Pope Francis: the Church nurtures, loves us as a mother

Last updated on: September 11, 2013 at 5:18 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: the Church nurtures, loves us as a mother 2013-09-11T17:18:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Sep 11, 2013 / 11:18 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis told thousands gathered for his weekly general audience that the Church is like our mother, who gives life to and nurtures the faithful.

“Today I wish to continue our catechesis on the Church by reflecting on an image used by the early Fathers and the Second Vatican Council: the Church as our Mother,” he said. “By reflecting on the human experience of maternity, we understand that the Church is like our own mothers.”

During his Sept. 11 audience, Pope Francis stressed in his first point that as our mother, “the Church gives us the gift of life.”

He emphasized the importance of remembering the day when one was baptized, because that is they day one enters the Church, telling those gathered, once home, to “go and look well what is the date of your baptism,” and to “have it in your heart and celebrate it.”

The pontiff specified also that although faith is a personal act, it also comes to us through others, through our “families and communities who teach us how to believe.”

Pope Francis then reflected that “the Church nourishes us, helps us to grow, teaches us the path to follow, and accompanies us in life.”

He highlighted that the Church is close to her children “especially in our illnesses and sufferings, through the Sacraments and the Word of God.”

Pope Francis also told the pilgrims that a Christian should not live in isolation, saying “A Christian is not an island!”

“We do not become Christians in the laboratory, we do not become Christians alone, and with our own strength, but faith is a gift, it is a gift of God that is given to us in the Church and through the Church.”

The layperson's role “is not something external and formal,” he said, it “is not filing a card that they give us.”

“It is an act of inner life,” he said, stating that Christians do not belong to the Church in the same was as to “a company, to a party or any other organization.”

He then commissioned those present to take an active part in evangelization, telling them that “it is also our mission to go forth and share in the maternity of the Church by bringing others to a life of faith.”

“And so we ask ourselves, do we love the Church as our Mother, who helps us to grow as Christians? And how do we go beyond ourselves in order to bring Christ to others?”

“As faithful children, let us bring the light of Christ to the ends of the earth.”

Vatican

Previous Post

September 11, 2013

German bishop says 'forces at work' against Bishop Tebartz

Next Post

September 11, 2013 Chilean lawmakers establish day for unborn children

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I married an unfaithful wife to illustrate God's relationship with Israel. What was my wife's name?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Gomer Delilah Jezebel Bathsheba