that enables us to speak of Mary as the quintessential Bride, who is a figure of the Church. Indeed, Jesus, as Saint Leo the Great writes, “just as He was born by the Holy Spirit from a virgin mother, so He makes the Church, His unblemished Bride, fruitful with the life-giving breath of the same Spirit”. [1] This parallelism is taken up in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, which says: “By her belief and obedience, [Mary] brought forth on earth the very Son of the Father, showing an undefiled faith, not in the word of the ancient serpent, but in that of God’s messenger… The Church indeed, contemplating her hidden sanctity, imitating her charity and faithfully fulfilling the Father’s will, by receiving the Word in faith becomes herself a mother. By her preaching she brings forth to a new and immortal life the sons who are born to her in baptism, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of God” (nos. 63-64).
Let us conclude with a practical reflection for our life, suggested by the insistence of the Scripture on the verbs “to conceive” and “to bear”. In the prophecy of Isaiah we hear: “Behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son” (7:14), and the Angel says to Mary, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son” (Lk 1:31). Mary first conceived, then bore Jesus: first she welcomed Him into herself, in her heart and her flesh, then she gave birth to Him.
This happens for the Church: first she welcomes the Word of God, letting it “speak tenderly to her” (cf. Hos 2:14), and “fill [her] stomach” (cf. Ez 3:3), in accordance with two biblical expressions, and then she gives birth to it with her life and preaching. The second operation is sterile without the first.
The Church too, when faced with tasks beyond her strength, spontaneously asks the same question: “How is this possible?”. How is it possible to proclaim Jesus Christ and His salvation to a world that seems to seek only well-being? The answer is also the same as then: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). Without the Holy Spirit the Church cannot move forward, the Church does not grow, the Church cannot preach.
What is said about the Church in general also applies to us, to every baptized person. All of us sometimes find ourselves, in life, in situations beyond our strength and ask ourselves: “How can I cope with this situation?”. It helps, in such cases, to repeat to ourselves what the angel said to the Virgin: “With God nothing will be impossible” (Lk 1:37).
Brothers and sisters, let us too, every time, resume our journey with this comforting certainty in our hearts: “With God nothing will be impossible”. And if we believe this, we will perform miracles. With God nothing will be impossible. Thank you.
________________________________________________
[1] 12th Sermon on the Passion, 3, 6: PL 54, 356.
______________________________________________
APPEAL
I continue to follow the situation in the Middle East with great concern, and I reiterate my appeal to all the parties involved that the conflict does not spread, and that there may be an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, starting with Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious and unsustainable. I pray that the sincere search for peace will extinguish strife, love will overcome hatred and vengeance will be disarmed by forgiveness.
I ask you to join in my prayer also for tormented Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan: may these war-torn populations soon find the peace for which they yearn.
Let us join our efforts and prayers that ethnic discrimination in regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan be eliminated, and especially discrimination against women.
____________________________________________
Special Greetings
I extend a cordial welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from Ireland. I invoke upon you and your families the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
Je salue cordialement les personnes de langue française, particulièrement l’Association des anciens élèves du Collège de la Retraite de Yaoundé. Frères et sœurs, confions toutes les personnes qui traversent des situations difficiles à la Vierge Marie, afin que, par son intersession, le Saint Esprit ravive dans leurs cœurs la certitude que rien n’est impossible à Dieu. Que Dieu vous bénisse !
[Rivolgo il mio cordiale saluto alle persone di lingua francese, in particolare all’Associazione degli ex alunni del Collège de la Retraite di Yaoundé. Fratelli e sorelle, affidiamo alla Vergine Maria tutti coloro che stanno attraversando situazioni difficili, affinché per sua intercessione lo Spirito Santo riaccenda nei loro cuori la certezza che nulla è impossibile a Dio. Dio vi benedica!]
Liebe Brüder und Schwestern deutscher Sprache, beten wir täglich den Angelus, den „Engel des Herrn“, um das Geheimnis der Menschwerdung des Wortes beständig zu betrachten und so den Menschen das Heil in Christus zu verkünden.
[Cari fratelli e sorelle di lingua tedesca, recitiamo ogni giorno la preghiera dell’Angelus per contemplare costantemente il mistero dell’Incarnazione del Verbo e così annunciare agli uomini la salvezza in Cristo.]
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española. Se ve que hay muchos hoy. Hay muchos de lengua española, y veo banderas de varios países. La semana próxima celebraremos la solemnidad de la Asunción de la Virgen María. Pidámosle a nuestra Madre del cielo que interceda por nosotros para que acojamos las palabras de su Hijo, las encarnemos en nuestro obrar y vivamos siempre orientados hacia Él. Que Jesús los bendiga y la Virgen Santa los cuide. Muchas gracias.
Queridos peregrinos de língua portuguesa, a todos vós dirijo uma cordial saudação de boas-vindas e desejo que a vossa presença em Roma seja uma oportunidade para revigorar a fé: abandonai-vos completamente nas mãos da Mãe de Deus, e segui sempre o que vos inspirar. O Senhor vos abençoe!
[Cari pellegrini di lingua portoghese, a tutti voi rivolgo il mio cordiale benvenuto e auguro che la vostra presenza a Roma sia un’occasione per rinvigorire la fede: affidatevi totalmente nelle mani della Madre di Dio, e seguite sempre le sue ispirazioni. O Senhor vos abençoe!]
أُحَيِّي المُؤمِنينَ النَّاطِقينَ باللغَةِ العربِيَّة. نحن مدعوُّونَ إلى أنْ نَسيرَ بِثِقَةٍ مع اللهِ لأنَّ "ما مِن شَيءٍ يُعجِزُه"، وهذا اليقينُ هو ما يُعزِّزُ قلوبَنا ويقودُنا في مسيرَتِنا الرُّوحِيَّة. باركَكُم الرّبُّ جَميعًا وحَماكُم دائِمًا مِن كُلِّ شَرّ!
[Saluto i fedeli di lingua araba. Siamo chiamati a camminare con fiducia in Dio perché “Nulla è impossibile a Lui”, e questa certezza è ciò che rafforza i nostri cuori e ci guida nel nostro cammino spirituale. Il Signore vi benedica tutti e vi protegga sempre da ogni male!]
Pozdrawiam serdecznie pielgrzymów polskich. Codziennie stajecie wobec wielu pytań i w sytuacjach życiowych, wobec których brak rozwiązań i zrozumienia. Właśnie w tych momentach, On pragnie objawić wam swoją czułą opiekę i moc miłości. Uczcie się od Maryi z Nazaretu postawy ufności i dziecięcego zawierzenia Bogu i Jego zbawczemu planowi. Wszystkim wam błogosławię.
[Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini polacchi. Ogni giorno vi trovate di fronte a molte domande e situazioni nella vita per le quali vi mancano soluzioni. Proprio in questi momenti Dio desidera rivelarvi la sua tenera sollecitudine e la forza dell’amore. Imparate da Maria di Nazareth un atteggiamento di fiducia e di affidamento filiale a Dio e al suo piano salvifico. Vi benedico tutti.]
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Source: Vatican.va
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