How has Pope Francis impacted your spirituality so far?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sirach2
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sirach2

Guest
Did any of you notice a change in attitude that caused you to make changes in your customary life with Our Lord?

In what way?

It is especially providential that this election occurred during lent, wherein we may finish these last days in true and deeper holiness as we reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in response to our new Pontiff.

For one, I am going to try his practice of praying all three mysteries of the rosary, rather than my usual ‘one.’

For another, I am discovering a new courage and strength, combining John Paul II’s motto, “Be not afraid,” with Francis’s “Let us never give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.”
 
Well, I’m still on a euphoric high, days later. I’ve never felt this good in my life before - I suppose, in part, because I had previously prayed that the new Pope would choose the charism and the name of St Francis and, oh boy, did I get my prayer answered or what?! 🙂

For me, the biggest change has been the abundant, renewed and overwhelming hope that I feel for the future of our faith.

I was already interested in the Franciscan charism anyway, and I am now more determined to make that a more concrete part of my life…
 
I find that his style is very similar to my own pastor’s, simple but reverent.
As far his impacted my spirituality, I can’t say he has one way or the other. It’s clear he is very close, very much strives to be a disciple of Christ, which is something I strive for.

But it’s also very new for me. Perhaps as he gets further into his ministry. 🙂
 
DexUK said:
For me, the biggest change has been the abundant, renewed and overwhelming hope that I feel for the future of our faith.

I was already interested in the Franciscan charism anyway, and I am now more determined to make that a more concrete part of my life…
Click to expand...
I have to agree. The emotions are the same and I’m slowly shaking my head in disbelief and amazement at how the Holy Spirit led us to our new Vicar of Christ. I mean, a man like Pope Francis I is sorely needed now. It all makes sense how I reverted to the faith under St. Francis’ interecession and how I always ended the daily rosary with his prayer (Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. . .) these past 26 years.

I don’t expect radical overnight changes in our church but just as the little friar went about brick by brick rebuilding the chapel of San Damiano, so, too, our Holy Father will engage his mission of rebuilding and restoring our Church one day at a time.

We owe him our prayers, our love and support.

Joe
 
He hasn’t impacted it at all, really.

Oh, but I now include him and his intentions in my daily Rosary. I suppose that’s a change.
 
DexUK said:
Well, I’m still on a euphoric high, days later. I’ve never felt this good in my life before - I suppose, in part, because I had previously prayed that the new Pope would choose the charism and the name of St Francis and, oh boy, did I get my prayer answered or what?! 🙂

For me, the biggest change has been the abundant, renewed and overwhelming hope that I feel for the future of our faith.

I also feel joy filled currently and it has reaffirmed and renewed my joy to profess my faith in the Catholic Church. Now I will decide what changes I’d like to make in my life to
reflect this new found reaffirmation of the true Faith.

May.
Click to expand...
 
He hasn’t impacted my spirituality but I like this Pope, I believe that he will prove to be a great leader.

He has some serious problems to clear up because others have fumbled the ball for so long but I believe he had the spirit and intellect and will to do so.
 
I am also very happy because of our new pope. However, his humble manner, and his aspiration of a “poor church for the poor”, also makes me feel the same way his namesake St. Francis does: uncomfortable!

I care more about my own ease and security than I do about the poor and suffering, and Pope Francis is so far reminding me of this.
 
I was so excited to hear that he had taken the name Francis, in honor of one of the most loved saints in the church. He has already impacted me personally by his humble and gentle ways with the faithful. I think that by choosing the name Francis, he is really going to care for the poor and underprivileged, as well as help restore and defend the church from todays society.

I find it ironic,that when Saint Francis of Assisi, founded the fransicans, pope Honorious (pretty sure he was pope then) had a dream, and he said that it was of Saint Francis, holding the pillars of the church and rebuilding Christ’s broken building. I hope Pope Francis will do the same for the church in these trying and ever changing times. He definantly has his work cut out for him.

May God Bless Pope Francis abundantly!
 
Sirach2 said:
Did any of you notice a change in attitude that caused you to make changes in your customary life with Our Lord?

In what way?

It is especially providential that this election occurred during lent, wherein we may finish these last days in true and deeper holiness as we reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in response to our new Pontiff.

For one, I am going to try his practice of praying all three mysteries of the rosary, rather than my usual ‘one.’

