Beauty always brings us closer to God.
Pope Francis stressed this during today’s General Audience, as he thanked the American Circus who performed for him during the Italian-language remarks.
“I thank you!” the Pope said after the festive performance full of pom poms, adding, “I would like to repeat what I said a week ago, when this show was performed.”
“You engage in beauty and beauty always brings us close to God. I thank you for this.”
But, he noted, there is something else he wished to stress: ‘Behind this show of beauty, there are hours and hours of training that entail effort. Training is effort!’
The Pontiff recalled the Apostle Paul’s insight, that to reach the end and to win, there must be training. “This is an example for all of us,” the Pope continued, “because the seduction of the easy life, to meet a good end without effort, is a temptation.”
“You, with what you have done today, and with the training that is behind it, give us a testimony that life, without continually making an effort, is a mediocre life.”
The Holy Father thanked the circus performers for their example.
Also, in his Italian language remarks, he thanked those who put the Nativity Scene in St. Peter’s Square together and acknowledged that today would be the last day for faithful to enjoy the beautiful display, until next year.
