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Audience: Pope continues catechesis on Church as our Mother
Radio Vaticana ^ | 9/18/2013

Posted on 09/18/2013 6:19:46 PM PDT by markomalley

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis returned to the theme of the "Church as our Mother"during his audience catechesis on Wednesday. The Pope’s English language remarks were read out at the Audience.Dear Brothers and Sisters: today I wish to return to the image of the Church as our Mother, by reflecting on all that our earthly mothers do, live and suffer for their children. First, our mothers show us, through their tenderness and love, the correct path to follow in life, so that we may grow into adulthood. So too the Church orients us on the path of life, indicating the way that leads to maturity. Second, our mothers know how and when to accompany us with understanding through life and to help lead us back when we wonder off the right path. The Church also accompanies us in mercy, in understanding, never judging us or closing the door, but offering forgiveness to help us return to the right course. Third, as our mothers never grow tired of interceding for us, no matter our failings, so too the Church stays with us always and, through prayer, puts into the hands of the Lord all our situations, difficulties and needs. And so we see in the Church a good Mother who indicates the path to walk in life, who always accompanies us in patience, mercy and understanding, and who places us in God’s hands.

I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Audience. In a particular way, I welcome the Inter-Ministerial Delegation of the Vietnamese Government for Religious Affairs. I welcome also all those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, India, Canada and the United States. May Jesus Christ confirm you in faith and make you witnesses of his love and mercy to all people. May God bless you!

Vatican Radio website


During his weekly General Audience today, Pope Francis continued his theme on the image of the Church as a mother. This image, he said, “shows us the face the Church, this Church of ours, should increasingly show.”

The Pope began his discourse by describing what a mother does for her children. “[A mother] teaches how to walk in life, she teaches how to do well in life, she knows how to direct her children, she seeks always to indicate the right way in life to grow and become adults,” the Pope said. Adding that a mother does all these things with tenderness, Pope Francis told the faithful that the Church does the same by instructing us on how to follow the right path.

“Think of the ten Commandments: they show us the route to follow if we are to mature, fixing certain cardinal points in our behavior,” the Holy Father said. “And these are the fruits of tenderness, of the very love that God gives us. You might say to me: but these are commandments! They are a list of negatives! I would like to invite you to read them and then think about them positively. You will see that they concern our way of behaving towards God, towards ourselves and towards others, just as a mother teaches us how to live well.”

The Pope stressed that just as a mother never teaches anything that will do harm to her children, so does the Church gives us only “what is best for her children.”

A Merciful Mother

A second aspect of the Church’s maternal relationship that the Holy Father focused on was on the continuing patience and mercy shown to Her children despite their mistakes. When a child grows and becomes an adult, the Pope said, “he does what he wants, and at times, he may happen to stray away from the path.”

“A mother always, in every situation, has the patience to continue to accompany her children. She is animated by the strength of love and even when [her children] make mistakes, she always finds a way of understanding them, to help them. We say that a mother 'stands up and is counted' for her own children; that is, she always seeks to defend them,” the Pope said.

Likewise, he continued, the Church is a “merciful mother” who continues to encourage her children despite any mistakes that they make. The Church “never closes the doors of her house to them: she does not judge, but rather offers God's forgiveness, she offers her love to invite her children to return to the right path and even when they have fallen into the deepest abyss, the Church is not afraid to enter into their darkest night with them in order to give them hope; the Church is not afraid to enter into our night when our soul and conscience are surrounded by darkness, to give us hope!,” the Pope exclaimed.

Explaining the third aspect, the Holy Father explained a mother’s role in praying for her children, especially when they are most in need. The Church, he said, does likewise.

“Through prayer, she places the lives of all her children in the hands of the Lord. Let us trust in the strength of prayer of the Mother Church: the Lord never remains indifferent. He always knows how to astonish us when we least expect us. The Mother Church knows this,” the Holy Father said.

Zenit


(Auto-Translation from Vatican account:)

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today I return again the image of the Church as a mother. I really like this image of the Church as a mother. That's why I wanted to return to it, because this seems to me that not only tell us how is the Church, but also as a face should have more and more of this Church, our Mother Church.

Let me highlight three things, always looking to our mothers, in everything they do, living, suffering for their children, continuing what I said last Wednesday. I wonder: what makes a mother?

1. First of all, teaches us to walk through life, teaches us to go on well in life, you know how to orient the children, always try to show the right path in life to grow up and become adults. And it does so with tenderness, with love, with love, always, even when trying to straighten our path because sbandiamo a little in life or take roads that lead towards a cliff. A mother knows what is important for a child to walk well in life, and has not learned from books, but he learned it from his heart. The University of mothers is their heart! There they learn how to conduct their own children.

