Pope Francis

Monday 30 March 2015

Saturday 28 March 2015

Opus Dei - Pope Francis: "Death penalty inadmissable"

An extract from the Pope's letter to the International Commission against the Death Penalty.

Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS)- This morning the Holy Father received in audience a delegation from the International Commission against the Death Penalty. Below we offer extensive extracts from the letter the Pope gave to Federico Mayor, president of the Commission, to greet and offer his personal thanks to all the members of the aforementioned International Commission, the group of countries that lend their support, and all those who collaborate in its work.

“I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some reflections on what the Church contributes to the humanistic efforts of the Commission. The Church's Magisterium, based on the Sacred Scripture and the thousand-year experience of the People of God, defends life from conception to natural end, and supports full human dignity inasmuch as it represents the image of God. Human life is sacred as, from its beginning, from the first instant of conception, it is the fruit of God's creating action."

“States kill when they apply the death penalty, when they send their people to war or when they carry out extrajudicial or summary executions. They can also kill by omission, when they fail to guarantee to their people access to the bare essentials for life. … On some occasions it is necessary to repel an ongoing assault proportionately to avoid damage caused by the aggressor, and the need to neutralise him could lead to his elimination; this is a case of legitimate defence. However, the presuppositions of personal legitimate defence do not apply at the social level, without risk of misinterpretation. When the death penalty is applied, it is not for a current act of aggression, but rather for an act committed in the past. It is also applied to persons whose current ability to cause harm is not current, as it has been neutralised – they are already deprived of their liberty."

“Nowadays the death penalty is inadmissible, no matter how serious the crime committed. It is an offence against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person, which contradicts God's plan for man and society, and his merciful justice, and impedes the penalty from fulfilling any just objective. It does not render justice to the victims, but rather fosters vengeance."

“For the rule of law, the death penalty represents a failure, as it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice. … Justice can never be wrought by killing a human being. … With the application of the death penalty, the convict is denied the possibility of to repent or make amends for the harm caused; the possibility of confession, by which a man expresses his inner conversion, and contrition, the gateway to atonement and expiation, to reach an encounter with God's merciful and healing justice. It is furthermore frequently used by totalitarian regimes and groups of fanatics for the extermination of political dissidents, minorities, and any subject labelled as 'dangerous' or who may be perceived as a threat to its power or to the achievement of its ends".

“The death penalty is contrary to the sentiment of humanitas and to divine mercy, which must be the model for human justice. … There is discussion in some quarters about the method of killing, as if it were possible to find ways of 'getting it right'. … But there is no humane way of killing another person."

“On the other hand, life imprisonment entails for the prisoner the impossibility of planning a future of freedom, and may therefore be considered as a sort of covert death penalty, as they deprive detainees not only of their freedom, but also of hope. However, although the penal system can stake a claim to the time of convicted persons, it can never claim their hope".

“Dear friends, I encourage you to continue with your work, as the world needs witnesses of God's mercy and tenderness, and may the Lord Jesus grant the gift of wisdom, so that the action taken against this cruel punishment may be successful and fruitful."

(http://opusdei.org.in/en-in/)

Creative translation - 28.3.2015 - Tomáš Halík

The three theological virtues in the light of a same fundamental attitude: Patience.

"Patience with others is Love.

Patience with yourself is Hope.

Patience with God is Faith."

As três virtudes teologais à luz duma mesma atitude fundamental: a Paciência

"Paciência com os outros é Amor.

Paciência consigo mesmo é Esperança.

Paciência com Deus é Fé."

Adel Bestavros


Lido no livro "Paciência com Deus" de Tomáš Halík, Paulinas Editora, Início

Thursday 26 March 2015

Sanctity

"Sanctity is made up of heroic acts. Therefore, in our work we are asked for the heroism of finishing properly the tasks committed to us, day after day, even though they are the same tasks."
Saint Josemaría

VALE A PENA VIVER (e morrer) ASSIM

1. Há vidas que sabem a morte. Há mortes que sabem a vida.

Faz hoje, dia 24 de Março, 35 anos que D. Óscar Romero, Arcebispo de S. Salvador, foi assassinado.

A morte foi arrebatá-lo no meio da Missa e no auge da missão. A Missa celebra a entrega de Cristo pela humanidade. A missão de Óscar Romero foi uma entrega, em Cristo, para que a humanidade dos mais pobres fosse respeitada.

Ninguém o aconselhava a ser assim. Aliás, todos lhe recomendavam que não fosse assim. Era mais normal. Mais cómodo. Mais tranquilo. Provocaria menos ondas e muito menos danos.

Ninguém obrigou D. Óscar Romero a fazer o que fez. Ele é que se sentiu obrigado a proceder como procedeu.

2. Eis o modelo de um cristão (e, a fortiori, de um bispo) cuja actualidade não pára de crescer. A muitos títulos, é um exemplo para todos. Permitia-me destacar apenas três características que avultam da sua trajectória.

