The Church is Our Good Mother

The Church as mother was the theme chosen by His Holiness Pope Francis for the catechesis at the General Audience of 18 September 2013. “I like this image a lot, as it seems to me that it tells us not only how the Church is, but also shows us the face the Church, this Church of ours, should increasingly show”, he explained.

The Pope began by considering what a mother does for her children. First of all, “she teaches us how to proceed in life … she orientates us, she always tries to show us the right path in life in order to grow and become adults. And she does this with tenderness, with affection, with love, always – even when she tries to correct our path because we lose our way a little or take routes that might lead us to a fall…”.

Secondly, “when a child grows and becomes an adult … and assumes his responsibilities … he does what he wants, and at times, he may happen to stray away from the path. … A mother always, in every situation, has the patience to continue to accompany her children. She is animated by the strength of love … and even when [her children] make mistakes, she always finds a way of understanding them … to help them…”.

Finally, “a mother also knows how to ask, to knock on every door for her children, without calculation but with love. And I think of how mothers know, most of all, how to knock on God's door! Mothers pray a lot for their own children, especially for those … most in need, whose lives have taken dangerous or mistaken paths. … The Church does likewise: through prayer, she places the lives of all her children in the hands of the Lord. Let us trust in the strength of prayer of the Mother Church: the Lord never remains indifferent…”

“So, these are the thoughts I wanted to share with you today: we see in the Church a good mother who shows us the path to walk in life, who is always patient, merciful and understanding, and knows how to place us in God's hands”.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.news.va/en/news/mother-church-never-closes-the-door-to-any-of-her-

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How is the Lord calling you to be a good (or better) spiritual mother? 

What grace or virtue does the Lord want you to receive or nurture or share?

Let us pray:  Lord, may I always be a sign of your Love.

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The Search for Peace Demands Patience and Perseverance

After praying the Angelus on 8 September 2013, His Holiness Pope Francis thanked everyone who joined in periods of prayer, fasting and reflection for peace. 

 “But the task remains: we move forward with prayer and works of peace. I invite you to continue to pray so that the violence and devastation in Syria may cease immediately and that a renewed effort be undertaken to achieve a just solution to this fratricidal conflict. Let us pray also for other countries in the Middle East, in particular for Lebanon, that it may find its hoped-for stability and continue to be a model of peaceful co-existence; for Iraq, that sectarian violence may give way to reconciliation; and that the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians may proceed with determination and courage. Finally, let us pray for Egypt, that all Egyptians, Muslims and Christians, may commit themselves to build up together a society dedicated to the good of the whole population.”

“The search for peace is long and demands patience and perseverance! Let us keep praying for this!”

For more information, please visit:

http://www.news.va/en/news/keep-praying-the-search-for-peace-is-long
http://www.news.va/en/news/angelus-war-against-evil-means-saying-no-to-fratri

 

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How is the Lord calling you to persevere in prayer, fasting and reflection for peace? 

I think it is “easy” for me to pray for peace but deeper reflections reveal that it is not so easy to take action.  Even simple steps can be very difficult to take if I am not willing or able to “fast” from selfishness or self-centeredness or sin.  Unless I can “give up” old hurts or grievances I cannot receive or share peace—the peace that flows from the Heart of Jesus.  It is hard work to “let go” but the Lord shows us that is the way to fully experience His peace.  So we must persevere with patience.  Just imagine if each one of us took a small, difficult--but with the grace of God--successful step toward peace in our own life, family or community!  And if small steps toward peace were multiplied all around the world!

Let us support and encourage each other in daily prayer, fasting and reflection for peace.  May the Sacred Heart of Jesus transform us so that we may always be living signs of His love.  May the Immaculate Heart of Mary guide us through our sorrows to the fullness of peace and joy.

 

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Peace through Dialogue, Reconciliation and Love

Dove with Olive Branch
Mosaic detail on floor of the Church of the Visitation, Ein Karem

His Holiness Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, in the entire Mideast region, and throughout the whole world to be held this coming Saturday, September 7th, 2013. The Pope made the announcement during the course of remarks before the traditional Angelus prayer this Sunday.

 

Our Holy Father said, “I wish to add my voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the world, from every people, from the heart of each person, from the one great family which is humanity: it is the cry for peace! It is a cry which declares with force: we want a peaceful world, we want to be men and women of peace, and we want in our society, torn apart by divisions and conflict, that peace break out! War never again! Never again war! Peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected.

There are so many conflicts in this world which cause me great suffering and worry, but in these days my heart is deeply wounded in particular by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments which are looming….

With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict. With similar vigour I exhort the international community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace in that country without further delay, a peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire Syrian people. May no effort be spared in guaranteeing humanitarian assistance to those wounded by this terrible conflict, in particular those forced to flee and the many refugees in nearby countries….

 

It is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace. May the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and be let themselves be led by the desire for peace.

 

I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative….

Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: may she help us to find peace; all of us are her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!”

 

For the full text of the Holy Father's appeal please visit:

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-angelus-appeal-for-peace-full-text

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Artist Diane Andraska presents image of Mary, Queen of Peace to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem,  His Beatitude Fouad Twal, accompanied by Karen Hurley, President of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations,
during the 2010 Assembly in Jerusalem

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