Pope Francis traveled by car to Šaštín, 43 miles from Bratislava, for the last big ceremony of his trip.
Šaštín houses the National Shrine of the patroness of Slovakia, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows.
Pope Francis rode the popemobile around the large esplanade in front of the basilica, where tens of thousands of people were waiting for him.
In his homily the Pope urged Catholics to escape from a static faith, which is satisfied with rites and traditions.
POPE FRANCIS
Let us not forget this: faith cannot be reduced to sugar that sweetens life. Jesus is a sign of contradiction. He has come to bring light where there is darkness, bringing darkness out into the open and forcing it to surrender.
The Pope explained that it is not a matter of fighting the world, but of behaving coherently.
POPE FRANCIS
(Christians are) weavers of dialogue where positions harden; they make fraternity shine where in society there is division and hostility; they spread the good perfume of welcome and solidarity where personal and collective egoism predominate; they protect and care for life where the logic of death reigns.
Pope Francis celebrated Mass at an altar with this modern image of St. Joseph, which was greatly admired...
He also prayed before the image of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. It was donated 450 years ago by a woman who wanted to thank Our Lady for the miracle that changed her irascible husband's mood. It is said that since then, miraculous healings attributed to her intercession have multiplied.
As is traditional, the Pope offered Our Lady a golden rose in commemoration of his visit.
JMB
TR: JM/CT
