The thought of death saves us from the illusion of being “masters of time.” At Mass on Thursday morning, Pope Francis’ homily focused on the reality of death. In his homily at the daily Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis reflected on three realities: “Death is a fact; death is an inheritance; death is […]
‘Shepherds should show tenderness and closeness of Jesus’
During his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday morning, Pope Francis says those entrusted with shepherding God’s people should always show Jesus’ tenderness and closeness, as set out in the readings of the day (Mark 5:21-43). Pope Francis took his cue from the day’s Gospel according to Mark, which indicates “a […]
Transmit the faith with the courage of truth and witness
During his homily at morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta Pope Francis reflected on the how we announce the Gospel message saying that words are empty if they do not reflect real life. At the heart of Pope Francis’ homily on Friday morning in the Casa Santa Marta was a reflection on how to transmit the faith. […]
Christian prayer is courageous
Faith in Jesus and courage to go beyond difficulties as many saints have done, this characterizes Christian prayer. Those were the Pope’s words during his homily at Mass on Friday morning at the Casa Santa Marta, inspired by the healings narrated in the Gospel. During his homily at morning Mass on Friday, Pope Francis reflected […]
Pastor’s authority comes from closeness to God and people
In his homily at Mass, Pope Francis compares the authority of Jesus with that of the Scribes and doctors of the law who were far from God and the people. Emotion, closeness and consistency are what characterize the authority of Jesus the pastor. Pope Francis made the point in his homily at Mass, Tuesday […]
‘Contempt for the weak is work of Satan’
What is it within ourselves that makes us mock and belittle the weakest among us? That was the question Pope Francis posed during his homily at the morning Mass on Monday in the Casa Santa Marta. Pope Francis at Monday morning’s Mass reflected on the many Biblical stories that tell of a powerful person humiliating someone weaker […]
Christians should be joyful
In his homily at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa, Pope Francis called on Christians to be joyful, and said pessimism is not Christian. Contrasting the joyful countenance of a person who has been forgiven and redeemed, with the face of someone attending a wake, Pope Francis delivered a homily on the joy that springs from the forgiveness of sin and the closeness of the Lord. […]
Joseph, example of a man who took nothing for himself
In the homily at the morning Mass, Pope Francis said Saint Joseph “took up” the fatherhood of Jesus, “a paternity that was not his own, but God’s.” In difficulties, in troubles, in darkness, we learn from St Joseph who knew “how to walk in darkness,” “how to listen to the voice of God,” “how to […]
The tenderness of God is father and mother
The tenderness of God, was at the heart of the Pope’s homily this morning at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The tenderness of God, as his defining trait, was at the heart of the Pope’s homily this morning at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The theme was taken from the first reading from […]
Being humble means accepting humiliation like Christ
In the life of a Christian, humility is an indispensable quality that is needed in order to allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to grow. This was the reflection of Pope Francis in his homily at Mass, Tuesday morning, in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. Drawing inspiration from the Prophet […]
Our churches should be for service, not supermarkets
Pope Francis on Friday suggested watchfulness, service and gratuitousness as three attitudes that can help us keep clean the temple of the Holy Spirit. He made the exhortation in his homily at the morning Mass in the chapel of the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence. The Pope was reflecting on the first reading from the Book of […]
Cultural colonization ends in persecution
Cultural and ideological colonization does not tolerate differences and makes everything the same, resulting in the persecution even of believers. Those were Pope Francis’ reflections in his homily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, which centered on the martyrdom of Eleazar, narrated in the book of Maccabees from the First Reading (Maccabees 6: 18-31). The […]
World Day of the Poor: they open for us the way to heaven
Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday – the XXXIII Sunday in Ordinary Time and the first-ever World Day of the Poor – in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Father announced the World Day of the Poor during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, and entrusted its organization and promotion to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. There […]
Take time to think about death
With today’s readings, the Church invites us to reflect on the end of the world, but also on the end of our own lives. Pope Francis based his homily on the Gospel reading, where the Lord speaks about the daily lives of men and women in the days before the great Flood, or in the […]
The Kingdom of God is within us
The kingdom of God is not a show, much less a carnival; it does not go looking for publicity. Its growth comes from the Holy Spirit, rather than from “pastoral plans.” That was the message of Pope Francis in his daily homily at the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday. The point of departure for the […]
Scandal wounds hearts and kills hope
Scandal wounds hearts and kills hopes: this was the core of Pope Francis’ remarks to the faithful following the Gospel at Mass on Monday morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,” the Pope said, recalling the words of Our Lord in the Gospel reading, “but woe to the […]
“Christian craftiness” prevents one from falling into the ring of corruption
Pope Francis on Friday once more hit out against the powerful networks of corruption, reminding those involved they are dealing with the goods of others, not theirs. Delivering a homily during his Mass at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, the Pope commented on the Gospel of Luke where Jesus recounts the parable of […]
‘Salvation is not for sale’
Pope Francis has urged Christians not to lose the capacity to feel loved. Speaking during the homily on Tuesday morning at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope said that while it is possible to recuperate a lost capacity to love, if one no longer has the capacity feel loved, all is lost. Pope Francis reflected on the […]
God’s gifts are irrevocable
When God gives a gift, it is irrevocable: He does not give something one day, and take it away the next. When God calls us, that call remains our whole life. Pope Francis began his homily with this reflection, inspired by the theme of our “election by God,” God’s choice of each of us, which […]
‘Our faith makes us men and women of hope’
Pope Francis on Friday celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for all those Cardinals and Bishops who have died over the past year. During his homily the Pope reflected on the reality of death, but he also reminded us of the promise of eternal life which is grounded in our union with the risen Christ. “Today’s celebration, Pope Francis […]