Foi Óscar Romero, em primeiro lugar, um homem de profunda espiritualidade. A sua acção era o corolário da sua oração. Foi junto de Deus que sentiu o alento, o estímulo e o apoio para anunciar a verdade e denunciar as injustiças.

Afirmou-se, em segundo lugar, como alguém estruturalmente independente em relação ao poder. Esta liberdade, que escorre no Evangelho, não o inibia de conviver com os poderosos, mas fazia-o sem subserviências.

Como os apóstolos da primeira hora, não calava o que via e ouvia (cf. Act 4, 20). Alinhado foi só com a sua consciência, jamais com interesses.

Finalmente, recusou ser neutral, ainda que à custa da própria vida. Foi a voz dos sem voz, o eco dos espezinhados e amordaçados. Envolveu-se. Empenhou-se. Não recuou nem perante as ameaças. Não pensou no que outros podiam pensar. Não andou às curvas, mas em linha recta. Não trazia máscaras. Foi autêntico. Foi firme. Foi ele. Foi Cristo nele.

3. Óscar Romero conseguiu ver Deus no lugar onde Deus Se encontra: no ser humano, particularmente nos mais desfavorecidos.

Profundamente espiritual, votou a sua vida a Deus e devotou o seu sangue pelo próximo. Porque era Homem de Deus, tornou-se um Homem para os homens: um Homo Dei é sempre um Homo homnibus.

A sua palavra interpela-nos ainda hoje quando nos diz que «temos cristãos de missas dominicais e de semanas injustas».

Não vacila nos princípios: «Jamais pregamos a violência. Só a violência do amor, a que deixou Cristo cravado numa cruz, assume cada um para vencer os seus egoísmos e para que não haja desigualdades tão cruéis entre nós. É a violência do amor, a da fraternidade, que converte as armas em foices para o trabalho».

4. A Igreja e o mundo precisam de pastores assim: cheios de Deus, cheios de amor, cheios de humanidade. Capazes de amar até ao fim. Capazes de perdurar para lá do fim.

D. Óscar foi morto por causa da sua verticalidade. Recebeu ameaças sucessivas para que se calasse. Não se calou. Humilde, considerava não ser digno da «graça do martírio».

Mas as balas surgiram e irromperam, cruéis, pela Igreja em que oficiava.D. Óscar Romero levou a Eucaristia à vida e à morte. Foi alguém que leu o Evangelho nos livros e o reescreveu na (sua) existência.

Morreu com um tiro no coração. Porque era o seu coração que mais incomodava.

Curiosamente é no coração das pessoas que D. Óscar subsiste. E é no coração de Deus que D. Óscar se mantém vivo e vivificante.

Vale a pena viver assim. Vale a pena morrer assim. Tanto mais que quem assim morre nunca se ausenta. Permanece para sempre!

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Tuesday 24 March 2015

John 8:12

Loveeee

Always be joyful

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Spanish for Kids with  http://kidsbiblicalspanish.blogspot.com  Dad and Mom help your kids know God studying Bible  stories bilingually. Blessings.

Ter humildade é ter Deus como razão de tudo

A humildade requer coragem pelos seguintes motivos:
– É preciso ter humildade para amar quando todos odeiam.
– É preciso ter humildade para ser alegre quando todos estão zangados.
– É preciso ter humildade para ter paz quando todos querem guerra.
– É preciso ter humildade para não desanimar quando todos estão desistindo.
– É preciso ter humildade para “fazer o bem sem olhar a quem” quando tantos nos enganam.
– É preciso ter humildade para ser bom quando o mundo é mau.
– É preciso ter humildade para ser fiel a Deus quando todos o abandonam.
– É preciso ter humildade para ser manso quando todos te chamam de covarde.

Faithful

True

Sunday 22 March 2015

I am grateful

#yoga #yogi #yogapose #ashtanga #asana #meditation #namaste #om

The hand of God

Do not pass by a man in need, for you may be the hand of God to him. -Proverbs 3:27

Gaining and Losing

Jesus' radical act of self giving stands at the centre of our lives.
In the Gospel , Jesus compare Himself to a grain of wheat that died in order to bear much fruit. The great loss of Jesus' own life, has become the very ground of our hope.
Often we too are at a loss to explain our own losses: our sufferings and our pain. Dying to self is a gradual process.
"Every act of love involves dying to selfishness.
Every act of kindness involves dying to meanness.
Every act of humility involves dying to pride.
Every act of courage involves dying to cowardice.
Every act of forgiveness involves dying to bitterness
."

A dignidade

Quanto mais as condições de vida de uma pessoa são frágeis e vulneráveis, mais a pessoa merece ser reconhecida como preciosa.
E deve ser ajudada, amada, defendida e promovida na sua dignidade. Sobre isso, não se pode negociar.

