Charity without meekness and humility is sterile, Pope reflects

Last updated on: October 1, 2013 at 2:54 pm by CNA Daily News

Charity without meekness and humility is sterile, Pope reflects 2013-10-01T14:54:00+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, Oct 1, 2013 / 08:54 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, Pope Francis praised the saint for her exemplary humility and meekness, praying that the council of cardinals would emulate her virtue in their upcoming meetings.

The Pope concelebrated his Oct. 1 daily Mass with the group of eight cardinals who will meet from Tuesday to Thursday this week to discuss reform of the curia.

In his homily, Pope Francis voiced hope that council’s meetings will help everyone to become more humble and to trust in God, so that the Church is able to give a beautiful witness to the world.

Reflecting on the gospel of the day in which the apostles sought to call down fire upon those who did not accept them, the Holy Father urged that the path of Christians is not a “path of vengeance,” saying that instead, it is the way of humility and meekness.

In light of the feast of St. Therese – a French cloistered nun who lived in the late 1800s – the Pope encouraged those present to meditate on “this spirit of humility, of tenderness, of bounty,” which is, he said, a spirit that God “wants from all of us.”

This spirit, he said, can only be found “in love, in charity, in the awareness that we are in the hands of the Father.”

Once we understand this, said the Pope, we will no longer desire to “call down fire from Heaven.”

“Another spirit comes, that of that charity that suffers all, pardons all, that does not boast, that is humble, that doesn’t seek itself.”

Noting that there are some who might say this understanding of charity is a lowering of the “majesty” and “greatness” of man, Pope Francis stressed that this approach “is sterile!”

“The Gospel reaches its highest point in the humiliation of Jesus: humility that becomes humiliation,” he urged, saying that the force of the gospel “is properly in humility, in the humility of the child that is guided by the love and the tenderness of the father.”

The pontiff lauded the Church for naming St. Therese a Doctor of the Church and Patron of Missions – adding the words of Benedict XVI that the “Church does not grow through proselytism,” but rather “through attraction, through witness.”

“When the people see this witness of humility, of meekness, of mildness, they feel the need that the Prophet Zachariah spoke of: ‘We want to come with you.’”

“Charity is simple,” stated the Pope, “worship God and serve others!”

Concluding his homily with a special mention of the meetings being held with the council of cardinals, Pope Francis asked the Lord that through their work, they will become more humble, meek, patient and trusting in God.

He asked that this occur “so that the Church can give a beautiful witness to the people, and seeing the People of God, seeing the Church, they might feel the desire to come with us.”

Vatican

Previous Post

October 1, 2013

Pope experienced a 'great light' before accepting the papacy

Next Post

October 1, 2013 Benedict could attend canonizations, Vatican spokesman says

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

True or False: Esther became queen through a beauty contest.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE