"...to live the revolution of tenderness as Mary" - Pope Francis

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Trying to “catch up” on the many things Pope Francis said, visiting Cuba and the USA, I found excerpts from his homily, today, which he gave, celebrating Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, patroness of Cuba (reported in Zenit, Sept. 22, 2015):

…Reflecting on the Gospel, which recalled Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. This event, he said, reminds us of what the Lord does with us.

“These are images which we are asked to contemplate over and over again. God’s presence in our lives never leaves us tranquil: it always pushes to do something,” he said. “When God comes, he always calls us out of our house. We are visited so that we can visit others; we are encountered so as to encounter others; we receive love in order to give love.”

The 78 year old Pontiff said that like her cousin Elizabeth, Mary has also visited the island of Cuba, which is warmed by their devotion to Our Lady of Charity. The Virgin Mary, he said, continues to protect their identity so “that we may never stray to paths of despair.”

“The soul of the Cuban people, as we have just heard, was forged amid suffering and privation which could not suppress the faith, that faith which was kept alive thanks to all those grandmothers who fostered, in the daily life of their homes, the living presence of God, the presence of the Father who liberates, strengthens, heals, grants courage and serves as a sure refuge and the sign of a new resurrection.”

The Pope reminded the faithful that they are called daily to “live the revolution of tenderness as Mary” which is lived out through closeness, compassion and service.

Concluding his homily, Pope Francis said that the greatest legacy one can leave is to follow Mary’s example and to learn to pray with Her.

This prayer, he said, “is the living reminder that God passes through our midst; the perennial memory that God has looked upon the lowliness of his people, he has come the aid of his servant, even as promised to our forebears and their children forever.” Full article HERE

By God’s Grace, may every heart, in every country be renewed in tenderness…what a revolution of love we would see! Mary promised at Fatima that her Immaculate Heart would triumph – and nothing is impossible with God. He who filled the Heart of Mary is looking for room in us. Our Lady of Tenderness, pray for us.

 

[Richard_White]

Thank you for this, MariaChristi! It is of course very important that we go out into the world and not only proclaim the mission of Christ, but also serve the poor and needy in our midst, showing with our lives the love of God.

May God bless you abundantly and forever!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for this, MariaChristi! It is of course very important that we go out into the world and not only proclaim the mission of Christ, but also serve the poor and needy in our midst, showing with our lives the love of God.

May God bless you abundantly and forever!

Dear Richard,

Thanks for your reply; good to hear from you again. Yes, actions do speak louder than words; our love is proved in deeds of love for God and for others because of our love for God. Our actions can express our desire to LIVE the words of our prayers. Sadly, our actions can also be done to seek the praise of men as Pharisees did. We need to cooperate with God’s grace in purifying the intentions of our hearts.

As the First Letter of John warns us:

…Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes…(1 John 2: 7 - 11)

Mary, our Mother is our perfect human model as well as our Mother in grace. She received the Living Incarnate God in her womb and then went with haste to visit her cousin and share the Good News! So too are we called to receive Jesus and share Him with others in all we say and do.

God gave Mary an Immaculate Heart, and He continues to purify His Church that we too may let the Light of Christ shine through us. Let us please continue to pray for the Church and for all those in most need of His Mercy. Our Lady of Tenderness, pray for us.