Advertisement Messenger PublicationsMessenger Publications Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

Pope Francis: Celebrate the God of Love


Source: Vatican Media

In his Angelus address to pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Francis described the feast of the Most Holy Trinity as an occasion to celebrate God's love for all of us.

The Holy Father said that on this Sunday after Pentecost we are called to spread God's love throughout the world.

The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity highlights the mystery of God, Jesus Christ, who is One in the communion of three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, he said.

The Readings of the day, "help us to understand that rather than wanting to reveal to us that He exists, God wants us to know that He is "with us", that He loves us, is interested in our personal history and takes care of each of us, starting from the smallest and the most needy".. "He is God up there in heaven, but also down here on earth" he said.

Stressing the closeness of "the God of Love who created the universe and generated a people, became flesh, died and rose for us" he said the Holy Spirit transforms all and leads to fullness.

The Pope reflected on the reading of St Paul whom, he said, "personally experienced this transformation brought about by the God of Love." He said Paul tells us of God's wish to be called Father - "Daddy" - with the absolute trust of a child who abandons himself into the arms of He who gave him life.

The Pope said the Apostle also says that the Holy Spirit, acting in us, ensures that Jesus Christ is not reduced to a mere character of the past, but that we feel close to Him: "He is our contemporary and we experience the joy of being children who are loved by God".

Finally, Pope Francis said, in the Gospel the Risen Lord promises to remain with us forever and it is precisely through his presence and the strength of his Spirit that we can carry out with serenity the mission that he entrusts to us: to proclaim and witness his Gospel to all, to spread our communion with Him and the joy that derives from it.

He concluded the catechesis by urging the faithful to celebrate the Feast of Most Holy Trinity which invites leads us to contemplate the mystery of a God who ceaselessly creates, redeems and sanctifies, always with love and out of love.

"From the beginning He has chosen to walk together with humanity and form a people that are a blessing for all nations and for all people, no one excluded" he said, urging all believers to go forth with the saving message of God's love that relieves sins, heals the wounds of the soul and gives salvation.

After the Angelua Pope Francis mentioned the martyrdom of a missionary sister who died 'in hatred of the faith' in Somalia and asked for prayers for peace in Africa.

Recalling the beatification on Saturday, in the northern Italian city of Piacenza, of Sister Lionella Sgorbati, the Pope said she was a Consolata Missionary who was killed in hatred of the faith in Mogadishu, Somalia in 2006.

"Her life, dedicated to the Gospel and to serving the poor and her martyrdom represent a sign of hope for Africa and for the entire world. Let us pray together for peace in Africa" he said.

Sister Lionella Sgorbati was born in a small town near Piacenza in 1940. She entered the Consolata Missionaries in 1963 and made her perpetual profession of vows in 1970. She was killed on September 17, 2006 in Mogadishu and was beatified on Saturday, May 26, in the cathedral of Piacenza during a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

Sister Renata Conti, postulator of the beatification cause of Lionella told SIR Information Service "During her thirty years in Kenya, Lionella founded several schools to give a future to the young. She tried to do the same in Somalia, in a much more complicated environment. She was sensitive to everyone's needs, owing to her physique we used to say that she had an 'extra-large' heart. Her students were fascinated by her dedication to them, they adored her, they loved her like a mother. Owing to her service in Mogadishu, where they feared she would proselytize, her life was at risk."

Adverts

Your Catholic Legacy

We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information.

We Need Your Support

ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. As our audience increases - so do our costs. We need your help to continue this work.

You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN.

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon