Posted on 10/13/2013 6:13:00 AM PDT by markomalley
The Pope celebrated mass in St Peter’s square this morning in honour of the Marian Day, an event organised as part of the Year of Faith on the anniversary of the final apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima (13th of October 1917).
Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ homily in English translation.
In the Psalm we said: “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things” (Ps 98:1). Today we consider one of the marvelous things which the Lord has done: Mary! A lowly and weak creature like ourselves, she was chosen to be the Mother of God, the Mother of her Creator.
Considering Mary in the light of the readings we have just heard, I would like to reflect with you on three things: first, God surprises us, second, God asks us to be faithful, and third, God is our strength.
First: God surprises us. The story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, is remarkable. In order to be healed of leprosy, he turns to the prophet of God, Elisha, who does not perform magic or demand anything unusual of him, but asks him simply to trust in God and to wash in the waters of the river. Not, however, in one of the great rivers of Damascus, but in the little stream of the Jordan. Naaman is left surprised, even taken aback. What kind of God is this who asks for something so simple? He wants to turn back, but then he goes ahead, he immerses himself in the Jordan and is immediately healed (cf. 2 Kg 5:1-4). There it is: God surprises us. It is precisely in poverty, in weakness and in humility that he reveals himself and grants us his love, which saves us, heals us and gives us strength. He asks us only to obey his word and to trust in him.
This was the experience of the Virgin Mary. At the message of the angel, she does not hide her surprise. It is the astonishment of realizing that God, to become man, had chosen her, a simple maid of Nazareth. Not someone who lived in a palace amid power and riches, or one who had done extraordinary things, but simply someone who was open to God and put her trust in him, even without understanding everything: “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). That was her answer. God constantly surprises us, he bursts our categories, he wreaks havoc with our plans. And he tells us: trust me, do not be afraid, let yourself be surprised, leave yourself behind and follow me!
Today let us all ask ourselves whether we are afraid of what God might ask, or of what he does ask. Do I let myself be surprised by God, as Mary was, or do I remain caught up in my own safety zone: in forms of material, intellectual or ideological security, taking refuge in my own projects and plans? Do I truly let God into my life? How do I answer him?
In the passage from Saint Paul which we have heard, the Apostle tells his disciple Timothy: remember Jesus Christ. If we persevere with him, we will also reign with him (cf. 2 Tim 2:8-13). This is the second thing: to remember Christ always – to be mindful of Jesus Christ – and thus to persevere in faith. God surprises us with his love, but he demands that we be faithful in following him. We can be unfaithful, but he cannot: he is “the faithful one” and he demands of us that same fidelity. Think of all the times when we were excited about something or other, some initiative, some task, but afterwards, at the first sign of difficulty, we threw in the towel. Sadly, this also happens in the case of fundamental decisions, such as marriage. It is the difficulty of remaining steadfast, faithful to decisions we have made and to commitments we have made. Often it is easy enough to say “yes”, but then we fail to repeat this “yes” each and every day. We fail to be faithful.
Mary said her “yes” to God: a “yes” which threw her simple life in Nazareth into turmoil, and not only once. Any number of times she had to utter a heartfelt “yes” at moments of joy and sorrow, culminating in the “yes” she spoke at the foot of the Cross. Here today there are many mothers present; think of the full extent of Mary’s faithfulness to God: seeing her only Son hanging on the Cross. The faithful woman, still standing, utterly heartbroken, yet faithful and strong.
And I ask myself: am I a Christian by fits and starts, or am I a Christian full-time? Our culture of the ephemeral, the relative, also takes its toll on the way we live our faith. God asks us to be faithful to him, daily, in our everyday life. He goes on to say that, even if we are sometimes unfaithful to him, he remains faithful. In his mercy, he never tires of stretching out his hand to lift us up, to encourage us to continue our journey, to come back and tell him of our weakness, so that he can grant us his strength. This is the real journey: to walk with the Lord always, even at moments of weakness, even in our sins. Never to prefer a makeshift path of our own. That kills us. Faith is ultimate fidelity, like that of Mary.
