Catholic Fire

"There is a second call" [to] "those who live by appearances, Christians of appearances." "Appearances are these Christians shroud: they are dead." [And the Lord] "calls them to conversion". "Am I one of these Christians of appearances? Am I alive inside, do I have a spiritual life? Do I hear the Holy Spirit, do I listen to the Holy Spirit, do I  move forward, or ...? But, if everything looks good, I have nothing to reproach myself about: I have a good family, people do not gossip about me, I have everything I need, I married in church ...I am 'in the grace of God', I am alright. Appearances! Christians of appearance ... they are dead! Instead [we must] seek something alive within ourselves, and with memory and vigilance, reinvigorate this so we can move forward. Convert: from appearances to reality. From being neither hot nor cold to fervor". ~ Pope Francis in his homily on conversion at Mass at Santa Marta on November ...

During his Monday morning Mass, Pope Francis talked about following God. He explained that Christians should always stay away from vanity, power and greed. That way, they won't try to take advantage of their relationship with God. POPE FRANCIS "Sometimes we do things to stand out and feed our vanity. But vanity is dangerous.  It immediately makes us fall into pride, arrogance,  and eventually it all stops there.  We must ask ourselves. How can I follow Jesus? Do I do good deeds in a discreet way, or do I just like to be seen?” The Pope also talked about 'careerism' meaning those who use the Church to improve their career standing. He prayed so that all Christians may follow their good intentions. EXCERPT OF THE POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio "This is not the right attitude. Vanity is not good, vanity causes us to slip on our pride and everything ends there. So I ask myself the question: and me? How do I follow Jesus? When I do good, do I do i...

In his daily morning Mass, the Pope talked about early Christians and the inner peace they received from the Holy Spirit. He said, measuring the life of a Christian community, is based on its harmony, witness, poverty be it spiritual or material, and its care for the poor. POPE FRANCIS "Because the only one who can do this is the Holy Spirit. This is the work of the Spirit. The Church is built up by the Spirit. The Spirit creates unity. The Spirit leads us to witness. The Spirit makes us poor, because He is our wealth and leads us to care for the poor.” The Pope said the most important element in a Christian community, be it a movement or a parish, is giving witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "'They had one heart and mind'. Peace. A community in peace. This means that in this community there was no room for gossip, envy, calumnies, defamation. Peace. Forgiveness: 'Love covered everything...

(Vatican Radio) To find mercy we must first forgive. It is through forgiveness that our hearts, and the world, are filled with peace. This was the overarching theme of Pope Francis’ homily during Monday morning’s Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.” Commenting on these words of Jesus, the Pope added that “it is not easy to understand this attitude of mercy” because we are habitually judgmental. “We are not [the sorts of people] who naturally [allow for understanding and mercy.”] “To be merciful,” he said, “two attitudes are needed. The first is knowledge of oneself”. This self-knowledge means that we acknowledge “we have done many bad things: we are sinners!” And, when faced with the need for repentance, “the justice of God transforms us in mercy and forgiveness.” However, we must have shame for our sins. Read more.

In his Thursday morning Mass, Pope Francis talked about the mystery of death. He explained that despite our sins, dying in the heart of the Church, is a gift. POPE FRANCIS "It's a gift from God and we must pray for it. To say, 'Lord, grant me the gift of dying at my spiritual home, in the heart of the Church.' We are sinners! All of us are. But we're not traitors. No! We are not corrupt. No! We stay on the inside! The Church, our Mother loves us so, despite our sins, the Church cleanses us. She's our Mother.” The Pope then added that every Christian should make an effort to leave a Christian legacy behind, once they pass away. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) Speaking at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday, Pope Francis reflected on the mystery of death, inviting us to ask God for the grace to die in hope, in the heart of the Church and in the knowledge that we have left a legacy of Christian witness behind us. Pope Francis...

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 ...

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Tuesday morning in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence. Following the readings of the day, the Holy Father spoke about the proper attitude of the Christian at prayer. Reflecting on the episode from the Second Book of Samuel, which was read at Mass, in which “David danced with all his might before the Lord,” Pope Francis recalled that the whole people of Israel were celebrating because the Ark of the Covenant was returning home. He went on to say that David’s prayer of praise, “led him to move beyond all composure,” adding, “this was precisely a prayer of praise.” Explaining that the passage caused his thoughts to turn to Sarah, Abraham’s wife, who, after giving birth to her son, Isaac, said, “The Lord made ​​me dance with joy.” He said that it is easy to understand a prayer of petition – asking something of the Lord – and prayer of thanksgiving, as well. Even prayer of adoration, he said, “is not so difficult,” to understand....

