When Jesus speaks to his disciples of Heaven, He tells them that our lives are a journey of preparation toward the definitive dwelling place and the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This was the focus Friday morning of Pope Francis’s homily at Mass in Santa Marta, attended by Vatican Staff. Our journey of faith is not one of alienation, but prepares our hearts to see the beautiful face of God. Our eyes, the eyes of our soul they need to be prepared to contemplate the beautiful face of Jesus. Our hearing must be prepared in order to hear the beautiful things, the beautiful words. Above all our hearts must be prepared: prepared for love, to love more”. In our life’s journey — said Pope Francis- the Lo …

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Forgiveness was the central theme of Pope Francis’ homily at mass Monday morning with Vatican employees. He said the Lord forgives and accepts each of us as we are and we experience this in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pope Francis said : Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner: it is an encounter with Jesus, with this Jesus who waits for us, who waits for us just as we are. We are often ashamed to tell the truth: ‘I did this, I thought this’. But shame is a true Christian and even human virtue, … the ability to be ashamed. Pope Francis concluded : “In our country those who are never ashamed are called “sin vergüenza’: this means ‘the unashamed ‘, because they are people who do not have …

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On this first Saturday in May, Mary’s month, the Holy Father Pope Francis prays the Rosary at St Mary Major in Rome. Yes it is a long video but when else do you get a chance to say the Rosary with the pope on the first Saturday in May. Of course, it is all in Italian.

I have not yet watched the whole thing but I imagine that you can spot some grey-habitted friars of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. If you do, please leave a comment giving the time counter.

Holy Rosary with the Pope – YouTube.

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In his remarks prior to the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father spoke about the “spiritual presence of the Virgin Mary, alive in our midst.” On a day dedicated to Confraternities and Popular Piety, he noted that love for Mary is one of the characteristics of popular piety that “must be strengthened and well-ordered.” He invited those present to reflect on “Mary the pilgrim, who follows Jesus the Son, and goes before all of us in the journey of faith.”

via Pope Francis: the love of Mary in popular piety.

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Before returning to the Vatican asked the faithful present , t …

via Pope Francis goes to St Mary Major to pray for WYD – YouTube.

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On the fifth day of the Synod, several more married couples and experts, almost all lay people, addressed the bishops.

Couples who have spent most of their lives together, like Pilar and Luis Jensen, shared their experience and made a special request to the Pope.

PILAR AND LUIS JENSEN

“Our youngest daughter is getting married next month. We ended our testimony by asking the Pope for his blessing because she sent him an invitation to her wedding.”

They also discussed how the Church needs to be present in the lives of couples and communicate its message effectively.

via Day 5 of the Synod.

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The two week Synod is halfway through. For a week now, bishops, families and the Pope himself have discussed some of the challenges faced by modern day families and what the Church can do to help.

FAMILY

Cardinal Peter Erd , issued a midterm report to summarize the discussion list. He stated that despite the hardships faced by families, there is still much to be hopeful for.

CARD. PETER  ERDÖ

Archbishop Esztergom-Budapest (Hungary)

“Despite all the signs of families in crisis around the world, the will to have a family is still alive, especially among the youth. This highlights the need for the Church to constantly spread the message of the Gospel and the Family.”

via Midterm Report: 7 key Points of the Synod on the Family.

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Father Zirano had traveled to Algeria in an attempt to ransom Christian slaves. “We give thanks to God for this priest-martyr, a heroic witness of the Gospel,” Pope Francis said following his Angelus address. “His courageous fidelity to Christ was an act of great eloquence, especially for these times of brutal persecution against Christians.”

via Franciscan martyr beatified : News Headlines – Catholic Culture.

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In light of all the hoopla over the midterm report for the synod I thought this would be helpful from Fr. Barron …

The midterm report on the deliberations of the Synod on the Family has appeared and there is a fair amount of hysteria all around. John Thavis, a veteran Vatican reporter who should know better, has declared this statement “an earthquake, the big one that hit after months of smaller tremors.” Certain  commentators on the right have been wringing their hands and bewailing a deep betrayal of the Church’s teaching. One even opined that this report is the “silliest document ever issued by the Catholic Church,” and some have said that the interim document flaunts the teaching of St. John Paul II. Meanwhile the New York Times confidently announced that the Church has moved from “condemnation of unconventional family situations and toward understanding, openness, and mercy.” I think everyone should take a deep breath.

via Having Patience for the Sausage-Making Synod | Word On Fire.

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