The Church does the same thing: orients our life gives us lessons for good walking. Think of the Ten Commandments: show us a way to go to mature, to have some fixed points in the way we behave. And are the result of tenderness, love of God, who has given them to us. You can tell me, but I command! Are a set of "no"! I would like to invite you to read - maybe I have a little 'forgotten - and then think of them positive. You will see that relate to the way we conduct ourselves to God, to ourselves and to others, just what a mom teaches us to live well. They invite us not to idols materials which then enslave us, to remind us of God, to have respect for their parents, to be honest, to respect each other ... Try to see them so and to consider them as if they were the words, teachings that gives the mother to go on well in life. A mother never teaches what is bad, he just wants the good of the children, and so does the Church.

2. I would like to tell you a second thing: when a child grows up, becomes an adult, gets his way, it is assumed his responsibilities, walks with his legs, does what he wants, and, at times, also happens to out of the way, it happens a few accident. Mom always, in every situation, have the patience to continue to accompany their children. What drives her is the power of love, a mother knows how to follow with discretion, with tenderness the journey of the children even when they are wrong and always finds a way to understand, to be close to help. We - in my land - we say that a mother can "give the dear." What does this mean? It means that a mother can "put the face" for their children, that is pushed to defend them, always. I think of the mothers who suffer for their children in prison or in difficult situations: do not ask if they are guilty or not, continue to love them and often suffer humiliation, but have no fear, do not stop giving.

The Church is so, is a merciful mother, who understands, who always tries to help, to encourage even in the face to his sons that they were wrong and they are wrong, never closes the doors of the house, does not judge, but offers the forgiveness of God offers His love that invites you to take the path even in those sons who have fallen into a deep abyss, the Church is not afraid to get into the night to give them hope, the Church is not afraid to get into our night when we are in the darkness of the soul and consciousness, to give us hope! Because the Church is the mother!

3. One last thought. A mother can also ask, knock on every door for their children, without calculating, he does it with love. And I think about how mothers know also, and above a knock at the door of the heart of God! Moms pray much for their children, especially the weaker ones, for those who need it most, for those who in life have made ​​roads dangerous or wrong. A few weeks ago I celebrated in the church of St. Augustine , here in Rome, where the relics of his mother, St. Monica. How many prayers God has raised to the holy mother for her son, and how many tears shed! I think of you, dear mothers: As you pray for your children, without tiring! Continue to pray, to entrust your children to God, And he has a big heart! Knock on the door of the heart of God with the prayer for the children.

And so does the Church: it puts in the hands of the Lord, with prayer, all situations of his children. We trust in the power of prayer to the Mother Church, the Lord does not remain insensitive. Always knows how to surprise us when we least expect it. The Mother Church knows!

Here, these were the thoughts that I wanted to tell you today: we see in the Church a good mother who shows us the way to go in life, who can be always patient, compassionate, understanding, and knows how to put ourselves in God's hands

Greetings:

I offer an affectionate greeting to all the Inglese-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today's Audience. In A particular way, I welcome the Inter-Ministerial Delegation of the Vietnamese Government for Religious Affairs. Also I welcome All Those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, India, Canada and the United States. May Jesus Christ confirm you in faith and make you witnesses of His love and mercy to all people. May God bless you!

[ I cordially greet the English-speaking pilgrims. In particular, I greet the government Interministerial Delegation for Religious Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam this to today's audience. I also greet all those who come from England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, India, Canada and the United States. Jesus Christ will confirm you in faith and make you witnesses of His love and mercy for all. God bless you! ]

Chers amis francophones, je suis heureux de vous tous saluer, ce matin, en particulier les Pèlerins Venant de France et du Canada. Regardez l'Église comme une bonne mère qui vous indique la route à suivre dans la vie et qui vous remet entre les mains de Dieu avec patience, miséricorde et compréhension. Bonne journée et bon pèlerinage!

[ Dear French speaking friends, I am pleased to greet each of you, especially the pilgrims from France and Canada. Look at the Church as a good mother who shows you the path to follow in life and that you entrust to the hands of God with patience, compassion and understanding. Good day and good pilgrimage! ]

Herzlichen richte ich einen Gruß an alle Brüder und deutscher Sprache Schwestern sowie an die Pilger aus den Niederlanden und aus Belgien. Besonders grüße ich die Mitglieder der Servi Jesu et Mariae sowie die Schüler und der Schülerinnern Katholischen Liebfrauenschule Berlin und die vielen Jugendlichen, die sind hier zugegen. Wünsche ich euch einen guten Aufenthalt in Rom und deliveries to euch von Herzen.

[ I extend a cordial greeting to the brothers and sisters of the German language as well as to the pilgrims from the Netherlands and Belgium. In particular I greet the members of the Institute Servi Jesu et Mariae as well as students of Liebfrauenschule of Berlin and all the young people here. I wish you a pleasant stay in Rome and I cordially bless you all. ]

Saludo a los peregrinos de lengua española, Particular en los grupos provenientes de España, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, México y los Demas países latinoamericanos. Call to ver todos la Iglesia como el camino indicates the mamá que, que es paciente, merciful, including a todos y sabe poner en las manos de Dios. Muchas gracias.