During his daily morning Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis talked about the importance of dialogue. He asked all Catholics to engage in it,  to solve problems. POPE FRANCIS "It’s important to not let time too much time pass after a storm, after a problem. It’s important to engage in dialogue as soon as possible, because time allows the walls of resentment to grow taller, just as weeds grow taller and get in the way of the corn. When our walls grow tall, reconciliation becomes so difficult!" The Pope admitted that dialogue isn't always easy, but a  good way to start, he said is by embracing humility. SUMMARY OF POPE'S MASS (Source: Vatican Radio) "Christians must build bridges of dialogue, not walls of resentment. These were the words of the Holy Father at Mass on Friday morning in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. Pope Francis reflected in his homily on the conflict between King Saul and David which is the focus of the day’s Old Testament reading. At...

During his daily morning Mass at the Vatican, the Pope talked about why Christians must always have humility. The Pope emphasized that unlike people, God doesn't focus on appearances, but rather on hearts. POPE FRANCIS "Our Christian loyalty is all about safeguarding our smallness so that we can have a dialogue with God. That’s why humbleness, gentleness and daily habits are so important in the life of a Christian, because it safeguards our smallness and pleases God.” The Pope then added that God speaks personally to the hearts of individuals, even by name, and never in masses. He then explained that God chooses the weak and gentle to confuse people with power. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "We need to safeguard our smallness in order to have a personal dialogue with God. In his homily Pope Francis reflected on the personal relationship between God and his people - the small and humble - saying God always speaks to us on a personal leve...

In his Friday morning Mass, Pope Francis said that Catholics who try to be blend into a "worldly uniformity,” are in fact rejecting their role as children of God. Citing a reading from the Old Testament, he described how the Jewish people asked an elderly Samuel to choose a king for them, so they could be like other nations. The Pope said they chose the path of worldliness, effectively rejecting God. POPE FRANCIS "A normal life for Christians demands loyalty to their choices, and to not exchange it for the path of worldly uniformity. That is the temptation of the people, and also ours. Many times, we forget about the Word of God, what the Lord tells us, and we take up fashionable words, right? Even those from soap operas are fashionable, and we use them, they're more enjoyable.” The Pope added that worldliness makes the heart soft, but opening their heart to God makes it stronger. SUMMARY FROM THE POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio We must not sell out...

(Vatican Radio) Scandals in the Church happen because there is no living relationship with God and His Word. Thus, corrupt priests, instead of giving the Bread of Life, give a poisoned meal to the holy people of God: that’s what Pope Francis affirmed in his homily Thursday morning during the Mass celebrated in the Santa Marta guesthouse. Commenting on the day 's reading and responsorial Psalm which recount the crushing defeat of the Israelites by the Philistines, the Pope notes that the people of God at that time had forsaken the Lord . It was said that the Word of God was "uncommon" at that time . The old priest Eli was "lukewarm" and his sons "corrupt; they frightened the people and beat them with sticks." In their battle against the Philistines, the Israelites brought with them the Ark of the Covenant, but as something “magical,” "something external ." And they are defeated : the Ark is taken from them by their enemies. There is no t...

During his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis talked about different ways to worship. He denounced that at times Christians look down on others who pray in humble manner. POPE FRANCIS "How many times do the people of God feel unwanted by those that should be giving testimony? By Christians, laymen, priests, bishops... They say: 'Poor people, they don't understand anything... They should take a Theology course to understand.” Pope Francis added that preaching isn't about correcting people. He also asked Catholics to avoid any type of hypocrisy and legalism. EXCERPTS OF THE POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio "It is Jesus himself who says that [the scribes] did not move these things even with a finger, right? And then He will say say to people: ‘Do what they say but not what they do!’ [They are] incoherent people. It always seems doesn’t it? that these scribes and Pharisees are always beating on the [regular folks]. ‘You must do th...

November 22, 2013. (Romereports.com) During his daily morning Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis talked about the temple, both as a structure and a symbol. He explained that whenever a group gathers at a parish, God should always be the focus.   POPE FRANCIS “I think that, and I say this humbly, that perhaps we Christians have somewhat lost our sense of Worship. We'll say: 'Let's go to the parish and  meet everyone there.' This is good and beautiful, but the core focus should be God. We Worship God.” The Pope added that a parish is the site where everyone gets together to pray, praise and thank the Lord. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio A temple is a place where we meet to pray, praise and thank the Lord, but above all, it’s a place where we gather to worship God. At his morning Mass in the Santa Martha Chapel on Friday, Pope Francis focused his homily on both the temple as a building and St Paul’s understanding of our bodies as temples of ...

November 19, 2013. (Romereports.com) In his daily morning Mass at the Vatican, the Pope talked about taking care of the elderly. Echoing one of his trademark statements, he explained that a society that nurtures the elderly, is a society that protects its memory and future.   POPE FRANCIS “Let's pray for our grandfathers and grandmothers, who so very often have played a heroic role in transmitting the faith, even in times of persecution. When mom and dad weren't home, or when they had a strange belief system that reflected the politics of that time, grandparents were the ones who passed on the faith.” The Pope also highlighted that out of the ten commandments, 'Honoring thy Father and Mother' is the only commandment that guarantees prosperity. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio Pope Francis began his homily by pointing to the example of Eleazar in the Book of Maccabees, an elderly teacher of the law who preferred martyrdom rather than betrayi...