Papa Francisco 

(via http://comunidadenazare.blogspot.in/)

Saturday 21 March 2015

The practice of Humility - 36

If you committed a fault which deserved the contempt of those who witnessed the deed, be heartily sorry for having offended God and for having given bad example to your neighbors; accept the shame as a means sent by God to atone for your sins and to make you humbler and holier.

If you are distressed and sad for having been exposed to dishonor, conclude that you are not truly humble, but still poisoned by pride.  Ask the Lord insistently to cure you and save you from this poison, for if God does not have pity on you, you certainly will fall into other abysses.

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

The practice of Humility - 35

When you feel the sting of impatience and are overtaken by sadness in tribulations and humiliations, stand firm against this temptation.  Remember your many sins, for which you deserve much harsher punishments than those you are now enduring.  Adore the infinite justice of God and receive his blows with docility; these are your sources of mercy and grace.
If only you could understand how good is to be wounded in this wretched life by the hand of such a sweet Father as God, certainly you would abandon yourself completely into his hands.  Repeat often with St Augustine: “Here in this life, burn and cut in me whatever you wish; do not spare me any suffering here; forgive me and spare me the sufferings of eternity.”  To refuse tribulations is to rebel against the justice of our Father God, to reject the chalice that he mercifully offers us and from which Christ himself – although innocent – wanted to drink first.

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

A pena de morte

“A pena de morte é contrária ao sentido de humanitas e à misericórdia divina que deve ser o modelo para a justiça dos homens” .

Papa Francisco

Thursday 19 March 2015

Pope Francis: homily with announcement of Year of Mercy

"Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. For this reason, I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord's words: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)”

This Holy Year will begin on this coming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will end on November 20, 2016, the Sunday dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – and living face of the Father’s mercy. I entrust the organization of this Jubilee to the Pontifical Council for Promotion of the New Evangelization, that [the dicastery] might animate it as a new stage in the journey of the Church on its mission to bring to every person the Gospel of mercy.

I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this Jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time. From this moment, we entrust this Holy Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey."

(http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/03/13/pope_francis_homily_with_announcement_of_year_of_mercy/1129218)

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Papa Francisco, Missa em Santa Marta: sede misericordiosos, não fecheis as portas da Igreja



Papa durante a Missa em Santa Marta - OSS_ROM
Terça-feira, 17 de março: na Missa em Santa Marta o Papa Francisco afirmou que a “casa de Jesus” é uma casa de misericórdia, portanto, não é um lugar onde os cristãos possam fechar as portas. Jesus – referiu o Santo Padre – tem misericórdia total para todos.
A reflexão do Papa começa pela água, protagonista das leituras litúrgicas do dia: na leitura do Profeta Ezequiel “a água que cura” vinda do riacho surgido na porta do templo, que se transforma numa enorme torrente cheia de peixes, aonde todos se podem curar; no Evangelho de S. João é a água do tanque de Betzatá, aonde durante 38 anos esteve um paralítico que nunca soube imergir-se quando as águas se mexiam, e assim, encontrar a cura. Jesus cura-o e desencadeia a crítica dos doutores da lei, porque a cura dá-se num sábado. Este episódio acontece muitas vezes hoje em dia – observou o Papa Francisco:
“Um homem ou uma mulher – que se sente doente na alma, triste… num certo momento sente que as águas se mexem, é o Espírito Santo que faz mexer algo ... E toma coragem e vai. E quantas vezes, nas comunidades cristãs encontra as portas fechadas: ‘Mas tu não podes, não, tu não podes. Tu erraste aqui e não podes. Se quiseres vir, vem à missa no domingo, mas fica ali, não faças nada’. E aquilo que o Espírito Santo faz nos corações das pessoas, os cristãos, com psicologia de doutores da lei, destroem”.
O Papa Francisco afirmou que lhe faz mal pensar nisto e sublinhou logo de seguida que a Igreja tem sempre as portas abertas: “É a casa de Jesus e Jesus acolhe”.
E o Santo Padre continuou dizendo que a casa de Jesus ”não só acolhe” mas vai encontrar as pessoas:
“E se as pessoas estão feridas, o que é que Jesus faz? Repreende-a porque está ferida? Não, vai e carrega-a sobre os ombros. E a isto chama-se misericórdia.”
Na conclusão da sua homilia o Santo Padre reafirmou que ninguém pode fechar a porta do coração a um homem ou a uma mulher “que tem vontade de melhorar, de voltar a ser parte do povo de Deus depois de o Espírito Santo ter mexido no seu coração”.
“Que a Quaresma nos ajude a não cometer o erro de quem desprezou o amor de Cristo pelo paralítico somente porque era contrário à lei” – disse o Papa Francisco na prece final da sua homilia:
“Peçamos hoje ao Senhor para cada um de nós e para toda a Igreja, uma conversão em direção a Jesus, uma conversão em Jesus, uma conversão à misericórdia de Jesus e, assim, a Lei será completamente realizada, porque a Lei é amar a Deus e ao próximo, como a nós mesmos”. (RS)

(http://pt.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/03/17/papa_sede_misericordiosos,_n%C3%A3o_fecheis_as_portas_da_igreja/1130080)

17/3/2015 Pope Francis (@Pontifex): goodness and mercy

Let us allow God to fill our hearts with his goodness and mercy.

