Latin
scholars debate the translation of Pope Francis’ motto: MISERANDO ATQUE
ELIGENDO. Some translate it as: by giving mercy and choosing; others as: pity
and choosing. The official Vatican translation is: by having mercy and by
choosing. [1] In essence since he was a bishop when he first chose the motto it
is a declaration of seeking to faithfully follow Jesus and to love and serve
others with compassion.
So far
in my life, from Pope Pius XXII to Pope Francis, [2] I have lived during seven
pontificates. None has been without their critics, and not just in the secular
media. The harshest critics are found among Catholic clergy and laity. It has
been ever thus since St. Peter and likely will be so to the end of time, even
when, as with St. Pius V, St. Pius X, St. John XXIII, St. John Paul II, the
Pope is an obvious saint.
No
baptized Christian, pope, lay person, clergy, religious, should expect to be
any more popular than Christ Himself, who still elicits harsh criticism, even
after laying down His life for us: You will be hated by all because of My
Name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. [Mt. 10:22] and the
reality that: …..we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way,
but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body
the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our
body. [2 Cor. 4:7-10]
Too
many critics of Pope Francis fail to study his life, to actually read his
writings as priest, bishop, pope. In
their humanity, like each of us, popes, while striving to be faithful to
Christ, the Gospel, our baptismal vocation, are not perfect. So, either we
trust that popes are chosen by the Holy Spirit, in which case we should be
humbly faithful to the Holy Father, through which we are faithful to the Holy
Spirit, or we don’t.
During
this global pandemic crisis, in the stormy seas of daily life and stress, Jesus
is with us, hearing our cries, personally with us Himself and in His successor
to St. Peter Pope Francis, who constantly shows himself as parish priest to the
whole human family, seeking to strengthen and console us.
Refusing
as always to participate in spurious debates about Pope Francis being this or
that, here are some of his words as bishop and latterly as Pope. They reveal
the heart of this disciple of Christ, this priest, this pontiff.
The
covenant of love and fidelity lived by the Holy Family of Nazareth illuminates
the principle which gives shape to every family, and enables it better to face
the vicissitudes of life and history. On this basis, every family, despite its
weaknesses, can become a light in the darkness of the world. [3]
Mercy
is the Lord’s most powerful message. It’s not easy to trust oneself to the
mercy of God…..but we must do it!.......Our Lady best transmits to the faithful
the joy of God’s word. [4]
The
Lord consoles by making Himself present in the midst of the community and
showing His resurrected wounds, wounds
flowing forth with peace, peace that conquers all fears. [5]
Do not
be afraid to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society,
even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent. [6]
It is
modesty that, as well as the truth, guards the goodness, beauty, and unity of
being. [7]
By
being born in a manger, God himself launches the only true revolution that can
give hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast: the revolution of
love, the revolution of tenderness. From the manger, Jesus proclaims, in a meek
yet powerful way, the need for sharing with the poor as the path to a more
human and fraternal world in which no one is excluded or marginalized. [8]
Jesus
waits for us, He goes ahead of us, He extends His hand to us, He is patient
with us. God is faithful. [9]
It is
traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us
come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual
point of view….. I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can
recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I myself will pray in the month of
May, in spiritual union with all of you…. [10]
[4]
Pope Francis in His Own Words; edited by Julie Schwietert Collazo and Lisa
Rogak; pp. 58 & 86; © 2013; New World Library
[5] The
Church According to the heart of Pope Francis; p.114; © Magnificat Inc.
[6]
Fioretti, The Little Flowers of Pope Francis; p.170; Andrea Tornielli; © 2014
Ignatius Press
[7] The
Way of Humility; Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis; p. 34; Ignatius Press
2014
[9] THE
NAME OF GOD IS MERCY; Pope Francis; p.86; 2016, Random House
[10]
Pope Francis’ letter for special praying of the Holy Rosary in May with a
prayer for these times: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/letter-on-the-month-of-may-full-text.html
© 2020
Fr. Arthur Joseph
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