On the afternoon of Friday, March 8, the Pope led a penitential service at the parish of St. Pius V, Rome, thus opening the annual Lenten initiative “24 hours for the Lord.” He also heard the confessions of some believers.
Jānis Evertovskis – Vatican
In his homily, Francis commented on the first reading from the Epistle to the Romans, where the apostle Paul calls Christians to “live a renewed life” (6, 4). The source of this renewed life is the sacrament of Baptism, through which we are immersed in the death and resurrection of Christ and become children of God. Moreover, this new existence is inextricably linked with the daily journey to the Heavenly Father. Christians face many obstacles in this pilgrimage, which are related to a wrong understanding of God, their neighbors and themselves. It is a paralyzing fear of the Almighty, exaggerating other people’s shortcomings and finding one’s own powerlessness.
The Pope emphasized that the new life is the path of God’s forgiveness. It is always the new flow of God’s grace. It strengthens the heart that trusts in God, loves its neighbor and itself. Merciful Christ heals and cleanses hearts from evil, and this allows man to see Him. It must be prayed persistently, because the Lord truly desires our salvation and eternal bliss. The Holy Father reminded that the return should not be postponed “for a later time”. The new life begun in baptism continues in God’s forgiveness.
The Pope hears the confessions of the faithful
According to the Bishop of Rome, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the foundation of the Christian life. The believer repents in order to fall into the arms of the crucified Christ and rise again in his heart. On the other hand, confessors are called to be channels of God’s mercy, paternal joy and the tenderness of the Holy Spirit. The Pope emphasized that one must always forgive, because forgiveness must be at the center of the Church’s life.
Recognizing one’s sins, mistakes, shortcomings, negligence, weaknesses and transgressions, one must continue to walk the path of the “new life” and call out with confidence: “Jesus, if You want, You can cleanse me”, said Francis. He repeatedly called to remember well that, that God never gets tired of forgiving. The problem is that we stop asking Him for forgiveness. But God forgives always and everything. Through his forgiveness, he cleanses our heart and restores us. God wants us to be restored, to have freedom, to feel light and would be happy. He knows how quickly we fall, but he wants us to get up again. Let’s not grieve Him, let’s not postpone receiving His forgiveness for a later time – urged the Bishop of Rome.
After the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Pope and several priests gave the faithful the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Holy Father listened to the confessions of the faithful for about half an hour.
Service at St. Pius V Parish, Rome
2024-03-08 21:57:10
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