Pope Francis ()

Monday 16 March 2015

14/3/2015 Pope Francis (@Pontifex): Lent is a time for drawing near to Christ

Lent is a time for drawing near to Christ by listening to the word of God and celebrating the sacraments.

Pope Francis ()

Sunday 15 March 2015

Église Saint-Georges de Grez-Doiceau

La tour romane de l'église Saint-Georges date du XIIe siècle.

Ontem, 14 de Março de 2015 pelas 17 horas. Apenas oração.









Saturday 14 March 2015

Reflections on the Christian Life, Book by Anthony Esolen

In our hearts, we know that every event in our lives is providential and that each of us plays a critical role in the unfolding of the story God has written. We believe that God’s will is anchored deep within our soul, and so too is the desire to know it and to live it.

In these pages, acclaimed Catholic author Anthony Esolen claims that the story of your life has already been written — and can be discovered — by considering the life and person of Jesus. Only in God does the world possess meaning, and therefore only in relation to God are our lives genuine stories.

Here, Esolen offers a brilliant reflection — in ways that only he can — upon what it means for any of us, and for all of us together, to dwell in a world of stories. And he shows how we can take events in the life of Christ as the touchstone for all that happens to us on our journey from time to eternity.

Indeed, this book will finally awaken in you the unshakable confidence that despite even the tragic stories of this life, the good things you’ve known and loved are not gone forever: all that is lost will be found; all will be restored; all will be perfected. Truly, there will be “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev 21:1). Like the star that led the Magi to Jesus, the wisdom in these pages will lead you to Christ. It will instill in you hope that in-creases every step of your way.

Nasceu Assim

Em 1892 uma amante do teatro chamada Mabelle Webb mudou-se para Nova Iorque com o seu filho de três anos. Abandonou o pai da criança, um mero vendedor de bilhetes de combóio, afirmando que “ele não gostava do teatro” e impediu-o de desempenhar qualquer papel na vida do filho, recusando até o seu apelido. Introduziu logo o rapaz no mundo das artes de palco, treinando-o nos ramos de música e dança. O jovem abandonou a escola aos 13 anos e entrou para o teatro, acabando por se tornar uma figura popular de Hollywood, desempenhando personagens parecidas consigo: sofisticados, condescendentes, mimados. Foi sempre o “pequeno Webb” da sua mãe. Ela era conhecida por ter um papel excessivo na sua vida e viveu com ele até morrer aos 91 anos. Eram sufocantemente próximos. Quando ela morreu, na sua tristeza ele deixou a sua saúde deteriorar-se. Nunca casou, mas levou uma vida homossexual discreta, com o conhecimento da sua mãe.

Clifton Webb nasceu assim.


Em 1934 um rapaz de 13 anos, excepcionalmente bonito, estava num cinema londrino a ver filmes de terror. O seu lar feliz tinha sido destroçado quando era mais novo, por causa de um arranjo profissional que obrigava o pai a ficar na cidade enquanto ele era educado pela irmã, a ama e, mais tarde, uma tia. Era vulnerável e isso não passou despercebido a um jovem estudante de medicina. Depois de terem visto um filme sobre múmias, o estudante convidou-o a voltar com ele para o seu apartamento, para lhe dar uma experiência de mumificação, se estivesse interessado.

O rapaz concordou. Mais tarde, na sua biografia, escreveria que nessa altura não “sabia nada” da vida. O estudante deu-lhe uma bebida com droga, despiu-o totalmente e embrulhou-o com ligaduras, dos dedos dos pés até à cara, deixando apenas os seus órgãos genitais descobertos. Depois pegou numa faca fria e encostou-a aos seus órgãos genitais, sussurrando que poderia matá-lo ou mutilá-lo, se quisesse, mas claro que não o faria, porque não era isso que queria. O coração do rapaz acelerou, aterrorizado. Pensava que ia morrer. O estudante abusou dele, libertou-o, deixou-o vestir-se e ir-se embora. “Ao menos agora já sabia”, escreveria, trinta anos mais tarde. Nunca chegou a casar. Entrou para o mundo dos espectáculos e tentou ter casos com uma ou duas mulheres, mas não duraram. Eventualmente passou a viver com outro homem.

Dirk Bogarde nasceu assim.


