Let us draw courage from our crucified and risen Lord…
In the midst of the pandemic of coronavirus worldwide, Pope Francis gave this advice during his General Audience, this Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
At this time of anxiety and suffering, the Pope acknowledged, we likely feel much uncertainty and may ask where God is to be found in this situation.
“During these days of Holy Week we can find solace in the account of the Passion of Jesus,” he reminded.
In reflecting on Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, the Holy Father said we can find peace remembering the Lord “embraces our fragility, heals our sins, and draws us close to him, transforming our doubts into faith and our fears into hope.”
Pope Francis concluded, wishing “this Holy Week lead us to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with hearts purified and renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. May God bless you!”
Given the various precautions implemented to protect against further contagion, like the Holy Father’s morning Masses and Angelus, this weekly event is made available to faithful via streaming and done privately in his apostolic library.
The Pope concluded his audience with various greetings and praying that we are preparing well for Easter.
The General Audience ended with the Pope giving his Apostolic Blessing.
Here is the Vatican-provided English summary of today’s General Audience:
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Speaker: Dear Brothers and Sisters: At this time of anxiety and suffering caused by the current pandemic, we all face uncertainty and may ask where God is to be found in this situation. During these days of Holy Week we can find solace in the account of the Passion of Jesus. Our Lord also faced questions, with many wondering whether he really was the promised Messiah. It was only after his death that a centurion confirmed that Jesus truly was the Son of God. He did this after seeing Christ suffer silently on the Cross, which teaches us that God’s power is revealed in humble and self-sacrificial love. We, like the disciples, may have preferred the Lord to manifest his strength by resolving our problems according to our own measure of what is right. Yet the death and resurrection of Jesus show that while earthly power passes away, only love endures forever. Dear brothers and sisters, let us draw courage from our crucified and risen Lord, who embraces our fragility, heals our sins, and draws us close to him, transforming our doubts into faith and our fears into hope.
Speaker:
I greet the English-speaking faithful joining us through the media. May this Holy Week lead us to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with hearts purified and renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. May God bless you!
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]
