Pope Francis During Mass in Santa Marta

Pope Francis During Mass in Santa Marta © L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO

Pope at Santa Marta: Contemplate the Virgin Mary at the Cross

Francis Recalls Our Lady of Sorrows, Calls for Contemplation

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Contemplate the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross.
Pope Francis gave this advice in his homily on September 15, 2017, reported Vatican Radio, as he reflected on Our Lady of Sorrows.
His homily came as he celebrated daily Mass in the Casa Santa Marta for the second time after the summer break.

In it, he said: “Contemplate the Mother of Jesus, contemplate this sign of contradiction because Jesus is the winner, but [is] on the Cross, on the Cross. It’s a contradiction, one does not understand.”
Francis stressed that it takes faith to understand, at least to approach this mystery.
“She followed Jesus and heard people’s comments, sometimes positive, others not, but she was always behind her Son,” the Pope noted.
“That is why,” Francis stressed, “we say that she is the first disciple.”
In the end, she was there, silently, under the Cross looking at the Son. 
Perhaps, the Pope speculated, she heard comments such as: “Look, that’s the Mother of one of the three delinquents.
Francis noted that he was offering his explanation is his little way of helping to silently contemplate this mystery, reminding she gave birth to the Church. 
‘Woman’ – her Son told her – ‘Here are Your Children.’ He does not say ‘mother’, he says ‘woman.’ Strong, brave woman; woman who was there to say: ‘This is my Son: I do not give him a break.'”
The passage of today’s Gospel, Pope Francis, calls on more than just reflecting, but for contemplating
“May the Holy Spirit,” he concluded, “tell each of us what we need.”

 

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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