Em 1949 um juiz no Bronx apresentou um menino de 10 anos com uma escolha. Podia ir viver para um centro de detenção de menores, ou ser enviado para longe da família, para uma escola de actores. Escolheu a escola de actores. Em termos práticos, parece ter sido a melhor opção. Os seus pais, imigrantes sicilianos, já não tinham mão nele. Tinha sido expulso do colégio católico onde andava e juntara-se a um gangue de rua, vindo a ser condenado por assalto à mão armada. Mais tarde viria a ser conhecido como “Switchblade Kid” [Navalhas]. Uma das relações que teve com uma actriz acabou numa gravidez abortada. Durante vários anos, com a sua voz de veludo, pele morena e olhos grandes, era o quebra-corações em Hollywood. Também teve casos com homens e produziu e representou numa peça de teatro em que constava uma violação prisional em que ele fazia de violador. Nunca teve uma vida familiar normal.

Sal Mineo nasceu assim.



Em 1933 um rapaz de 13 anos que tinha conseguido um papel num espectáculo em Broadway decidiu permanecer em Nova Iorque, longe da sua família. O seu pai era um alcoólico abusivo e violento e a mãe gastava grande parte das finanças em viagens para descobrir a sua linhagem aristocrática. Mais tarde diria que não se lembrava de nada da sua infância, para além de não ter estado no mesmo sítio por muito tempo. Tornou-se um grande actor, com mais de 20 papéis principais em alguns dos melhores filmes feitos nos Estados Unidos. O pai que tanto odiava contribuiu para o seu sucesso, uma vez que sempre que precisava de uma imagem mental de teimosia e ignorância, contra os quais revoltar-se com uma fúria incontrolável, pensava nele. Era uma alma caridosa que procurou no realizador John Huston o pai que nunca tivera, de facto. Também esteve envolvido com outros homens e acabou por morrer prematuramente devido ao uso excessivo de álcool e drogas.

Montgomery Clift nasceu assim.


Era inevitável, quando nasceu Rock Hudson, que os seus pais se iriam divorciar quando ele ainda era novo, e que seria criado numa quinta por avós de quem não gostava. Era inevitável, quando Tab Hunter nasceu, que a sua mãe divorciaria o pai que abusava deles e lhes retiraria o seu apelido. Era inevitável, quando Raymond Burr nasceu, que a sua mãe divorciar-se-ia do seu pai canadiano, mudando-se para a Califórnia, criando o filho com os seus pais. Alcoolismo, ódio, solidão, pais ausentes, violação e abuso sexual, atenção excessiva das mães, tudo isto é inevitável quando um certo tipo de rapaz nasce.

Um dos alunos mais emocionalmente perturbados que conheci enquanto professor gostava de falar durante as aulas, de forma totalmente irrelevante, sobre como o actor Elijah Wood lhe dava banho em pequeno. O seu pai tinha-se suicidado quando ele tinha apenas nove anos e a mãe voltou a casar, com um homem que ele odiava. Tudo isso era inevitável, claro. O rapaz nasceu assim.

Os únicos rapazes que não nasceram assim são os rapazes normais que, se lhes dermos a possibilidade, jogam aos polícias e ladrões, formam equipas de futebol, constroem carrinhos de rolamentos, passeiam pela floresta, caçam pequenos animais, memorizam tudo sobre o que mais lhes interessa, brincam com fogo, electricidade ou catapultas e começam a reparar nas meninas bonitas que durante anos tentaram ignorar. Esses são socialmente condicionados, mas de forma mágica, tendo em conta que o mesmo comportamento pode ser encontrado entre rapazes de todas as idades e em todos os locais e culturas conhecidas pelo homem.

Somos loucos, completamente loucos.

Anthony Esolen

 

Anthony Esolen é tradutor, autor e professor no Providence College. Os seus mais recentes livros são:  Reflections on the Christian Life: How Our Story Is God’s Story e Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child.
(Publicado pela primeira vez na Quarta-feira, 4 de Março de 2015 em The Catholic Thing)
© 2015 The Catholic Thing. Direitos reservados. Para os direitos de reprodução contacte: info@frinstitute.org
The Catholic Thing é um fórum de opinião católica inteligente. As opiniões expressas são da exclusiva responsabilidade dos seus autores. Este artigo aparece publicado em Actualidade Religiosa com o consentimento de The Catholic Thing.
 
 
 

On the death penalty

“It is impossible to imagine that states today cannot make use of another means than capital punishment to defend peoples’ lives from an unjust aggressor.”
Pope Francis 

“…I draw the attention of society’s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty and to reform the penal system…”
Pope Benedict XVI

“I renew the appeal…to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.”
Pope John Paul II

The happiest people

Happiness is a decision... "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Love generously. Leave the rest to God."

12/3/2015 Pope Francis (@Pontifex): Beware of getting too comfortable!

Beware of getting too comfortable! When we are comfortable, it’s easy to forget other people.

Pope Francis ()

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Stop and choose

In the hustle and bustle of life, it is important to have the courage to stop and choose. The season of Lent serves this very purpose. During Mass at Santa Marta on Thursday morning Pope Francis placed emphasis on the need to ask those questions, important for Christian life and to know how to make the right choices.

Interpreting the Readings for the day after Ash Wednesday (Deut 30: 15-20; Ps 1; Lk 9:22-25), the Pontiff explained that “at the beginning of the Lenten journey, the Church makes us reflect on the words of Moses and of Jesus: “You have to choose”. It is thus a reflection on the need we all have, to make choices in life. And Moses, Francis emphasized, “is clear: ‘See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil’: choose”. Indeed “the Lord gave us freedom, the freedom to love, to walk on his streets”. We are free and we can choose. However, the Pope indicated, “it’s not easy to choose”. It’s more comfortable “to live by letting ourselves be carried by the inertia of life, of situations, of habits”. This is why “today the Church tells us: ‘You are responsible; you have to choose’”. And thus the Pontiff raised some questions: “Have you chosen? How do you live? What is your lifestyle, your way of living, like? Is it on the side of life or on the side of death?”.

Naturally the response should be to “choose the way of the Lord. ‘I command you to love the Lord’. This is how Moses shows us the path of the Lord: ‘If your heart turns back and if you do not listen and you let yourself be drawn to prostrate yourself before other gods and serve them, you will perish’. Choose between God and the other gods, those who do not have the power to give us anything, only little things that pass”.

Returning to the difficulty of choosing, Francis said he was aware that “we always have this habit of going where the people go, somewhat like everyone”. But, he continued, “today the Church is telling us: ‘stop and choose’. It’s good advice. And today”, the Pope continued, “it will do us good to stop during the day and think: what is my lifestyle like? Which road am I taking?”.

After all, in everyday life we tend to take the opposite approach. Many times, he said, “we live in a rush, we are on the run, without noticing what the path is like; and we let ourselves be carried along by the needs, by the necessities of the days, but without thinking”. And thus came the invitation to stop: “Begin Lent with small questions that will help one to consider: ‘What is my life like?’”. The first thing to ask ourselves, the Pope explained, is: “who is God for me? Do I choose the Lord? How is my relationship with Jesus?”. And the second: “How is your relationship with your family: with your parents; with your siblings; with your wife; with your husband; with your children?”. In fact, these two series of questions are enough, “and we will surely find things that we need to correct”.

The Pontiff then asked “why we hurry so much in life, without knowing which path we are on”. He was explicit about this: “because we want to win, we want to earn, we want to be successful”. But Jesus makes us think: “What advantage does a man have who wins the whole world, but loses or destroys himself?”. Indeed, “the wrong road”, the Pope said, is that of always seeking success, one’s own riches, without thinking about the Lord, without thinking about family”. Returning to the two series of questions on one’s relationship with God and with those who are dear to us, the Pope emphasized that “one can win everything, yet become a failure in the end. He has failed. That life is a failure”. So are those who seem to have had success, those women and men for whom “they’ve made a monument” or “they’ve dedicated a portrait”, but didn’t “know how to make the right choice between life and death”.

And to emphasize the concept, Francis explained that “it will do us good to stop for a bit — five, 10 minutes — and ask ourselves the question: what is the speed of my life? Do I reflect on my actions? How is my relationship with God and with my family?”. The Pope indicated that we can find help in “that really beautiful advice of the Psalm: ‘Blessed are they who trust in the Lord’”. And “when the Lord gives us this advice — ‘Stop! Choose today, choose’ — He doesn’t leave us on our own; He is with us and wants to help us”. And we, for our part, need “only to trust, to have faith in Him”.

Repeating the words of the Psalm, “Blessed are they who trust in the Lord”, the Pope then urged that we be aware that God does not abandon us. “Today, at the moment in which we stop to think about these things and to take decisions, to choose something, we know that the Lord is with us, is beside us, to help us. He never lets us go alone. He is always with us. Even in the moment of choosing”. And he concluded with these instructions: “let us have faith in this Lord, who is with us, and when He tells us: ‘choose between good and evil’ helps us to choose good”. And above all “let us ask Him for the grace to be courageous”, because “it takes a bit of courage” to “stop and ask myself: how do I stand before God, how are my relationships in the family, what do I need to change, what should I choose?”.

Pope Francis, Morning meditation, Thursday, 19 February 2015


(http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2015/documents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20150219_stop-and-choose.html)

Sunday 8 March 2015

La oración es la llave

La religión es una herramienta muy grande que nos sirve para vivir de una manera mas ética y nos ayuda a ser mejores con nosotros mismos y con los demás, muchas veces la menospreciamos y la creemos inválida.

The practice of Humility - 34

If you do some extraordinary mortification, try to remain immune from the poison of vainglory, which often destroys all the merits; do that mortification for the right motive: because it is unbecoming for a poor sinner like yourself to live at your convenience and pleasure and because you have so many debts to pay before the divine justice.  Reflect that you need penitential works to check the violence of the passions, keeping you within the limits of duty, as bridle and bit are necessary to tame an impetuous horse.