Queridos peregrinos de língua portuguesa, bem-vindos! Saúdo cordially or grupo de Bragança Paulista and os-peregrinos vindos de Portugal pelos guiados Carmelitas Descalços. O Senhor vos abençoe, para toda serdes em apart Evangelho do Farol de luz para todos. May esta peregrinação fortalecer, nos vossos corações, or hear live com Igreja eo. Nossa Senhora acompanhe and proteja Vos todos and aos vossos Entes queridos.

[ Dear Portuguese-speaking pilgrims, welcome! I greet with affection the group of Bragança Paulista-and pilgrims of Portugal led by the Discalced Carmelites. The Lord bless you, because wherever you are beacon of light of the Gospel to everyone. May this pilgrimage reinvigorate, in your hearts, feel and live with the Church. Our Lady accompany and protect all of you and your loved ones! ]

الأخوات والإخوة الأحباء الناطقون باللغة العربية خاصة أساقفة الكنيسة اللاتينية القادمين من الأراض المقدسة ومن سوريا ومن الأردن ومن العراق ومن لبنان ومن مصر ومن الصومال ومن دول الخليج: كما أن الأم تعرف أن تتضرع, وأن تقرع على كل الأبواب من أجل أبنائها, بدون حسابات, وبمحبة , فهكذا أيضا الكنيسة: فهي تضع بين يدي الرب, عن طريق الصلاة, جميع أوضاع ابنائها. لنثق دائما في قوة صلاة الكنيسة, لأن الرب لا يبق أبدا غير مبال أمام تضرعات كنيسته! وأمنح لكم جميعا البركة الرسولية!

Serdecznie witam obecnych you Polakow. W sposób szczególny pozdrawiam pielgrzymów diecezji włocławskiej z z biskupem Wiesławem Meringiem, przybyłych do Rzymu, aby w Roku Wiary umacniać swoje zakorzenienie w tradycji Apostołów the ożywiać zaangażowanie w życie Kościoła. Duch was the Niech Swiety oświeca prowadzi. Z serca wszystkim błogosławię!

[ I extend a cordial welcome to the Poles present here. In particular, I greet the pilgrims from the Diocese of Wloclawek, with the Bishop Wieslaw Mering, who came to Rome to strengthen in the Year of Faith, their roots in the tradition of the Apostles and revive the Church's commitment. The Holy Spirit will enlighten you and guide you. I bless you all from my heart! ]

Appeal

Each year, on September 21, the United Nations celebrated the "International Day of Peace," and the World Council of Churches is calling on its members to pray on that day for peace. I invite Catholics from around the world to join with other Christians to continue to implore from God the gift of peace in the most troubled parts of our planet. May the peace, the gift of Jesus, always live in our hearts and support the intentions and actions of the leaders of nations and all people of good will. Commit ourselves to encouraging all efforts for a diplomatic and political solution of the hotbeds of war who still care about. My thoughts go especially to the dear people of Syria, whose human tragedy can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, respect for justice and the dignity of every person, especially the weakest and most defenseless.

***

I extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims, numerous parishes, associations and various groups, in particular, I greet the faithful of the diocese of Prato, accompanied by Bishop Franco Agostinelli, those of the diocese of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza, Vigevano , Messina and Oppido-Palmi. May this your pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles awaken in everyone the desire to give joyful witness to Christian values, to build a more just and fraternal.

An affectionate thought to the men and women religious who are present here, especially to the members of the Carmelite Order and the Missionary Sisters of the Incarnation, who are celebrating their General Chapters, urging a renewed enthusiasm in the work of evangelization, especially in the suburbs existential .

Lastly, I greet the young people, the sick and newlyweds: dear friends, friendship with Jesus is for all of you a source of hope and inspiration to every choice you make.

The Holy See website (original in Italian)


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: popefrancis

1 posted on 09/18/2013 6:19:46 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

This was very beautiful; yesterday’s homily, also on the Church, sounded like something that could have been written by one of the Greek Fathers.


2 posted on 09/18/2013 6:43:31 PM PDT by livius
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To: markomalley

Finally something i disagree with the pope on and really appreciate it, otherwise i may be accused of defending the Catholic Church as i have been accused of defending the Mormon Church.

Although in rev it speaks of the Church as being a woman the
Gospels speaks of as being the Bride of Christ not children, the Church is made up of believers so in reality there would be no Church if there were no believers.

Luke 17
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Matthew 25
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Luke 8:20-21
And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Christians are brothers and sisters of Christ rather than Children, God is the head of the house.


3 posted on 09/19/2013 6:28:03 AM PDT by ravenwolf
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