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Pope Francis: It is not enough to believe in God


Bambinelli in crib

Bambinelli in crib

Source: Vatican News

On the third Sunday of Advent yesterday, Pope Francis invites the faithful not to be distracted by external things, but to make room for Jesus who wants "to give us his joy".

Before the Angelus, Pope Francis said the liturgy on Gaudete Sunday invites us to be joyful, but to be aware "that existence also includes moments of doubt." "Joy and doubt are both experiences that are part of our lives, "he said

Reflecting on the day's readings, the Pope noted that just like the Prophet Isaiah, men and women are called to look beyond doubts and discouragements because God's salvation "envelops the whole person and regenerates him."

Pope Francis went on to say that we are called to conversion, which is the basis of the preaching of both St John the Baptist and Jesus. "Just like John," he emphasized, "we too are called to recognize the face that God has chosen to assume in Jesus Christ, humble and merciful."

The season of Advent, said the Pope, "is a time of grace, which tells us that it is not enough to believe in God: it is necessary to purify our faith every day. He continued, "it is a matter of preparing ourselves to welcome not a fairy-tale character, but the God who challenges us, involves us and before whom a choice is imposed. Quoting from his recent Apostolic Letter on the Nativity Scene, Pope Francis said: "the Child who lies in the manger has the face of our brothers and sisters most in need, of the poor who 'are the privileged ones of this mystery and, often, those who are most able to recognize the presence of God in our midst'".

"As we approach Christmas, may the Virgin Mary help us so that, we do not allow ourselves to be distracted by external things, but make room in our hearts for the One who has already come and wants to come again to heal our illnesses and to give us his joy."

Thousands of children and their parents in St Peter's Square had brought with them the 'Bambinelli' or baby Jesus statues waiting to be blessed by Pope Francis. The tradition of Bambinelli Sunday was started by St Paul VI 50 years ago

The Pope greeted the children from his window in the Apostolic Palace, telling them he blessed the statues of the Child Jesus for their Christmas Scenes "with all my heart." Recalling his recent Apostolic Letter on the meaning and importance of the Nativity Scene, he said: "the crib is like a living Gospel. Contemplating the Christmas story is like setting out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman." "So great is His love for us that He became one of us, so that we in turn might become one with Him."

After the Angelus, the Pope reminded those present that in less than a year, from 13 to 20 September 2020, the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Budapest. For more than a century, said the Pope, "the Eucharistic Congresses have been reminding us that the Eucharist is at the centre of the Church's life. The theme of the next Congress will be "All my sources are in you." We pray that "the Eucharistic event in Budapest may foster processes of renewal in Christian communities, so that the salvation of which the Eucharist is the source may also be translated into a Eucharistic culture capable of inspiring men and women of good will in the fields of charity, peace, family, care of creation."

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