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

Being worldly means losing your name and having the eyes of your soul “tinted dark”, anaesthetized, until you no longer see the people around you

2015-03-05 L’Osservatore Romano
Being worldly means losing your name and having the eyes of your soul “tinted dark”, anaesthetized, until you no longer see the people around you. This is the sin that Francis spoke about on Thursday, 5 March, during Mass at Santa Marta.
“Today’s Lenten Liturgy offers us two stories, two judgements and three names”, Francis began. The two stories are those of the parable, narrated by Luke (16:19-31), of the rich man and of the poor man named Lazarus. In particular, the Pope stated, the first story is “that of the rich man, who was clothed in purple and the finest linen”, who “took good care of himself”, and “feasted sumptuously every day”. The text, Francis indicated, “doesn’t say he was bad”, but rather that he had “a comfortable life, he gave himself a good life”. In fact, “the Gospel doesn’t say that he overindulged”; instead his was “a quiet life, with friends”. Who knows, perhaps “if he had parents, he surely sent them things so they would have the necessities of life”. And maybe “he was a religious man, in his way. Perhaps he recited a few prayers; and surely two or three times a year he went to temple to make sacrifices and gave large offerings to the priests”. And “they, with their clerical cowardliness, thanked him and made him sit in the place of honour”. This was the social lifestyle of the rich man presented by Luke.

Then there is “the second story, that of Lazarus”, the poor mendicant who lay at the rich man’s gate. How is it possible that this man didn’t realize that Lazarus was there, below his house, poor and starving? The wounds that the Gospel speaks of, the Pope said, are “a symbol of the many needs he had”. However, “when the rich man left the house, perhaps the car he left in had windows tinted dark so he couldn’t see out”. But “surely his soul, the eyes of his soul were tinted dark so he couldn’t see”. And thus the rich man “saw only his life and didn’t realize what was happening” to Lazarus.
In the final analysis, Francis affirmed, “the rich man wasn’t bad, he was sick: afflicted with worldliness”. And “worldliness transforms souls, makes them lose consciousness of reality: they live in an artificial world”, which they create. Worldliness “anaesthetizes the soul”, and “this is why that worldly man wasn’t able to see reality”.
This is why, the Pope explained, “the second story is clear”: there are “so many people who end their lives in a difficult way” but “if I have a worldly heart, I will never understand this”. After all, “with a worldly heart” is is impossible to comprehend “the necessities and needs of others. With a worldly heart you can go to Church, you can pray, you can do many things”. But what did Jesus pray for at the Last Supper? “Please, Father, protect these disciples” so that “they do not fall in the world, do not fall into worldliness”. And worldliness “is a subtle sin, it’s more than a sin: it’s a sinful state of soul”.
“These are the two stories” presented by the Liturgy, the Pontiff recapped. “The two judgements”, instead, are “a curse and a blessing”. The First Reading from Jeremiah (17:5-10) reads: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord”. This, Francis stressed, is the profile of the “worldliness we saw” in the rich man. And how will this man end up? Scripture defines him as “‘a shrub in the desert: he shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness’ — his soul is a desert — ‘in an uninhabited salt land’, where no one can live”. And all of this “because, in truth, the worldly are alone with their selfishness”. Then in the text of Jeremiah there is also a blessing: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water”, while the other “was like a shrub in the desert”. This, then, is “the final judgement: nothing is more treacherous for a heart and difficult to heal: that man had a sick heart, so battered by this worldly lifestyle that it was very difficult to heal”.
After the two stories and the two judgements, Francis also spoke about “the three names” offered in the Gospel Reading: “they are that of the poor man, Lazarus, that of Abraham, and that of Moses”. Another key to understanding is that the rich man “had no name, because the worldly lose their name”, which is merely a feature “of the well-off crowd who need nothing”. On the other hand are “Abraham, our father; Lazarus, a man who struggles because he is good and poor and has so much pain; and Moses, the man who gives us the law”. But “the worldly have no name. They didn’t listen to Moses”, because they only need extraordinary manifestations.
In the Church, the Pontiff continued, “everything is clear, Jesus spoke clearly: this is the way”. But “at the end there is a word of consolation: when that unfortunate worldly man, in torment, asks that Lazarus be sent with a bit of water to help him”, Abraham, who is the figure of God the Father, responds: “Son, remember...”. Thus “the worldly have lost their name” and “we too, should we have a worldly heart, we have lost our name”. However, “we are not orphans. Until the very end, until the final moment, there is the assurance that we have a Father who awaits us. Let us trust in Him”. And the Father turns to us, calling us ‘son’ and ‘daughter’, even “in the midst of that worldliness: son”. And this means that “we are not orphans”.
In the opening prayer, Francis said, “we asked the Lord for the grace to turn our hearts toward Him, who is Father”. And thus, the Pope concluded, “let us continue the celebration of Mass thinking of these two stories, of these two judgements, of the three names; but above all, of that beautiful word that will always be said until the final moment: son”.