(Vatican Radio) Drawing inspiration from a reading in the Book of the Maccabees, Pope Francis warned the faithful to be attentive in our secularized and pleasure-seeking life-style which often attacks the Church and imposes unjust rules on Christians. Referring to the first Reading of the day, the Pope spoke of the passage which portrays the effort by the Jews to regain their cultural and religious identity after Antiochus IV Epiphanes suppressed the observance of Jewish laws and desecrated the temple after having convinced the people of God to abandon their traditions. Lord, the Pope prayed, give me the discernment to recognize the subtle conspiracies of worldliness that lead us to negotiate our values and our faith. During his homily, Pope Francis warned the faithful against what he described as a “globalized uniformity” which is the result of secular worldliness. Often he said, the people of God prefer to distance themselves from the Lord in favour of worldly proposals....

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2013 / 12:31 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Preaching his homily during Mass at the chapel of Santa Marta in the Vatican, the Pope stressed God's unwavering dedication to redeeming mankind. “When the Lord takes up the defense of his people it is like this: he is a relentless warrior and saves his people,” Pope Francis said Nov. 16. God “saves (and) renews everything: ‘All creation was made anew in its nature as before.’ ‘The Red Sea became a road without obstacles,’” the Roman Pontiff preached, recounting the first reading, from the book of Wisdom. Our salvation comes when God hears “the prayer of his people, because he has heard in his heart that his chosen ones suffer,” he explained. Continue reading

Vatican City, Nov 14, 2013 / 05:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily, Pope Francis warned against a misguided ‘spirit of curiosity’ which can lead us away from God, stating that it is only through the spirit of wisdom that we are able to be close to him. “Jesus says that the Kingdom of God does not come in a way that attracts attention: it comes by wisdom,” the Pope said during his Nov. 14 homily. Continue reading. Summary of Pope's Homily: (Source: Vatican Radio) Dear Friends and Colleagues, The spirit of curiosity generates confusion and distances a person from the Spirit of wisdom, which brings peace, said Pope Francis in his homily during this morning's morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta. The Pope began his homily by commenting on the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, which describes “the state of the soul of the spiritual man and woman”, of true Christians, who live “in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. And this wisdom carries them forward with this ...

November 12, 2013. (Romereports.com) During his daily morning Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis explained that God never abandons, not even when He scolds. God's hands, he said, never give a slap, but rather they give comfort.   POPE FRANCIS “Our God, like a father with his child, teaches us to walk, teaches us to walk along the path of life and salvation. It’s God’s hands who caress us in our moments of pain,comforting us. God caresses us! He loves us. Often times, in this caress we find forgiveness. Just thinking about this, personally gives me comfort.” The Pope also added that God's wounded hands accompany people throughout their lives. The Pope then said Christians must entrust themselves into God's hands, just like children do the same, when holding their fathers' hands. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY: Source: Vatican Radio Pope Francis reflected on the loving nature of God’s hands, saying even when scolding us, these hands never give a slap but instead...

November 5, 2013 (Romereports.com) Speaking on the Gospel of the day, Pope Francis explained that being a Christian is like an invitation to a feast. It's an invitation open to everyone, not just “good people.” But he added that everyone must interact at this feast.   POPE FRANCIS “Christian existence cannot be understood without this participation. 'I go to the feast, but I don’t go beyond the antechamber, because I want to be only with the three or four people that I am familiar with...' You can’t do this in the Church! You either participate fully or you remain outside. You can’t pick and choose: the Church is for everyone, beginning with those I’ve already mentioned, the most marginalized. It is everyone’s Church!” The invitation to this feast, the Pope went on to say, is free. But he warned against the attitude of nominal Christians who feel happy just about being “on the list,” but not participating. EXCERPTS FROM THE HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio  “A Chri...

October 29, 2013 (Romereports.com) During his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said that the true meaning of hope is more than just a state of mind, or optimism. He described it as an “ardent expectation.”     POPE FRANCIS “It's one thing to live out hope, because through hope we are all saved, and another thing to live as good Christians, nothing more. When a woman becomes pregnant, she is still a woman. But she is much more than that: she's a mother. And hope is like that too. It changes our attitudes: we are ourselves, but more than ourselves. It's us, searching beyond.” Pope Francis also said that hope produces life, and so Christians must go beyond what's comfortable for them and give hope to others. EXCERPT FROM POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio “Hope is not just optimism. It's not the capacity to look at things with good spirits and carry on. No, that is optimism, not hope. Hope is not having a positive attitude before things. These...