For another, I am discovering a new courage and strength, combining John Paul II’s motto, “Be not afraid,” with Francis’s “Let us never give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.”
Click to expand...
Not at all so far, as I barely know him yet.
 
Being that I am a “daughter” of Ignatius, meaning Ignatian Spirituality is how I practice my faith, and that I have a very deep devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, I am “over the moon” with happiness about our new Holy Father! 😃

I am filled with hope, more so than I ever have been before!
Thank you Holy Spirit for sending us a most wonderful Shepherd!! :love::dancing:
 
Way too early to telll, When Pope Benedict was elected, I was thrilled. When Pope Francis was elected, I was more cautiously hopeful. I don’t know much about him yet but I don’t know that he will have any effect on my spirituality, just by his being Pope. It’s possible that some of his writings may affect my spirituality later on. We’ll see.
 
Pope Benedict XVI is my hero. I worry that Pope Francis seriously disagrees with Pope Benedict and may try to take the Church in a different direction. This has left me very dry.
 
Marie5890 said:
I find that his style is very similar to my own pastor’s, simple but reverent.
As far his impacted my spirituality, I can’t say he has one way or the other. It’s clear he is very close, very much strives to be a disciple of Christ, which is something I strive for.

But it’s also very new for me. Perhaps as he gets further into his ministry. 🙂
Click to expand...
Ditto. Pope Francis has had no impact on my spirituality thus far. Time will tell. I patiently await the coming months to see the direction he takes the Church. By the way, I’m happy for those of you whose lives have been positively affected. As a Catholic faithful to the Magisterium and the Holy See, I will abide by the words and actions of Pope Francis. My opinion does not matter anyway. The Church is not a democracy.
 
christofirst said:
I am also very happy because of our new pope. However, his humble manner, and his aspiration of a “poor church for the poor”, also makes me feel the same way his namesake St. Francis does: uncomfortable!

I care more about my own ease and security than I do about the poor and suffering, and Pope Francis is so far reminding me of this.
Click to expand...
I’ve shared the same troubling sentiments about Pope Francis’ vision for a “poor Church” during his papacy. Perhaps that is a good thing, I don’t know. I appreciate your post very much. 👍
 
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. I’ve enjoyed reading your thoughts.

One more impact that just occurred to me is his courage to be his own person, setting aside protocol and traditional expectations. This impetus has given me courage to be who God created me to be, and not let popular opinion or the respect of persons deter me from following my conscience. A big plus!!! For many, this may be a difficult call.
 
I can only relate my experiences and so I speak only for myself. The election of Pope Francis has made me want to be a better person, a better Catholic, and a more active Catholic. In the days leading up to his election, I prayed earnestly for the Holy Spirit to send us a Pope who was close to his people and who could help restore some of the trust that the Church has lost due to the various scandals. And so far, it looks like we have got the right guy- warm, humble, compassionate, down to earth, a love of the poorest, a man of deep service, a man who will clean house, and a man who leads by example.

So as a bad Catholic who really wants to be a good Catholic, I am delighted. It is not so much anything he has done as Pope- he has just been elected- but the example he has set by his behaviour over the course of decades. He actions, even the simplest of things like taking the bus and living among the poor, are a true evangelization, a true call to live as a servant, to answer my criticisms of others by improving myself, and to follow the Gospels in a very concrete way.

So as for my spirituality, the first things it has made me want to do is receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, increase my daily prayer and readings, and get to as many Masses as possible during any given week. It has also made me want to do more on the ground- get involved in the Church in support of its charity and maybe, if I am good enough, make efforts to bring people back to the Church.

And my guess is that there are many like me- people with a basic Catholic formation, who have become somewhat discouraged, but who will come racing back with the least bit of encouragement and good example.

Thank God for Pope Francis.
 
Oh and also, I don’t want to be the silent guy who shuts up whenever the Faith is being disparaged and acts like being Catholic is some sort of embarrassing habit. No more of that- I want to answer back, I want to defend the Faith.
 
hank3fan said:
Oh and also, I don’t want to be the silent guy who shuts up whenever the Faith is being disparaged and acts like being Catholic is some sort of embarrassing habit. No more of that- I want to answer back, I want to defend the Faith.
Click to expand...
(OT, But Happy St Patrick’s Day to you, Hank, and all of your countrymen! God Bless)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top