Catholic Fire

Pope Francis has given an interview to a Catholic weekly magazine, saying he hopes the forthcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy will enable people to discover an alternative to the atrocities, cruelty and exploitation of our world today. The Pope also talks about his personal discovery of God’s mercy in his own life and calls for a “revolution of tenderness” to encourage more just, tolerant and patient relationships between individuals and nations. In the interview with the official Jubilee publication ‘Credere’,  Pope Francis recalls that he dedicated his first Angelus address and his first homily in the Vatican parish of St Anna to the theme of mercy, noting that he’s following the teachings of his predecessors, especially Pope John Paul II who instituted Divine Mercy Sunday. We have become so used to bad news of cruelty and atrocities, the Pope says, but the world needs to discover that God is our Father, that mercy exists and that cruelty and condemnations are not the way forw...

During his daily morning Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis explained that God is a father who weeps for His children and never rejects them, not even the most rebellious. Pope Francis gave the example of King David, who cried when his son Absalon died. He also referenced Jairus, the head of a synagogue who cried to Jesus after losing his daughter. POPE FRANCIS "And with these two icons let’s say: ‘I believe in God the Father…’. And let’s ask the Holy Spirit, because it’s only He, the Holy Spirit, who teaches us to say  ‘Abba, Father!’ It’s a grace. To be able to say to God ‘Father’ with our hearts. Is a grace of the Holy Spirit. Let’s ask Him for this.” Pope Francis added that God waits for His children just like the father in the parable who waits for his prodigal son, in spite of behavior. He concluded that priest and bishops should embrace the same spiritual parenthood. SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "While he was walking away, he ...

Next to the ocean of God's mercy, your sin is a pebble. He died to free you from it. Let him.

October 22, 2013. (Romereports.com) Pope Francis spoke about the mystery of God during his homily at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. He said that God challenges Christians by “meddling” in their lives. He added that it's something that can only be understood by contemplation in prayer. POPE FRANCIS “The image that comes to my mind is that of a nurse in a hospital who heals our wounds, one at a time. Just like God, who gets involved and meddles in our miseries, He gets close to our wounds and heals them with His hands. And to actually have hands, He became man.” Pope Francis also recalled that God did not save humanity by decree, but rather with his own life. EXCERPT FROM THE POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio “One man created sin, Francis explained, and one man saved us. God is close, he is close to our history. From the very first moment when he chose our father, Abraham, he walked with His people. And Jesus himself had a craftsman’s job: a worker who uses hi...

June 12, 2013. (Romereports.com) During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis talked about the mission of the Church, describing it as the People of God. In his catechesis on the Creed, he explained that through Baptism, one is called to transmit God's love, hope and joy to others. CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH: Speaker: Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the Creed, today we consider the Church as the People of God, called to new life in Christ.  We become part of this people through God’s gift of faith and spiritual rebirth in the waters of Baptism.  Our law is the twin commandment of love for God and neighbor.  Our mission is to be a leaven of the hope born of God’s love in our world wounded by sin and evil.  Amid the darkness that so frequently surrounds us, we are called to be so many points of light, illumining all reality and showing the way to a better future.  God’s goodness is stronger than any evil!  Our destination i...

“Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish." ~ Pope Francis on March 31, 2013, from his  Urbi et Orbi ("to the city and to the world") address

Father Barron sends his final greetings from Rome, sharing about the media audience with Pope Francis in the Paul VI Audience Hall. Pope Francis spoke to the press about the good, the true, and the beautiful. In addition, he offered the reasoning behind his choice of the papal name Francis. Father Barron ties this message to the notion of the "preferential option for the poor" and speaks about Pope Francis' angelus talk on God's forgiveness. Please continue to pray for Pope Francis as we approach the Papal Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2013.

Pope Francis has certainly won my heart. I could tell he was a humble man, when I first saw him on EWTN. Everything we have been reading about him in Catholic news reports points to his humility and love for God and the poor. Then, just the other day, my husband shared this with me , which opened my heart to him. He reminds me of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in many ways. Mother Teresa opened a home in America for AIDS patients and she urged the destitute and dying to come to her for care, even when they had been rejected by their own families. Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of AIDS patients in Argentina. There is much that I could say about him, but you can learn so much about him just by watching him interact with people and listening to him. March 17, 2013. (Romereports.com) It seemed like there was no more room in St. Peter's Square or along surrounding streets. Hundreds of thousands of people came to hear the first Angelus of Pope Francis. Early ri...

The famous Lenten hymn "Attende Domine" is the cry of the sinner who calls unto God to receive his mercy. A monument of the liturgy of the Catholic Church. ATTENDE DOMINE (Penitential Chant) Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee. Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee. To Thee, highest King, Redeemer of all, do we lift up our eyes in weeping: Hear, O Christ, the prayers of your servants. Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee. Right hand of the Father, corner-stone, way of salvation, gate of heaven,wash away our stains of sin. Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee. We beseech Thee, God, in Thy great majesty: Hear our groans with Thy holy ears: calmly forgive our crimes. Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee. To Thee we confess our sins admitted with a contrite heart We reveal the things hidden: By Thy kindness, O Redeemer, ov...