Ávila, Spain is celebrating 50 years since its patron saint was named a Doctor of the Church.
It’s doing so with this in-person and on line conference.
To conclude it, Pope Francis has sent this nearly 13-minute long video message.
He urged the faithful to imitate the example of St. Teresa, who lived in a rapidly changing world much like today.
POPE FRANCIS
“There is a strong temptation to give in to disillusionment, to resignation, to the dismal and unfounded feeling that everything will go wrong. It’s a fruitless pessimism. The pessimism of people incapable of giving life.”
“Instead, prayer opens us up. It allows us to see God’s greatness, that He is on the other side of the horizon, that God is good, that He loves us, and that history has not slipped through his fingers.”
Pope Francis recalled that the “audacity, creativity, and St. Teresa’s excellence as a reformer” were the fruit of her friendship with the Lord.
Last December, the bishop of Ávila, along with a delegation from the city, traveled to Rome. They invited the Pope to visit Spain in 2022 for the 400th anniversary of St. Teresa’s canonization.
Pope Francis did not give them an answer, but from his message it is clear that he admires this historic saint.
JMB
TRAN: JM
