The "duty" to evangelizeSowing and praying for peace, especially for Ukraine and the Holy Land, and transmitting the joy of the Gospel with the arrival of Advent, have been central themes in the catechesis given by Pope Francis on Wednesday, with dozens of children seated on the steps of the dais in St. Peter's Square.
For example, addressing the faithful of different languages, Francis recalled that "next Sunday we begin Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas", and encouraged them to "live this time of grace radiating the joy that is the fruit of the encounter with Jesus, with vigilant prayer and ardent hope".
Praying for Ukrainian youths in winter
In urging the prayer for peace, he addressed in particular the Parisian children present on the steps, so that they would not forget the boys. Ukrainians who are at war, have no heating and suffer from the cold in a very strong, harsh winter. "Pray for the Ukrainian youth and boys."
In a special way, in his words to the Polish pilgrims -Poland He said: "Be charitable and peacemakers, supporting those who are sick and suffering because of the wars, especially the Ukrainians as they face the winter. I bless you from my heart.
With Jesus there is always joy and peace
In his address in Italian, the Pope resumed the cycle of catechesis "The Spirit and the Bride," and focused his meditation on the theme "The Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Joy". with the reading of an excerpt from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.
St. Paul, in the Letter to the Galatians, tells us that "the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy and peace, magnanimity, kindness, goodness and trust, gentleness and temperance" (Gal 5:22)," the Holy Father began. "These fruits are the result of a collaboration between God's grace and human freedom, something we are all called to cultivate, in order to grow in virtue. Among all these fruits, I would like to highlight that of joy."
The joy of the Gospel becomes contagious
"Unlike any other joy we may experience in this life, which in the end will always be fleeting, the joy of the Gospel is not subject to time, it can be renewed every day and becomes contagious. Moreover, sharing it with others makes it grow and multiply," he said.
This fruit of the Spirit is evident, for example, "in the lives of many saints, such as St. Philip Neriwho knew how to give witness to the Gospel by infecting everyone with his joy, goodness and simplicity of heart".
"Rejoice in the Lord always."
The Pope has recalled his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium. "The word 'gospel' means good news. Therefore, it cannot be communicated with long faces and somber countenance, but with the joy of one who has found the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price."
"Let us remember the exhortation that St. Paul addressed to the believers in the Church of Philippi," he finally pointed out, "which he now addresses to us: 'Rejoice in the Lord always, I repeat, rejoice, and show everyone a very open spirit. The Lord is near' (Phil 4:4-5)".
As for St. Felide Neri, the Pope recalled that "the saint participated in the Jubilee of 1575, which he enriched with the practice, subsequently maintained, of visiting the Seven Churches. He was, in his time, a true evangelizer through joy".
Funeral for Cardinal Ayuso Guixot
This noon a Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter's in suffrage for the late Spanish Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, which will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Batista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals: "In every apostolic work he was always animated by the desire to witness, with gentleness and wisdom, to the love of God for man, working for fraternity among peoples and religions", has stated Pope Francis on Cardinal Ayuso Guixot, who belonged to the congregation of the Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The "duty" to evangelize
