杏MAP导航 offers live-broadcast Mass for those suffering from coronavirus
By Vatican News
Yesterday, the Director of the Holy See Press Office announced that 杏MAP导航 Francis had decided that his 7:00 morning Mass would be broadcast in these days. This morning, 杏MAP导航 Francis introduced the liturgy saying 鈥淚n these days, I will offer Mass for those who are sick from the coronavirus epidemic, for the doctors, nurses, volunteers who are helping them, for their families, for the elderly in nursing homes, for prisoners鈥�. He then asked everyone to 鈥減ray together this week鈥� the words of the entrance antiphon: 鈥淩edeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on level ground; I will bless the Lord in the assembly鈥�.
The 杏MAP导航 then reflected on the first reading of the Second Monday of Lent from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (9:4-10). He characterized it as a 鈥渃onfession of sin鈥�.
The people recognized that they had sinned. 鈥榃e have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.' This is a confession of sin, a recognition that we have sinned.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
杏MAP导航 Francis went on to describe that 鈥渨hen we prepare ourselves to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we have to do what is called an 鈥榚xamination of conscience鈥� 鈥�. He then differentiated between a list of sins done on an intellectual level and the heartfelt recognition of sin. It is not correct, the 杏MAP导航 said:
to make a list of sins in the mind, to say 鈥業鈥檝e sinned鈥�, then say them to the priest and then the priest forgives me. That鈥檚 like drawing up a to-do list or things I need to have or what I've done wrong. This remains in the mind. A true confession of sins must remain in the heart.
Moving from the mind to the heart
The 杏MAP导航 invites us to take a step forward so that we confess our 鈥渕isery, but from the heart鈥�. This is what Daniel, the Prophet, did: 鈥楯ustice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced鈥� 鈥�.
When I realize that I have sinned, that I haven't prayed well, and I feel this in my heart, a sense of shame comes to us鈥� Being ashamed of our sins as a grace we need to ask for. A person who has lost a sense of shame has lost a sense of moral judgement, has lost respect for others. The same thing regarding God鈥�. 鈥極 LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, O Lord, our God鈥�, first he said justice, now he said 鈥榗ompassion鈥�.
We touch God鈥檚 heart
When a sense of shame is added to the memory that we have sinned, 鈥渢his touches God鈥檚 heart鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis explained. The sense of shame leads us to experience God鈥檚 mercy. Our confessions, then, will not consist in reading a list of sins, but in realizing what we 鈥渉ave done to a God who is so good, so compassionate, so righteous鈥�.
杏MAP导航 Francis then concluded his homily, saying:
Today, let us ask for the grace of feeling ashamed, of feeling ashamed for our sins. May the Lord grant this grace to all of us.
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