Saturday 7 March 2015

The practice of Humility - 33

Do not worry about matters not under your care, for which you do not have to render an account to men or God.  Involvement in these matters reveals a concealed pride and vain presumption; it feeds and swells vanity; it causes endless worries, uneasiness, and distractions.

On the contrary, minding only yourself and your own duty will give you peace and tranquility, as it is written in The Imitation of Christ: “Do not involve yourself in matters which are no concern of yours; thus, you will have little to trouble your mind, and that but rarely.”#2

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

The practice of Humility - 32

When you have the chance to render some low and humble service to your neighbor, do it joyfully; do it with the humility you would have if you were the servant of all.  From this practice you will draw vast treasures of virtue and grace.

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

The practice of Humility - 31

If they have caused you a great injury, if they have provoked you, instead of raging in fury against the offenders, turn your eyes to heavens, turn your eyes to the Lord.  In his infinite and loving providence, he arranged things thus, either to make you atone for your sins, or to destroy your pride; he is encouraging you to make acts of patience and humility.

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

Monday 2 March 2015

EVANGELII GAUDIUM (24) - Evangelization consists mostly of patience and disregard for constraints of time

Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become involved. Evangelization consists mostly of patience and disregard for constraints of time. The sower, when he sees weeds sprouting among the grain does not grumble or overreact.

(http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.html)

The practice of Humility - 30

Have you received great talents from God?  Are you considered someone great?  Fight, then, to know yourself as you really are; become aware of your weakness, incapacity and nothingness; you must become smaller than a child.  Do not seek the approval of men, and do not yearn for honors; reject both the one and the other.

J. Pecci (later Pope Leo XIII)

Sunday 1 March 2015

Venerável Pe. Maria-Eugénio do Menino Jesus, Homilias e Conferências, 08.05.1966

«Toda a gestação,
toda a obra divina profunda,
faz-se no caos,
na obscuridade da fé.»


Senhor,
formaste-me do caos,
do pó da terra,
nasceste na noite, pobre,
redimiste-me na Cruz,
na maior obscuridade e sofrimento.
As grandes Tuas obras fazem-se neste caos,
nesta obscuridade.
Também na minha vida acontece assim:
é a partir de situações sem esperança,
de aparente fracasso,
de incapacidade…
que Tu Senhor tomas nas tuas mãos
e crias algo de novo,
algo Teu
na minha vida,
na vida de quantos me rodeiam.
A luz surge das trevas.
Ajuda-me Senhor a saber sempre esperar a Tua voz
que diz às minhas trevas:
“faça-se a luz!”


(http://orar.carmelitas.pt/)

Santa Teresa Benedita da Cruz, Edith Stein, Obras 257-258.

«A visão do mundo em que vivemos,
a necessidade,
a miséria e o abismo da maldade humana
servem para atenuar sempre de novo
o gozo da vitória da luz.
A humanidade luta ainda no barro
e é pequeno o rebanho
que conseguiu pôr-se a salvo
nos mais altos cumes do monte.
A batalha entre Cristo
e o Anti Cristo não diminuiu.
Nesta batalha os seguidores de Cristo
têm o seu lugar.
E a sua arma principal é a Cruz…»


 Meu Deus,
tu és Transparência e Luz,
Verdade e Vida.
O Mal é escuridão e opacidade,
fardo pesado e morte.
A vida diz-me que convivem lado a lado
a verdade e a mentira
e que diariamente nos temos de confrontar com elas.
Temos de fazer opções que nos dão a vida
ou no-la tiram,
produzem no nosso interior
tristeza e desânimo ou alegria e esperança.
Não deixes, meu Deus,
que nos enganemos a nós próprios
dirigindo-nos a Ti com falsas intenções,
nem buscando seguranças vazias de generosidade,
nem querendo que faças a nossa vontade,
quando não estamos disponíveis
para correr o risco
de abandonarmos a nossa vida
nas Tuas mãos.
Dá-nos um coração puro
que nos faça olhar para a vida
com a Luz que vem de Ti
e encontrar sempre e em tudo a verdade que és Tu.
Não deixes que o mal nos seduza e engane.


(http://orar.carmelitas.pt/)

Fazer jejum das palavras

Senhor, ajuda-nos a fazer jejum das palavras. 
Das palavras desnecessárias, ruidosas, poluídas.
Das palavras dúplices e opulentas, das palavras que atropelam, 
das palavras injustas, das palavras que divergem e atraiçoam, das palavras que separam. 

Ajuda-nos a jejuar das palavras que Te escondem,
das palavras onde o amor não emerge, das palavras confusas, ressentidas, atiradas como pedras, das palavras que muralham a comunicação, das palavras que nada mais permitem senão palavras. 

E que nesse jejum abramos mais o coração àquele silêncio onde os encontros verdadeiros se insinuam.

José Tolentino Mendonça, in Um Deus Que Dança