The last thing: God is our strength. I think of the ten lepers in the Gospel who were healed by Jesus. They approach him and, keeping their distance, they call out: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Lk 17:13). They are sick, they need love and strength, and they are looking for someone to heal them. Jesus responds by freeing them from their disease. Strikingly, however, only one of them comes back, praising God and thanking him in a loud voice. Jesus notes this: ten asked to be healed and only one returned to praise God in a loud voice and to acknowledge that he is our strength. Knowing how to give thanks, to give praise for everything that the Lord has done for us.
Take Mary. After the Annunciation, her first act is one of charity towards her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth. Her first words are: “My soul magnifies the Lord”, in other words, a song of praise and thanksgiving to God not only for what he did for her, but for what he had done throughout the history of salvation. Everything is his gift. If we can realise that everything is God’s gift, how happy will our hearts be! Everything is his gift. He is our strength! Saying “thank you” is such an easy thing, and yet so hard! How often do we say “thank you” to one another in our families? These are essential words for our life in common. “Excuse me”, “sorry”, “thank you”. If families can say these three things, they will be fine. “Excuse me”, “sorry”, “thank you”. How often do we say “thank you” in our families? How often do we say “thank you” to those who help us, those close to us, those at our side throughout life? All too often we take everything for granted! This happens with God too. It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to go and thank him: “Well, I don’t need to”.
As we continue our celebration of the Eucharist, let us invoke Mary’s intercession. May she help us to be open to God’s surprises, to be faithful to him each and every day, and to praise and thank him, for he is our strength. Amen.
You can certainly quote other peoples opinions. But they’re like elbows, about everyone has a couple.
I guess somebody decided that my comment was somehow unacceptable. Not sure exactly why, but, whatever.
I had suggested Psalm 2 and Psalm 16.
The point I was getting at was that several years ago I remember Catholics posting articles as “caucus” only to have a non-Catholic post the very same article a few hours later as “open” — and then proceeded to do what they were going to do anyway.
Sorry if you perceived that as “giving you the business” — that was not my intent.
And, as far as “posting and running” — I don’t “post and run.” If a non-Catholic has a legitimate question or has an intelligent point to make, I’ll respond. But otherwise, I just know how to ignore the garbage.
In the words of the illustrious management of this forum, “The demeanor of the poster says more about his own confession than the post says about yours. When he is being rude or mean it drives people away from his confession and towards yours. That is of course if you can resist the urge to meet fire with fire, in which case neither confession is appealing to the lurkers. The poster who “turns the other cheek” wins every single time.”
“For to get to see Jesus when you die, doesn’t it stand to reason you’d have to meet [go through] Mary first?, because that’s where He came from as a mere Babe, the sinless mother of God. “
It’s blasphemous, number one, since it places Mary into the Trinity and the pathway to salvation. I am quite confident that you are still in your sins, since there is simply no way that someone who has the Spirit could make such unholy confessions. Even most Catholics blush at these statements. It’s also worth noting that the scripture says that all have sinned. It is biblically illiterate, and ignores the actual sequence of salvation as explained in the scripture, which begins, first, with the predestination of God, who chose us in Him before the foundation of the world without regard for our merits: “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”(2Ti 1:9). And then the working of the Holy Spirit, who applies the finished work of Christ and brings us to salvation, not through Mary: “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1Co 12:3).
Please spare me your blasphemous and insipid comments. I don’t care how offended you are or how hurt you are. I have no reason to respect these ugly and disgusting beliefs.
And, as far as “posting and running” — I don’t “post and run.” If a non-Catholic has a legitimate question or has an intelligent point to make, I’ll respond. But otherwise, I just know how to ignore the garbage.Yes, but it's mainly garbage. So why post when you know what you're about to receive? Does this make Our Lady happy? All this junk. What do you think? And I understand not caucusing threads. But IMO it would be best if you defended Our Lady when doing so.
