Pope Francis’s weekly homily: A message from the crucifixion scene created 800 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi in Gracho, Italy, with people and cattle. Be careful not to indulge in consumerism during the Christmas season.
Joey Kariveli, Vatican City
Just like last week, this Wednesday (20/12/23) the Pope granted a public meeting at the Vatican in the Paul VI Chapel near St. Peter’s Basilica. When Papa reached the shala, walking slowly with the help of a crutch, the pilgrims and visitors present stood up and expressed their joy with applause and cheers. At 9:00 a.m. Rome time, 1:30 p.m. India time, the Pope began the public visit with the Trinity. Then the scriptures were read in different languages.
“And the angel said unto them: Fear not. Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day in the city of David a savior, the Lord Christ. This shall be the sign unto you: ye shall see a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12.
After this reading, the Pope’s sermon was about the manger commemorating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, in the context of the imminent rebirth. The pope shared the idea that St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, who was the first to recreate the Nativity scene with living humans and quadrupeds instead of Grecoil statues, was a school of moderation and joy.
Pope’s keynote address in Italian:
The hayloft at Gracho
Dear brothers and sisters, good day!
800 years ago, during the Feast of the Ascension in 1223, St. Francis Gréchoil depicted the scene of the Resurrection. As the Nativity scene is being prepared or completed in homes and many other places, it is useful to look back to its origins.
Psyche of Saint Francis of Assisi
What was the purpose of St. Francis? We can understand it from his words: “I want to represent the baby born in Bethlehem and to see in some physical way the difficulties faced by the child due to the lack of things necessary for a new-born child, how the child was placed in a manger, how he lay on the grass between an ox and a donkey” (TOMMASO DA CELANO, Vita prima, XXX, 84: FF 468). Francis does not want to make a beautiful work of art, does he, but rather to inspire the awe of the manger at the suffering and extreme humility of the Lord out of love for us. Think of the word wonder. In fact, the biographer of the Saint of Assisi notes: “In that touching scene, the simplicity of the Gospel shines forth, poverty is glorified, humility is narrated. Graeco became like a new Bethlehem” (ibid., 85: FF 469). I underlined one word: AWESOME. This is important. It is not enough that we as Christians see and pray to the manger as a beautiful, historical, religious thing. This religious attitude of awe is necessary before the mystery of the incarnation of the Word, before the birth of Jesus. If I do not reach this awe before the Mysteries, my faith is only superficial; is a “computer science belief”. Don’t forget this.
Moderation
This is a characteristic of Tiruppiravirangam: Tiruppiravirangam is born as a school of moderation. It has a lot to say to us too. Today, in fact, the danger of missing the core of life is so great that it paradoxically increases as we approach the reincarnation: that is, sinking into consumerism because of the reincarnation’s struggle. Consumerism in Thirupiparavithaidal. It is true that one wants to give gifts, that is good, it is a method, but that frenzy of buying things – it diverts the attention elsewhere, and the moderation of Tirupiravi is not there. Let’s look into the sky – we’ll see it, won’t we? That wonder in front of Pukkoon. There is no inner space for awe when we are only concerned with preparing a feast and organizing a festival. It is right to celebrate, but with what spirit do I do it?
The Nativity scene helps to see the core
The manger is designed to bring us back to the essence, to God who comes to dwell among us. So it is important to look at the scene of Thirupiravi. Because it will help us to understand what is at the core and the social relations of Jesus at that time, but also the family, Joseph Mary’s loved ones and the shepherds. People come before things. Often we prioritize things over people. This can’t be right.
pleasure
But the Nativity scene in Gracchus, in addition to the mediocrity it portrays, also speaks of joy, because joy is different from amusement. Entertaining is not a bad thing if done well. Isn’t that so? It’s not a bad thing, it’s a humane thing. But happiness is a sacrifice. More humane. But sometimes there is a temptation to entertain joylessly; Celebrating with noise, but joy is not there. It is like a clown who keeps laughing and laughing, but his heart is full of sorrow. Joy is the basis of a good celebration of Thirupiravi. The chronicle of that period says of temperance: “The day of gladness, the time of rejoicing is at hand! […] Frances […] Be refreshed […]. People are running and sipping joy they have never tasted before […]. All returned home full of indescribable joy” (Vita prima, XXX, 85-86: FF 469-470). Temperance, awe, lead you to joy, not false joy, but true joy.
A grass shed where God’s trinity of nearness, tenderness and compassion is manifested
But where did this joy come from? Certainly not from the gifts brought into the home and the celebration with a sumptuous feast. No, it was the joy that overflows from the heart when you feel the closeness of Jesus, the tenderness of God who comforts you without leaving you alone. Nearness, tenderness and compassion are the three attitudes of God. Intimacy, tenderness, mercy. When we look at the grass, when we pray in front of the Tirupiravi scene, we can experience these expressions of the Lord who help us in our daily life.
Look at the haystack
Dear brothers and sisters, the scene of the resurrection is like a small cup to draw near to God, the source of hope and joy. The manger is like a living gospel, a household gospel. It is like the biblical well, a gathering place where life’s hopes and concerns can be brought to Jesus, as the shepherds of Bethlehem and the people of Greco did. Take life’s hopes and worries to Jesus. If we entrust our hearts to Jesus before the manger, we too will experience “great joy” (Matthew 2:10), a joy that comes from meditating on these mysteries, from the wondrous form of meditating. Let’s go to the front of the grass hut. Everyone look and let your heart feel something. Thanks.
Post-sermon greetings and benediction
Following these words, a summary of the Pope’s homily, which was in Italian, was read in various languages, including English and Arabic, and at the end of each reading, the Pope greeted the speakers in Italian.
Earthquake disaster in China
On Monday the 18th, the Pope remembered those who died and were injured in the earthquake in the province of Gansu, Kyumhai, China, and prayed for the people suffering from this disaster and inspired those who extended a helping hand to them.
Migrants fleeing Africa
Addressing the “Mediterranean Saving Humans” group, which rescues people fleeing slavery in Africa by sea, the Pope hailed saving people as a great deed.
Sufferers on battlefields
The Pope remembered those suffering from war, the countries of Vichysia, Palestine, Israel and Ukraine. The Pope reiterated his conviction that war is always a defeat and that only the arms manufacturers benefit from it. The Pope especially remembered the children suffering due to the war and invited everyone to beg Jesus for peace in front of the manger.
Concluding remarks
At the end of the public visit, the Pope greeted the young, the old, the sick and the newlyweds. Then, after the Lord’s Prayer in Latin, “O Heavenly Father,” the Pope gave his apostolic blessing to all.
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2023-12-20 11:19:00
