CATECHESIS

SUNDAY, JUlY 5, 2020

I invite everyone to pray for the people of Yemen, especially children, who are suffering as a result of the very serious humanitarian crisis, and for those affected by the severe floods in Western Ukraine.

Evil never gives peace. It causes frenzy first then leaves bitterness. Instead, God’s voice never promises cheap, easily acquired joy. He invites us to go beyond our ego to find that true good: peace.  

Pope Francis, @Pontifex on Twitter

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020

The holiness to which the Lord calls you grows through small gestures in everyday life.

God created us for communion, for fraternity. Now more than ever the pretense of focusing everything on ourselves, making individualism society’s guiding principle, has proven illusory. We have to be careful! When the emergency is over we can easily fall back into this illusion.

Let us begin anew from the numerous examples of generous, freely-given love, which in these months have shown us how much closeness, care, and sacrifice are needed to nourish fraternity and civil coexistence. In this way, we will emerge 

from this crisis stronger.

Only those who see with the heart see things well, because they know how to “look into” each person: to see a brother or sister apart from his or her mistakes, hope amid difficulty. 

They see God everywhere.

Pope Francis @Pontifex

*************

SUNDAY JUNE 21, 2020

I invite you to pray for priests, so that through your prayer the Lord might strengthen their vocation, comfort them in their ministry, and help them always be joyful ministers of the Gospel for all people. 

The Lord always watches over us with mercy. Let us not be afraid of approaching him! He has a merciful heart! If we show him our inner wounds, our inner sins, he will always forgive us. It is pure mercy! Let us go to Jesus!

To pray means to intercede for the world, to remember that despite all its frailties, it always belongs to God. 

The Lord cannot enter into hard or ideological hearts. The Lord enters into hearts that are like His: hearts that are open and compassionate.

Pope Francis @Pontifex

*********

SUDNAY, JUNE 14, 2020

We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form. At the same time, we have to recognize that violence is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost. Let us pray for reconciliation and peace. 

The Holy Spirit makes us take flight, opens up the wonderful destiny for which we were born, and nourishes us with living hope. 

Let us ask Him to come to us, and He will draw near.

We need the Holy Spirit to give us new eyes, to open our minds and our hearts to face the present moment and the future having learned this lesson: That humanity is one. 

No one is saved alone. No one.

In our darkest moments, when we sin or are disoriented, we always have an appointment with God. We do not need to be afraid, because God will change our hearts and give us the blessing reserved for those who allow Him to change them

Pope Francis @Pontifex