Even most Catholics blush at these statements...I have no reason to respect these ugly and disgusting beliefs.Did you think I came up with this on my own? Ha! Did you see my post #49?
I am quite confident that you are still in your sins, since there is simply no way that someone who has the Spirit could make such unholy confessions.P.S. I never said Mary was part of the Trinity. You did. Be careful how you read things.
“Did you think I came up with this on my own? Ha! Did you see my post #49? “
What do I care when you have no respect for the scripture? But incase you think your fiction has always been held, here are the true quotes from Augustine on the matter (there are a few fakes floating around!):
” It is written in the Gospel, of the mother and brethren of Christ, that is, His kindred after the flesh, that, when word had been brought to Him, and they were standing without, because they could not come to Him by reason of the crowd, He made answer, “Who is My mother? Or who are My brethren?” And stretching forth His Hand over His disciples, He says, “These are My brethren: and whosoever shall have done the will of My Father, that man is to Me brother, and mother, and sister.” What else teaching us, than to prefer to kindred after the flesh, our descent after the Spirit: and that men are not blessed for this reason, that they are united by nearness of flesh unto just and holy men, but that, by obeying and following, they cleave unto their doctrine and conduct. Therefore Mary is more blessed in receiving the faith of Christ, than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. For to a certain one who said, “Blessed is the womb, which bare You,” He Himself made answer, “Yea, rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God, and keep it.” (Augustine, On Holy Virginity)
“But rather were those disciples brethren; for even those kinsmen would not be brethren were they not disciples: and to no advantage brethren, if they did not recognize their brother as their master. For in a certain place, when He was informed that His mother and His brethren were standing without, at the time He was speaking to His disciples, He said: “Who is my mother? Or who are my brethren?” And stretching out His hand over His disciples, He said, “These are my brethren; and, Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, the same is my mother, and brother, and sister.” Matthew 12:46-50 Therefore also Mary, because she did the will of the Father. What the Lord magnified in her was, that she did the will of the Father, not that flesh gave birth to flesh. Give good heed, beloved. Moreover, when the Lord was regarded with admiration by the multitude, while doing signs and wonders, and showing forth what lay concealed under the flesh, certain admiring souls said: “Happy is the womb that bare You:” and He said, “Yea, rather, happy are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:27 That is to say, even my mother, whom you have called happy, is happy in that she keeps the word of God: not because in her the Word was made flesh and dwelt in us; but because she keeps that same word of God by which she was made, and which in her was made flesh. Let not men rejoice in temporal offspring, but let them exult if in spirit they are joined to God.” (Augustine, Tractate 10)
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.
Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.
Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.
Amen.
She became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass man’s understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child . . . Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God . . . None can say of her nor announce to her greater things, even though he had as many tongues as the earth possesses flowers and blades of grass: the sky, stars; and the sea, grains of sand. It needs to be pondered in the heart what it means to be the Mother of God.
(Commentary on the Magnificat, 1521; in Luther’s Works, Pelikan et al, vol. 21, 326)
“P.S. I never said Mary was part of the Trinity.”
Oy, who said Papists don’t blush? What is she then, if one has to go through her to come to Jesus?
Joh_14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let them rage -they lack love because of hiding who they really are.
Pray for them.
An important Miracle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMEWxRB-1dc
The Heaven of these humourless, angry and ugly attackers of Catholics must be worse than Hell, thanks but no thanks.
“We don’t need no theology!” — The “Pope” of these people Paul Crouch.
What do I care when you have no respect for the scripture?I respect Holy Scripture. And what you have printed out and what I have printed out both explain, to me anyway, that Mary brings people to Jesus. Why do you think so many Catholics credit Mary for their return to the faith, their deepening of the faith, their love of the faith? Because she leads them to her Son.
>> “ Because she leads them to her Son.” <<
.
Or to the false son that Satan provided.
