杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

"Only the Spirit of Christ can make us "salt that gives taste" and "light that illuminates the world" said 杏MAP导航 Francis during his catechesis on Wednesday morning.

He was speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Square for the weekly General Audience during which he continued in his series of reflections dedicated to the Sacraments.

Without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing

Pointing out that without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing, the 杏MAP导航 focused on the Sacrament of Confirmation, which he said, owes its name to the fact that it 鈥渃onfirms鈥� the grace of our Baptism.

He explained that during Confirmation we are anointed with the 鈥渃hrism鈥� 鈥� the oil mixed with perfume that has been consecrated by the bishop - so that we can bear witness to Christ before the world.

That鈥檚 why, he said, we speak of being 鈥淎nointed by the Holy Spirit鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to explain that with Baptism one is reborn to new life while with Confirmation we are given the strength to go forward as Christians.

"Without the strength of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing: it is the Spirit that gives us the strength to move forward" he said.

Becoming salt and light

The 杏MAP导航 recalled Pentecost as a central moment in the life of a Christian. It鈥檚 when 鈥渢he 'Breath' of the Risen Christ fills the lungs of the Church with life鈥� he said explaining that just as Christ was anointed by the Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan, so at Pentecost the Church received the Spirit in order to carry out her mission of preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

He said that in Confirmation, we are given the great gift of the Holy Spirit.

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that whilst the bishop anoints the person receiving Confirmation he says: 鈥淩eceive the Holy Spirit who was given to you as a gift鈥�. The Holy Spirit, he continued is God鈥檚 great gift to us. It is in our heart and in our soul, he said, and it guides us in life so that we may become salt and light for the world.

Christian witness is doing what the Spirit asks of us

The 杏MAP导航 highlighted that during Confirmation it is Christ who fills us with his Spirit and makes us sharers of his own life and mission, in accordance to God鈥檚 saving plan.

He said that to be a true Christian we must let ourselves be guided by the Spirit and strive to live the new life received in Baptism and take an active role in fulfilling the Church鈥檚 mission in the world.

Prayer for Ukraine

杏MAP导航 Francis had words of special greeting for a group of pilgrims from Ukraine who were present in the square.

鈥淚 pray the Lord continuously to heal the wounds inflicted by war in Ukraine and to give his peace to the beloved Ukrainian land鈥� he said.