Vatican Radio: Pope Francis is asking us to live this Lenten period as a favourable time for conversion during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
In his message for Lent entitled, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice. The works of mercy on the road of the Jubilee', the Pope reiterates the importance of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and condemns the attitude and actions of the proud, the powerful and the wealthy who refuse to open the doors of their hearts to God and to the poor.
By reflecting upon and putting into practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, Pope Francis says: "Christians will be able to reawaken their consciences which too often have grown dull in the face of poverty."
In his Message, for a special Lenten period which takes place this year within the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the Pope says that it is a season to be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience the transforming miracle of divine Mercy.
The poor have a special place at the heart of the Gospel, he warns of the “blindness” and of the “illusion of omnipotence” which often afflicts the rich and powerful who close their hearts to the poor and end up themselves, he says, being the poorest of the poor.
This illusion of omnipotence, the Pope continues can “likewise take social and political forms as shown by the totalitarian systems of the twentieth century, and in our day by the ideologies of monopolizing thought and techno-science which would make God irrelevant and reduce man to raw material to be exploited”.
The powerful message presented in the Vatican Press Office calls on believers to practice the works of mercy and to listen to God’s Word.
“Let us not waste this season of Lent," Pope Francis says, "so favourable a time for conversion!"
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Read the full text of Pope Francis’ message for Lent.
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Listen Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni (Duration: 2:01mins. MP3) |
Columban Lenten Resource
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The Grace of PlaceThe Grace of Place consists of six weekly Lenten reflections to accompany the Gospels. It explores different aspects of how having a heightened sense of place in the natural world enables us to grow in our reverence for God, and in our care for all creation.This Catholic online resource is suitable for Senior School Students, Teachers, Parishes, Religious Congregations, Youth, Social Justice Groups and individuals. (more) |
Watch/Listen to a series of Reflection videos by Columban Fr Noel Connolly
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