Catholic Fire

"We have to forgive, because we have been forgiven. This is in the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us about it there. Human logic is incapable of fathoming this. Human logic leads us not to forgive, to seek revenge; it leads to hate, division. How many families have broken up because unable to forgive, how many families! Children separated from their parents, husbands and wives who have grown distant form each other ... It is so important to think about this: If I do not forgive I don't, it appears, have the right to be forgiven and I do not understand what it means that God has forgiven me. - Pope Francis in his homily at today's Mass at Casa Santa Marta

I love this powerful quote from our Holy Father on the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit: "The authority of Jesus - and the authority of the Christian – comes from this ability to understand the things of the Spirit, to speak the language of the Spirit. It is from this anointing of the Holy Spirit. Often, so often, we find among our faithful, simple old women who perhaps didn't even finish elementary school, but who can speak to us of things better than any theologian, because they have the Spirit of Christ. Exactly like St. Paul. We all need to ask for this. Lord grant us Christian identity, which You had. Grant us Your Spirit. Grant us Your way of thinking, feeling, speaking: May the Lord grant us the anointing of the Holy Spirit. " ~ Pope Francis, homily at m orning Mass at Casa Santa Marta , September 2, 2014

In his Tuesday morning Mass, Pope Francis said that Jesus, intercedes for mankind, before God. He described him as a lawyer who comes to one's defense, despite committed sins. POPE FRANCIS "Jesus shows God His wounds and with those wounds Jesus prays for us, as if telling God: 'Father, I paid the price ok? Help them, protect them. They are your children and with these wounds I saved them.” The Pope then added that Jesus doesn't just defend His flock. He also prays for it, so their faith may stay strong. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "The apostle John, thinking about these things and speaking of us, who are great sinners, says, 'Do not sin, but if any of you do sin, know that we have an advocate before the Father, one who prays for us, defends us in front Father, justifies us'. I believe we should really think about this truth, about this reality: Jesus is praying for me right now. I can go on in life because I have an...

In his Friday morning Mass, Pope Francis talked about having faith, even in challenging times. He said that Christian life is full of trials, but one day sorrows will turn into joy. POPE FRANCIS "How many sick people who are at the end of their lives, feel physical pain, but also peace in their souls...This is the seed of joy, the seed of hope and peace. Do you have peace in your soul in moments of darkness, or when faced with challenges, persecution, or when others celebrate your failures? Are you at peace? If you feel peace, you have the seed that will bring everlasting joy.” Despite the hardships faced in Christian life, the Pope highlighted that Jesus says 'Don't be Afraid.' SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S HOMILY Source: Vatican Radio "We must tell the truth: Christian life not just one big party. Not at all! We cry, we cry so many times. When we are sick; when we have a problem with our son, in the family, with our daughter, or wife, or husband; When ...

In his Friday morning Mass, Pope Francis talked about the Christians who were crucified in Syria by jihadists, for refusing to reject their faith. Even though it may be surprising to many, he said,  Christians are indeed still persecuted. POPE FRANCIS "We see the joy of so many of our brothers and sisters who have experienced this joy in history. The joy of being deemed worthy to suffer assaults in the name of Jesus. But today, there are still many! In some countries, if you carry the Gospel, you can go to jail. You can't carry a cross, because you'll have to pay a fine. But still, the heart rejoices.” Reflecting on the Gospel readings, he encouraged Christians to not give into jealousy, describing evil as the son of the devil. EXCERPT OF THE POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "They had paid to silence the truth. People can be really evil sometimes! Because when we pay to hide the truth, we are [committing] a very great evil. And that's why p...

Vatican Radio) Lent is a time to “adjust your life,” “to get closer to the Lord.” That was the message of Pope Francis at Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta. The Pope warned against thinking of ourselves as “better than others.” The hypocrites, he warned, “disguise themselves as good people” and do not understand that no one is made just by his own efforts; we all need to undergo justification. Pope Francis began his homily stressing “conversion” as the key word of Lent, a favourable time “to grow closer” to Jesus. Commenting on the First Reading, from the book of Isaiah, he said that the Lord calls two “sinful cities” like Sodom and Gomorrah to conversion. This shows us that we all “need to make a change of life,” to take a “good look into our soul” — where we always find something. The purpose of Lent, then, is precisely “to adjust my life,” to draw closer to the Lord. Jesus, the Pope said, wants to be close to us; He assures us the He is “waiting for us in order to forgive ...

During his daily Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis focused about the Word of God, which leads to Salvation. The Pope talked about how Jesus cured the daughter of a pagan woman, because she was not ashamed about having faith in Him. POPE FRANCIS "Welcome the Word of God with docility. The Word that has been planted in you can bring you to Salvation. Take the path of the Canaanite woman, of that pagan woman, who accepted the Word of God, which has been planted in us and that will lead us to salvation. Let the powerful Word of God guide our path, so that we do not end up in corruption, which leads us to idolatry.” The Pope also warned that believers, like Solomon, are at risk of losing their faith from "passion and vanity.” And that knowing how to recite the Creed is not enough, if they lack faith. SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS Source: Vatican Radio Believers can lose their faith because of passion and vanity, while a pagan can become a believer through his or he...

In his Thursday morning Mass, the Pope talked about what it really means to belong to the Church. He said being a Christian isn't just about being Baptized and then going about life on your own. Instead, he said, it's about being part of God's community and being part of the Church. POPE FRANCIS "Being Christian without the Church doesn't make sense. That's why the great Paul VI, said that the most absurd dichotomy is loving Christ without the Church. To listen to Christ, but not the Church. To be with Christ, but stay at the margins of the Church. It's not possible. It's an absurd dichotomy.” Reflecting on today's readings, the Pope recommended following the example of King David, who accepted God's will even when he disagreed. For that to happen, explained the Pope, the humility is key. SUMMARY OF POPE'S MASS (Source: Vatican Radio) "Humility, faithfulness and prayer are the three signs of a Christian who belongs to the C...

Vatican City, 17 December 2013 (VIS) – Today Pope Francis celebrates his 77th birthday and congratulations have arrived in the Vatican from all over the world. However, also in his city of birth, Buenos Aires, citizens are celebrating the birthday of their former archbishop: the parishioners of the diaconate of Boca-Barrajas, one of the most popular and troubled areas of the city, will spend the day in Plaza Constitucion where a “missionary tent” has been erected to welcome the “invisible” inhabitants of the capital. The area hosts a large railway station and the principal bus terminal, where the “street people” of the city gather - migrants, the unemployed, the homeless, prostitutes – and where every year the then Archbishop Bergoglio used to celebrate Mass for the victims of human trafficking. In Italy, the Constitutional Court sent a telegram to the Pope, through the secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, congratulating him for his “profound and intense pastoral work in...