The Pope is coming…the Pope is coming…the Pope is coming!!!!!!!!!!

In the remote possibility you have been sequestered in some deep dark cave for the past few weeks…the Pope is coming. There is much excitement in the awaiting the coming of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for his visit to the United States. We may, in our excitement, forget why his is coming and the important work that is being done in preparation for his visit.

Why is Pope Francis coming to the United States? He is not coming to visit the President or speak before the United Nations or the Congress and he is not here to canonize Junipero Serra…although he will be doing all of those things and more…he is coming for the World Meeting of Families. If you haven’t had a chance to read Pope Francis’ comments and remarks on the family I would encourage you to take time and do a little reading. I would suggest the www.catholicnewsagency.com and search for articles on Pope Francis and the family.

I offer you the following quotes…

“The family is a school where prayer also reminds us that we are not isolated individuals; we are one and we have a neighbour close at hand: he or she is living under the same roof, is a part of our life, and is in need.”

Pope Francis is reminding us of the very basic catechesis of the family, that the parents are the first teachers in faith for their children. Through their words, actions and dreams they draw all to a closer relationship with God that does not isolate but rather gathers and grows the community of faith. Parents and families are seeds of goodness and joy in the community. This is good news where husbands and wives are living symbols of God’s love and mercy for one another, their children and the world.

“God calls men and women to be parents who believe in love, who believe in its beauty. I want to ask you, do you believe in the beauty of love? Do you believe in the greatness of love? Do you have faith in this? This is a daily faith.”                                                  

Marriage is founded on beauty and love. It is the faith filled moment of conversion to another in our lives. God, who is love and beauty, centers our relationships and centers our lives on the daily struggles to be living symbols of holiness (saints) in our world                                                                                                                              

“If these wounds are not healed in time, they worsen and turn into resentment and hostility, which (then) fall to the children,” he cautioned, adding that when the wounds are particularly deep, “they can even lead a spouse to search for understanding elsewhere, to the detriment of the family.”                                                                         

But we are also realistic: we are sinners and do sin. The hurt of sin needs the healing balm of mercy and forgiveness that comes from a relationship with God. This is why the daily acts of love and forgiveness lead us to the openness, to reconciliation and growth in love where our true calling to be beloved in the arms of God and our family becomes reality.

Please take time to pray for your family and all families and remember THE POPE IS COMING!!!!!!!!

God Bless

Fr. Mark