Pope Francis (Pastor of Mercy) by Michael J. Ruszala
Authors: Michael J. Ruszala
Tags: General Fiction
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successively to fully implement Vatican II. Pope Francis inherits from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict pastoral boundaries for the reform from Vatican II to retain continuity with the Church throughout the ages. All three popes have taught the same unchanging Faith of the Church.
Pope Francis tells us that despite the problems of the Church and the world, we should have hope for the future. On March 15, he told the College of Cardinals, “Never give in to the devil’s pessimism, discouragement and bitterness. Christians need to share the Gospel message with joy and courage because it will truly answer people’s deepest needs.” The Holy Father explained to Father Spadaro that it is not optimism he is looking for. He says, “I do not like to use the word optimism because that is about a psychological attitude. I like to use the word hope instead.... The fathers of the faith kept walking, facing difficulties. And hope does not disappoint....” He continues, “Christian hope is not a ghost and it does not deceive. It is a theological virtue and therefore, ultimately, a gift from God that cannot be reduced to optimism, which is only human. God does not mislead hope; God cannot deny himself. God is all promise.”
Today, many people are looking the Church to change. Some are looking for Pope Francis to change doctrines. Pope Francis has insisted that what needs to change is not the doctrines, which by their nature cannot change, but the people need to change. Cardinal Dolan speaks of the future changes in Pope Francis' papacy, “The Pope will call for a radical change within our hearts and souls, because that’s what Jesus did. The Church is interested in a change in the human heart - a change otherwise known as repentance and conversion.”
Pope Francis explains to Father Spadaro his approach to the problems of the Church of today, “The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. You have to heal... wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.”
The Rosary
The following section is written and compiled by the editor
In a September 2013 interview, Pope Francis discussed his daily prayers, stating, “I pray the breviary every morning. I like to pray with the psalms. Then, later, I celebrate Mass. I pray the Rosary. What I really prefer is adoration in the evening, even when I get distracted and think of other things, or even fall asleep praying. In the evening then, between seven and eight o’clock, I stay in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour in adoration. But I pray mentally even when I am waiting at the dentist or at other times of the day.”
A month earlier, at the Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis urged Catholics to pray the rosary, “Mary joins us, she fights at our side. She supports Christians in the fight against the forces of evil. Especially through prayer, through the rosary. Hear me out, the rosary... Do you pray the Rosary each day? I don't know, are you sure? There we go!”
As a child, I remember seeing my grandmother pray the rosary. I remember thinking that the practice was odd, even frightening to watch. Often we are afraid of things that we do not understand, and, I have since learned that the tradition of praying the rosary is quite beautiful. I hope the following chapter provides both instruction and reference for practicing Catholics, and a deeper understanding for those of different religions. The following chapter explains in detail the traditions of praying the rosary, a tradition that Pope Francis holds dear.
The following sections provide a brief overview of how to pray the rosary. This section also appears in The Life and Legacy of Pope John Paul II, by Wyatt North.
First, begin by holding the cross and repeating the “The Sign of the Cross.”
The Sign of the
Pope Francis tells us that despite the problems of the Church and the world, we should have hope for the future. On March 15, he told the College of Cardinals, “Never give in to the devil’s pessimism, discouragement and bitterness. Christians need to share the Gospel message with joy and courage because it will truly answer people’s deepest needs.” The Holy Father explained to Father Spadaro that it is not optimism he is looking for. He says, “I do not like to use the word optimism because that is about a psychological attitude. I like to use the word hope instead.... The fathers of the faith kept walking, facing difficulties. And hope does not disappoint....” He continues, “Christian hope is not a ghost and it does not deceive. It is a theological virtue and therefore, ultimately, a gift from God that cannot be reduced to optimism, which is only human. God does not mislead hope; God cannot deny himself. God is all promise.”
Today, many people are looking the Church to change. Some are looking for Pope Francis to change doctrines. Pope Francis has insisted that what needs to change is not the doctrines, which by their nature cannot change, but the people need to change. Cardinal Dolan speaks of the future changes in Pope Francis' papacy, “The Pope will call for a radical change within our hearts and souls, because that’s what Jesus did. The Church is interested in a change in the human heart - a change otherwise known as repentance and conversion.”
Pope Francis explains to Father Spadaro his approach to the problems of the Church of today, “The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. You have to heal... wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.”
The Rosary
The following section is written and compiled by the editor
In a September 2013 interview, Pope Francis discussed his daily prayers, stating, “I pray the breviary every morning. I like to pray with the psalms. Then, later, I celebrate Mass. I pray the Rosary. What I really prefer is adoration in the evening, even when I get distracted and think of other things, or even fall asleep praying. In the evening then, between seven and eight o’clock, I stay in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour in adoration. But I pray mentally even when I am waiting at the dentist or at other times of the day.”
A month earlier, at the Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis urged Catholics to pray the rosary, “Mary joins us, she fights at our side. She supports Christians in the fight against the forces of evil. Especially through prayer, through the rosary. Hear me out, the rosary... Do you pray the Rosary each day? I don't know, are you sure? There we go!”
As a child, I remember seeing my grandmother pray the rosary. I remember thinking that the practice was odd, even frightening to watch. Often we are afraid of things that we do not understand, and, I have since learned that the tradition of praying the rosary is quite beautiful. I hope the following chapter provides both instruction and reference for practicing Catholics, and a deeper understanding for those of different religions. The following chapter explains in detail the traditions of praying the rosary, a tradition that Pope Francis holds dear.
The following sections provide a brief overview of how to pray the rosary. This section also appears in The Life and Legacy of Pope John Paul II, by Wyatt North.
First, begin by holding the cross and repeating the “The Sign of the Cross.”
The Sign of the
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