Pope Francis has given families some practical advice during this morning’s General Audience in St. Peter’s Square.
Continuing with his catecheses on the family, the Holy Father reminded the faithful of three words that “must be in the home”: “May I, Thank You, Pardon Me [permesso, grazie, scusa].”
For happy family life, the Pontiff said, these phrases are required in our hearts, homes and communities, and mean more than just having good manners.
Speaking on asking ‘May I?,’ the Pontiff said we should not just assume we have the right to certain things. When we ask this permission, he said we establish trust and respect among our loved ones.
Proving his point, Francis recalled the words of Jesus in the book of Revelation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me “(3:20).
“Even the Lord asks permission to enter! Do not forget that.”
On saying ‘Thank you,’ the Pontiff said our society has a great need for gratitude, which makes us more sensitive to the dignity of the human person and the demands of social justice.
“Listen well to this: a Christian that doesn’t know how to thank is one that has forgotten the language of God. This is ugly.”
