During his Monday morning Mass, Pope Francis talked about the Beatitudes. One day after meeting with the Presidents of Israel and Palestine, he emphasized the importance of peace-making.
POPE FRANCIS
'Blessed are peace-makers. But it is so common amongst us to be war-makers or perpetrators of misunderstandings! When I hear something from one person, and I go and say it to someone else in more exaggerated, extended version... The world of gossip. People who gossip, who do not make peace, are enemies of peace. They are not blessed.â?
The Pope concluded that the Beatitudes show Christians a clear path to Holiness with very few, simple and practical words.
Pope Francis celebrated Mass, but then canceled his scheduled meetings for the day. The Vatican's spokesperson said, the Pope felt slightly unwell.
EXCEPRT OF THE POPE'S HOMILY
Source: Vatican Radio
'The world tells us that happiness, joy and entertainment are the best things in life. And it looks the other way when there are problems of disease or pain in the family. The world does not want to suffer, it prefers to ignore painful situations, to cover them up. Only the person who sees things as they are, and whose heart mourns, will be happy and will be comforted. Thanks to the consolation of Jesus, not to that of the world. Blessed are the meek in this world which is filled with wars, arguments, hatred. And Jesus says: no war, no hatred. Peace and meekness.â?
Blessed are they who forgive, who are merciful. Because we are all part of an army of people who have been forgiven! We have all been forgiven. That is why blessed is he who undertakes this path of forgiveness. Blessed are the pure of heart, they who have a simple, pure heart without dirt, a heart that knows how to love with purity. Blessed are peace-makers. But it is so common amongst us to be war-makers or perpetrators of misunderstandings! When I hear something from one person, and I go and say it to someone else in a second, enlarged, editionâ?¦ the world of gossip. People who gossip, who do not make peace, are enemies of peace. They are not blessedâ?.
'Few words, simple words, but practical for all. Because Christianity is a practical religion: it is not just to be imagined, it is to be practiced. If you have some time at home today, take the Gospel, Matthewâ??s Gospel, chapter five. At the beginning there are the Beatitudes; in chapter 25 the rest. And it will do you good to read them once, twice, three times. Read this programme for holiness. May the Lord give us the grace to understand his messageâ?.
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