Reflections, sermons and homilies.
During morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Monday, Pope Francis reminded those present that the Lord's gifts are free and it is not Christian to seek favours in order to grow in ecclesiastical careers.
To be a Christian, a priest or a bishop is a free gift from the Lord, Pope Francis said during his homily. Holiness consists in guarding this gift which we received gratuitously, not thanks...
In his address to pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square for the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis reflected on the day's Gospel, which "speaks to us of the manifestation of Jesus, and invites us to never cease to be surprised by God's love for us."
The reading tells of how John the Baptist, after having witnessed the Spirit coming down from heaven and consecrating Jesus "by remaining upon ...
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
There comes a moment in every disciple of Jesus' life when this happens, we meet Jesus in a way that challenges us to enter into a deeper connection with him, it comes in a variety of ways and circumstances, but it is a moment that we either take, or as also happens, ignore. Here is how this happened to the Baptist: 'John the Baptis...
During the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the last missionary stage of Saint Paul - his journey to Rome. The Pope told pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall: "Paul's journey.. is proof that all man's journeys, if lived in faith, can become a space of transit for God's salvation .… capable of transforming situations and opening up new paths."
He sai...
Pope Francis spoke about the harm done by "inconsistent" Christians and "schizophrenic" pastors who do not bear witness and thus distance themselves from the Lord's way of doing things, from His authentic "authority." He made this point in his homily during Mass, Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta. The Holy Father based his homily on the day's Gospel where St Mark notes that "Jesu...
On Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - in an annual tradition - Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel, and baptised 32 babies, all born in the past year to families of Vatican employees and diplomats accredited to the Holy See.
In his homily, immediately before the Baptism, Pope Francis recalled the words of Jesus when asked by John why the Lord was coming to him t...
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Do we ever really learn lessons from the past? Looking and listening to our news we might be forgiven for thinking that humans rarely take heed from the lessons of the past, but have to learn by their own mistakes. I'm sure some of you can prove my comment wrong and show us all great strides in human endeavour, against disease, against poverty, against ign...
During Morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Friday, Pope Francis reflected on how love is expressed through concrete actions. In the day's reading, taken from the First Letter of St John, Pope Francis said the apostle understood what love is, experienced it, and as he entered into the heart of Jesus, he understood how it manifested itself. In his Letter, he tells us how we love and ho...
In his homily at Mass this morning in Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said, we cannot be Christians if we are "sowers of war" in our family, in the neighbourhood and the workplace.
"May the Lord give us the Holy Spirit to remain in Him and teach us to love, simply, without making war on others" the Pope said, as he reflected on the Second Letter of St John, who encouraged Christians on the...
Pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday for the first General Audience of the new year with Pope Francis.
In his catechesis the Holy Father reflected on a reading from the Acts of the Apostles in which St Paul continues his journey by land and by sea. He is taken as a prisoner by ship to Rome into the heart of the Empire, so that the word of the Risen One may be realized: "You...
Pope Francis celebrated his first morning Mass of the new year at Casa Santa Marta today (7 January). In his homily he reflected on the first reading, the passage from the first letter of St John the Apostle, in which the evangelist takes up the advice of Jesus to his disciples: "Remain in God."
The Christian life is to remain in God, following the Holy Spirit and not the spirit of the wo...
The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference has requested prayers in the current crisis of drought and bushfires. The following Prayer is by Australian Columban Fr Charles Rue. It includes the integral ecology insights of Pope Francis in Laudato Si'.
A Prayer in a time of Drought - Fr Charles Rue
Creative and Nurturing God, we weep in the ...
January 5th 2020 - Perhaps as the New Year struggles into birth, these words form the prophecy of Isaiah about Jerusalem are really for us, to me it seems so:
' See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.' (Is 60:2)
For in our hearts, and deep in those places of our soul and mind whe...
Pope Francis today released a video message accompanying his prayer intention for January 2020, which this month is 'Promotion of World Peace.'
In his prayer intention for the month of January, Pope Francis calls us to pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote together peace and justice in the world.
The full text of his intention is ...