Oy, who said Papists don’t blush? What is she then, if one has to go through her to come to Jesus?Please wake up, Puny! You have to "meet" Mary, honor her, love her, but you can surely pray to Jesus alone [I always do at Adoration and Mass], but He's not going to let you into heaven, if you first don't know his mother. How absurd to think otherwise! What kind of derelict Son do you think Jesus is? He is the model for ALL men to live by. Should all men now neglect their earthly mothers casting them aside as if they served little, if any, good purpose?
Do not derisively alter another poster’s name.
“I respect Holy Scripture.”
In that case, why do you claim that Mary is sinless, when I showed you scripture which said that no one is sinless? And why do you claim that Mary brings people to Jesus, as if faith in her is necessary, when I showed you it was the Holy Spirit who brings us to Jesus? Why are you asserting things that are not in the scripture at all?
“And what you have printed out and what I have printed out both explain, to me anyway, that Mary brings people to Jesus.”
Sure, considering you based it on nothing to begin with, it makes sense that you would base it out of nothing x nothing.
“Why do you think so many Catholics credit Mary for their return to the faith, their deepening of the faith, their love of the faith?”
Because they are idolaters with feeble ideas about religion, and because they believe they will get into heaven based on their own righteousness and devotion in a human woman who is not omnipresent or omniscient, and therefore cannot hear their vain cries?
Certainly, if you think that Mary will save you, go ahead. I pity you greatly, but go ahead.
“Please wake up, Puny! You have to “meet” Mary, honor her, love her, but you can surely pray to Jesus alone”
Ah, you have no idea how much I feel for you in these delusions. I WAS a Catholic. I’ve PRAYED to Mary. Guess what? She never helped me. But God did. Ah, how did a religion it is that you are in, that you are satisfied with so little, when true answer to prayer is available by the only God who can hear. Not your dumb idols, which hear nothing and can do nothing.
Stick with your blasphemies! I will stay with Jesus Christ.
Oops, actually, I showed you two other verses. I didn’t show you the ones stating that all have sinned. Here you go:
Rom_3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1Jn_1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Psa_143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Isa_64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
1Co_15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Not your dumb idols, which hear nothing and can do nothing.You're grouping Mary, the mother of Christ, in with "dumb idols"? Even by fallen-away kids wouldn't talk like that! Gives me something to be happy about in that regard, I guess.
“You’re grouping Mary, the mother of Christ, in with “dumb idols”?”
Nay, just the blasphemous statue you call Mary, which cannot hear you. Don’t get the two confused. The true Mary needed a savior just like everybody else.
Mary has already stated she is the “Immaculate Conception.” Ignore all the miracles at Lourdes if you must. Block them out of your head and your ears. Cover up you ability to reason. In the end, I don’t really care how you worship, though. I just loathe the attacks on Mary, the sinless mother of God.
“Mary has already stated she is the “Immaculate Conception.” Ignore all the miracles at Lourdes if you must. Block them out of your head and your ears.”
Well, of course I’ll reject an unknown spirit who makes little girls wear tight ropes around their waist because the sacrifice of Christ on the cross wasn’t good enough to pay for anyone’s sins. I read the scripture, after all:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
(Gal 1:8-9)
Thanks! I see the Coptic Church approved of these apparitions. I hadn’t known much about them previously.
“I’m disengaging from your wise-guy commentary;”
That actually assumes that you were actually “engaging” in some kind of discourse. I considered it more like a barking noise, at best.
Please wake up, Puny! You have to "meet" Mary, honor her, love her, but you can surely pray to Jesus alone [I always do at Adoration and Mass], but He's not going to let you into heaven, if you first don't know his mother.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 10:7-9 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Acts 4:11-12 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.Of course, this is true, but Mary can lead one to Jesus to begin with. They are inseparable. Just like any mother and her child would be, however, because Mary is sinless, it's a bind that is difficult to even put into words; they are naturally forever attached by a pure love.
But the Godhead isn’t a circle. It’s a triangle, with God the Father at the top. Where pray tell, does Mary fit in the triangle?
