杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

One day after the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, 杏MAP导航 Francis presided at Holy Mass in suffrage for the souls of Benedict XVI and more than 150 Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops who have died in the course of the past year.

In his homily, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled his predecessor鈥檚 teaching that 鈥渇aith is not primarily an idea to be understood or a moral precept, but a person to be encountered. That person is Jesus Christ, whose heart beats with love for us, whose eyes look with pity on our suffering.鈥�

Jesus鈥� compassion

杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted Jesus鈥� compassion, seen in his encounter with the widow of Nain, whose only son had died. The Lord showed his compassion for the grieving mother by restoring her son to life: 鈥淭he raising of that young man, the gift of life that overcomes death, has its source precisely in the compassion of the Lord, who is moved by death, the greatest cause of our sufferings.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 emphasized that Jesus' compassion is concrete, making Him reach out to those who suffer, like the widow in the Gospel. 鈥淗e has made our tears His own,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渋n order to take them away.鈥�

Humility, the path that leads to heaven

杏MAP导航 Francis then moved on to a consideration of humility, noting that 鈥渢he orphan and the widow are 鈥榯he humble鈥� par excellence鈥� precisely because they have placed 鈥渁ll their hope in the Lord and not in themselves.鈥� The humble, he said, 鈥渞eveal to us the 鈥榣ittleness鈥� that is so pleasing to the Lord, the path that leads to heaven.鈥�

He explained that 鈥淕od loves humility because it permits Him to interact with us,鈥� and, even more, 鈥渂ecause He Himself is humble.鈥�

Called to be humble labourers

杏MAP导航 Francis continued: 鈥淚 like to recall the very first words with which 杏MAP导航 Benedict described himself following his election: 鈥榓 humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord鈥�.鈥� He emphasized that 鈥淐hristians, especially the 杏MAP导航, the Cardinals and the Bishops, are called to be humble labourers: to serve, not to be served, and to put the fruits of the Lord鈥檚 vineyard before their own advantage.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily by encouraging us to ask God 鈥渢o grant us a compassionate gaze and a humble heart鈥� for it is on the path of compassion and humility that the Lord gives us His life, which triumphs over death.鈥�

And he invited the faithful 鈥渢o pray for our beloved deceased brethren,鈥� adding, 鈥淚n Him may they find eternal peace.鈥