杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter鈥檚 Square on Sunday for the recitation of the Regina Coeli with the faithful.

Due to health measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holy Father in recent weeks had been leading the Sunday Marian prayers, as well as his weekly General Audiences, from the Library of the Apostolic Palace.

Reconciled and ready for mission

In his reflections on Sunday, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the Solemnity of Pentecost commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of the day 鈥渢akes us back to the evening of Easter鈥�, when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the Upper Room. The Lord鈥檚 greeting, 鈥淧eace be with you鈥�, was an expression of reconciliation and forgiveness for the disciples who had abandoned Him in His Passion.

鈥淏y forgiving and gathering His disciples around Him鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淛esus makes them His Church: a community reconciled and ready for mission鈥�.

A view to mission

After that first appearance, and throughout the forty days Jesus remained with His Disciples, 鈥渆verything is guided towards strengthening the disciples鈥� faith 鈥� and ours as well 鈥� with a view to mission鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

It was precisely in order 鈥渢o inspire mission鈥� that Jesus sent His Holy Spirit, 鈥渢he fire of love with which the disciples can 鈥榮et the world on fire鈥欌��.

The opposite of fear

杏MAP导航 Francis said that we, in turn, receive the Holy Spirit and His gifts in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Among the gifts is 鈥渇ear of the Lord鈥�, which the Holy Father explained is 鈥減recisely the opposite of the fear that previously paralysed the disciples鈥�.

Instead, fear of the Lord is based on love of God and trust in his mercy and goodness, a trust that allows us to follow His inspirations, knowing that we will never lack 鈥淗is presence and support鈥�.

An ardent missionary spirit

The feast of Pentecost, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渞enews the awareness that the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit dwells within us鈥�. He prayed that the Spirit might grant us 鈥渢he courage to go outside the protective walls of our 鈥楿pper Rooms鈥欌��, and that the Blessed Virgin Mary might obtain for the Church an 鈥渁rdent missionary spirit鈥�.