Do not derisively alter another poster’s name.So it is okay for a guest of Free Republic to select a disrespectful handle, but it's not okay to derisively alter that nic?
But the Godhead isn’t a circle. It’s a triangle, with God the Father at the top. Where pray tell, does Mary fit in the triangle?I'm speaking of the circle that encompasses a mother and her child [and the father too]. This is a circle that should not be broken. If a child in the family respects only his father, there will be insurmountable problems. That's why kids of divorce have such a tough time of it. The parents have broken the circle.
Hmmmm...ok. I thought the husband, wife, children was a triangle, too. With the father/husband/man at the top. He is the head of the family. That would make it a triangle, too. Like the Godhead.
That actually assumes that you were actually “engaging” in some kind of discourse. I considered it more like a barking noise, at best.My only regret is that I was not able to comment in a more appropriate but "biting" fashion. As far as "barking," I'll be hearing [back] plenty of that in purgatory... :)
Hmmmm...ok. I thought the husband, wife, children was a triangle, too. With the father/husband/man at the top. He is the head of the family. That would make it a triangle, too. Like the Godhead.In our family Jesus [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] is at the top, then Mary, then the angels and saints, then my spouse, then our children. And we have um, 5 pets too; the two dogs join us [they sit in the car] at Mass every day! :)
That certainly explains a LOT!
Also, the mods ban new posters with unacceptably rude or profane handles.
The difference is your calling him "Puny" is making it personal whereas his handle is not focused on any particular Freeper and is therefore not making it personal.I understand what you are saying, but the one word I would not use to describe the core group at Free Republic [patriots -- regardless of their faith belief -- who would give their lives for this once great nation] is puny. Whether it's directed at one or a plethora of 1's, it's still disrespectful, but that's just my opinion.
You doth protest too much. Go your way with your goddess. If my handle was directed at FR Catholics, I’d have named myself Pope Gregory, since he attributed the Papacy to all the Bishops of the See. People really get obsessed when you stomp their idols.
That's because Jesus is not still hanging on the cross.
He died, was buried, and rose again. The cross and the tomb are empty.
THAT'S victory.
Whatever appeared at Lourdes was not Mary.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
why wouldn't He be willing to forgive. He willingly went to the cross to pay for the sins that Catholics imply He's not willing to forgive.
He preached a lot about forgiveness but isn't willing to forgive by Himself without Mary putting in a good word for us?
How warped is that?
There is only ONE mediator between God and man and that's Jesus, NOT Mary.
Yup!
Wow, right to son of satan in one post, and a textbook example of reductio ad absurdum to boot. Let me guess, you were never captain of the debate team, were you?
If he can keep people from finding God through jesus Christ, I have no doubt he’d be happy to provide health, wealth, and miracles galore.
What does it matter to him how we live our lives here in the matter of material possessions and creature comforts if someone can burn for eternity because it kept them from the one true living God?
Truth hurts, doesn’t it!
Gonna have to do better than that, Bro. Seriously, do you think I give a damn about what you think of me an my salvation? On the day of judgement, you’re the one who’s going to have to account for the goofiness that you espouse on a daily basis.
I’m praying for you, E-S. Mary, Queen of all Saints, pray for Editor-Surveyor, that he may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!
You doth protest too much. Go your way with your goddess. If my handle was directed at FR Catholics, I’d have named myself Pope Gregory, since he attributed the Papacy to all the Bishops of the See. People really get obsessed when you stomp their idols.I'm obsessed about some stuff, it is true, but your handle isn't one of them. I think it is dopey, in that you profess to be a Christ-loving individual, and then go on to call all you converse with, by way of your nic, Puny Humans. One wonders if you would address Christ in the same fashion.
If he can keep people from finding God through jesus Christ, I have no doubt he’d be happy to provide health, wealth, and miracles galore.The devil is tricky without a doubt; walking the way of unapproved apparitions is unwise imo, but since I believe in the Church's process of uncovering the truth from fraud regarding apparitions, I only have love for Lourdes.
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