Pope Francis at St. Mary Major, March 15, 2013
J.M.J.
March 15, 2013
Dear Family of
Mary!
Our new Holy Father, Pope
Francis, went to the Basilica St. Mary Major first thing the morning after his
election to the Chair of Peter. He brought Our Lady some flowers, and spent some
quiet time with her. It was a beautiful moment.
Later that day he
celebrated Holy Mass with the Cardinal Electors in the Sistine Chapel. His
homily was brief, but strong. But I was struck by one image he used. He spoke
about the Church's call to journey, build and confess. Here is what he said
about building:
Building...
Building the Church. Stones are spoken of: the stones have a consistency, but
they are the living stones, stones anointed by the Spirit. Building the Church,
the Bride of Christ, upon that cornerstone that is the Lord himself. Building is
another form of movement in our life. [Translation by Joseph G.
Trabbic] (You can find the homily on Zenit... http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-1st-homily
)
Living Stones! We have
recently heard that phrase somewhere else:
"Dear children! Also today I call you to
prayer. May your prayer be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives
you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and
intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my
call." (January 25, 2013)
I don't want to make too
much of it, but Pope Francis used the same image for the faithful that Our Lady
used in January. We are called to be "living stones"! Our Lady told us that our
prayer must be as strong as a living stone, that the anointing we receive
through prayer must make us strong believers and witnesses to Christ. Pope
Francis said that we need to be "living stones", stones anointed by the Holy
Spirit that are built upon the cornerstone, Christ! It is the same Holy Spirit
that inspired Our Lady and Pope Francis to speak about "living stones"! This is
consoling to me, hopeful, exciting!
There is another
interesting connection between Pope Francis and Our Lady of Medjugorje. In his
homily for last year's Easter Vigil Cardinal Bergoglio's spoke
about Our Lady and how she keeps vigil:
"That night she, too, the Mother, was in vigil.
Her insides made her intuit the closeness of that life which she conceived in
Nazareth and her faith strengthened that intuition. We ask her, the first
disciple, to teach us to persevere in the vigil, to accompany us in patience, to
strengthen us in hope. We ask her to lead us to an encounter with her Risen Son;
we ask her to free us from fear, so that we too can hear the angel's message and
run off... not out of fright but to announce it to others in this Buenos Aires
that needs it so much!"(Zenit.org) Dr. Edward Mulholland
Almost in answer to this
call, Our Lady told us on March 2, 2013:
"...My children, keep vigil. I, as a
mother, am keeping vigil with you. I am especially praying and watching over
those whom my Son called to be light-bearers and carriers of hope for you - for
your shepherds. Thank you." (March 2, 2013)
This was the call we were
given, during the days before and during the conclave. Our Lady knows best how
to keep vigil. She helped us to pray in vigil during this most important moment,
and I believe we were given this most holy Pope as a result. He will help us
become living stones, strong believers who will help to build the Church into
the strong haven of safety it is meant to be. He seems to be very close to Our
Lady, and with her he will lead us, free of fear, out into the world to announce
the Risen Lord!
In Jesus, Mary and
Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2013
1 comment:
Revelation
Today bring to me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me the strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them, as through channels, My mercy flows out upon mankind.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1212
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that we may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
The fountain of God's love
Dwells in pure hearts,
Bathed in the Sea of Mercy
Radiant as stars, bright as the dawn.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company [of chosen ones] in Your vineyard-upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1213
Post a Comment