杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Mass at Brussel鈥檚 King Baudouin Stadium on Sunday morning was the final public event of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� 4-day Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium.

During the Mass, the 杏MAP导航 beatified Anne of Jesus, a 17th-century Spanish nun who brought St. Teresa of Avila鈥檚 reform of the Carmelite Order to Belgium and other parts of Europe.

In his homily, the Holy Father praised Blessed Anne of Jesus for bearing witness to the Christian faith through poverty, prayer, and charity, especially at a time 鈥渕arked by painful scandals.鈥�

鈥淟et us gratefully welcome the example she has given us of 鈥榝eminine styles of holiness,鈥� gentle but strong,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis also recalled the many examples of holiness throughout the history of the Belgian Church, including St. Damien de Veuster, St. Guy of Anderlecht, and St. Gudula.

Openness to Spirit鈥檚 invitation to all

The Holy Father went on to warn Christians against setting up 鈥渁 stumbling block before one of these little ones鈥� through scandal.

The day鈥檚 liturgical readings, he noted, speak about the 鈥渇ree action of the Holy Spirit,鈥� as Jesus rebukes His disciples for forbidding a man to cast out demon鈥檚 in His name simply because the man was not himself a disciple.

Every Christian, by virtue of our Baptism, has a mission in the Church, which is a gift that transcends our limitations and sins.

鈥淭he community of believers is not a select circle of a privileged few; it is the family of those who are saved,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淲e have been sent into the world to preach the Gospel based not on our own merits, but by the grace of God.鈥�

Listening to cries of oppressed as prophetic voices

杏MAP导航 Francis turned then to the communion that unites Christ鈥檚 disciples across the ages, since we are bound together in 鈥渓ove that unites through mutual self-donation.鈥�

Each of us, he said, is tempted by selfishness that stifles charity and 鈥渃rushes those who are little.鈥�

鈥淭he path of selfishness generates closed-mindedness, walls and obstacles鈥攚e can call them 鈥榮candals鈥欌�攖hat chain us down to material things and separate us from God and from our brothers and sisters,鈥� he said.

Speaking off-the-cuff, 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke about his encounter on Friday in Brussels with people who had suffered abuse by clergy members.

"I heard their suffering as abuse victims," he said, "and I repeat here: in the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone, everyone, but we will all be judged, and there is no place for abuse, no place for covering up abuse. I ask everyone: do not cover up abuses! I ask the bishops: do not cover up abuses! Condemn the abusers and help them to heal from this disease of abuse."

"Evil must be brought to light," continued the 杏MAP导航. "Let it be known, as some abuse victims have done, and with courage. Let it be known. And let the abuser be judged. Let the abuser be judged, whether layperson, priest, or bishop: let the abuser be judged."

Returning to his prepared homily, the 杏MAP导航 pointed to the plight of refugees and undocumented migrants who dream of a better future but often end up as victims of exploitation.

Their cries of affliction, he said, cannot be erased and must be welcomed as prophetic voices.

鈥淭hey are the living voice of the Spirit because they remind us that we are all poor sinners called to conversion,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e must not suffocate this prophetic voice or silence it by our indifference.鈥�

Allowing Gospel of mercy to guide us

The 杏MAP导航 spoke again about the need to avoid giving scandal by allowing love and 鈥渢he Gospel of mercy鈥� to guide our choices.

He recalled Jesus鈥� forceful message in the Gospel: 鈥淕et behind me, scandalous eyes that see the needy and look away! Get behind me, scandalous hands that close your fists to hide your treasures and stash them away! Get behind me, scandalous feet that run quickly, not to draw near to those who suffer, but to avoid them and stay away!鈥