Today the Pope paid
his first visit to a Roman diocese, in the city’s Prima Porta suburb. In his
homily Francis spoke about Mary's haste to help us and about the ability to see
reality more clearly from a distance and from within a different context. He also
explained the Trinity to children
The Pope held a lively question and answer session
with children of the parish of Sts. Elizabeth and Zechariah, in the Prima Porta
suburb of Rome, who came to see Francis on his first visit to a Roman parish
this morning. The Pope started off commenting on the part of the Gospel that
describes Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. He then went on to explain the
meaning of the Trinity in the Christian faith, asking the children questions
and waiting for their responses.
Francis’ pre-mass address to the faithful and the
parish priest of this church on the far northern suburb of Rome was a blend of
humour and sober reflection. He referred to the congregation as the city’s
guards.
“Dear first guard and dear second guard, I like what you say about
guards; one gets a far clearer perspective of reality from the peripheries than
they do from the centre. We need to be guards, just like you said. I give
thanks to you for the work you do as a guard and I give thanks for the
hospitality given to me on Trinity Sunday. Present here today are the
priests you know so well, the Pope’s two secretaries, and the Bishop of Rome.
The Pope stayed behind in the Vatican. These last two work well together. One
of them, Fr. Alfred is celebrating the 29th anniversay of his priestly ordination.
Let us pray for him and hope he will serve for at least another 29 years,”
Francis said.
“Mary is always in a hurry because she wants to help
us not because she wants to brag about the fact she is the mother of God. She
goes to help Elizabeth: “She is our Mother, who always comes in haste when we
need help. It would be nice to add to the litanies of Our Lady one that says
“Lady who sets out in haste, pray for us!”” “This makes us safe, the safety of
always having our mother near, at our side. Our Lady also helps us to
understand God well.” The Pope then asked the children present about God, Jesus
and the Holy Spirit in order to explain the Trinity (today is the feast of the
Holy Trinity) to them.
“I ask you, children: “Who knows who God is?” Raise
your hand, tell me. Okay! Creator of the earth. And how many Gods are there? 1?
But they told me that there are 3: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! How
do we explain this? Is there 1 or is there 3? 1? 1? And how do we explain that
one is the Father, the other the Son and the other Holy Spirit? Louder, louder!
Good answer. They are 3 in 1, 3 persons in 1. And what does the Father do? The
Father is the origin, the Father, who created everything, created us. What does
the Son do? What does Jesus do? Who knows how to say what Jesus does? He loves
us? And what else? What did Jesus do on the earth? He saved us! And Jesus came
to give his life for us. Is this true? And how does he walk? What does he do
when he walks with us in life? This is hard. The one who answers it wins! What
does Jesus do when he walks with us? Louder! The first one: he helps us. He
guides us! Very good! He walks with us, he helps us, he guides us and he
teaches us how to go forward. And Jesus also gives us the strength to walk. Is that
right? He supports us! Good! In difficulties, right? And even in school work!
He supports us, he helps us, he guides us, he supports us. Okay! Jesus is
always with us. Good. But listen, Jesus gives us strength. How does Jesus give
us strength? You know how he gives us strength! Louder, I can’t hear you! In
Communion he gives us strength, the way he helps us is by giving us strength.
He comes to us. But when you say “He gives us Communion,” a piece of bread
gives you so much strength? It’s not bread? It’s bread? This is bread but what
is on the altar, is it bread or not? It looks like bread! It’s not really
bread. What is it? It is the body of Jesus. Jesus comes into our heart. Well,
let’s all think about this,” the Pope said. “Let us ask Our Lady, Our Lady who is our
Mother, always quick to help us, that she help us always to understand well how
God is: how the Father is, how the Son is and how the Holy Spirit is,” the Pope
said, concluding his homily.
Before celebrating mass
in the parish of Sts. Elizabeth and Zechariah, Francis also listened to the
confessions of eight faithful. During last Saturday’s vigil with religious
movements, he said: “When I go to listen to confession, I mean when I used to –
I can’t any more because I can’t leave this place…” Today he was able once
again to listen confessions in a parish outside the Vatican.
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