杏MAP导航 Francis presides over Mass for Rome's Filipino community
By Vatican News
During his homily for the Filipino community gathered in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica, 杏MAP导航 Francis began by drawing from Sunday鈥檚 liturgy. He said that 鈥渇rom the words of the Responsorial Psalm we learn that there are those "vulnerable people who also deserve a look of special love from God.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 was referring to 鈥渢he oppressed, the hungry, prisoners, foreigners, orphans and widows. 鈥淭hese are the inhabitants of the existential peripheries of yesterday and of today鈥�, he said.
Advent a time of preparation
The 杏MAP导航 noted that as the world prepares to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, of Emmanuel, 鈥渨e must ask the Lord to renew the miracle of Christmas every year, offering ourselves as instruments of his merciful love towards the least and the lowest.鈥�
He explained that during the Season of Advent, we are called to 鈥渁waken in our hearts a sense of expectation and to intensify our prayer.鈥�
The Philippines and Simbang-Gabi
杏MAP导航 Francis said that 鈥渋n the Philippines, for centuries, there has been a novena in preparation for a blessed Christmas called, Simbang-Gabi (Mass of the night). During nine days, the Filipino faithful gather in their parishes for a special Eucharistic celebration.鈥�
He went on to say that, 鈥渋n recent decades, thanks to Filipino migrants, this devotion has crossed national borders and has arrived in many other countries鈥�, including Italy and the Vatican.
Through this celebration, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渨e want to commit ourselves to manifest God's love and tenderness towards everyone, especially the least.鈥�
A special mission
杏MAP导航 Francis told those present that the people who had left their land in search of a better future, 鈥渉ave a special mission.鈥� Your faith, he said, 鈥渋s "leaven" in the parish communities to which you belong, today. I encourage you to increase opportunities for meeting to share your cultural and spiritual wealth, while at the same time allowing yourselves to be enriched by the experiences of others.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 concluded his homily by saying that, 鈥渨e are all called to practice charity together with those who live in the existential peripheries, using our different gifts to renew the signs of the presence of the Kingdom. Together, we are all called to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of salvation, in all languages, so as to reach as many people as possible.鈥�
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