Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope Francis’ three words for Ugandan religious: Memory, fidelity and prayer

Pope Francis’ three words for Ugandan religious: Memory, fidelity and prayer

Last updated on: November 28, 2015 at 5:41 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis’ three words for Ugandan religious: Memory, fidelity and prayer 2015-11-28T17:41:00+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.

Kampala, Uganda, Nov 28, 2015 / 10:41 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis wrapped up his public appearances in Uganda with an address to the priests, religious and seminarians of the country at the Cathedral in Kampala.

In an off-the-cuff homily in the Jesuit tradition – brief, with three main points – Pope Francis reflected on three words: memory, fidelity and prayer.

The greatest treasure of the memory of the Ugandan people is the witness of their martyrs, the Holy Father said.

“As I said to the young people today, through the veins of young people and all Ugandan people is flowing the blood of the martyrs,” Pope Francis said.

“Please don’t lose the memory of this great seed.”

Pope Francis’ Nov. 27-28 trip to Uganda, the second of three countries on his trip to Africa, comes one year after the 50th anniversary of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs.

Saint Charles Lwanga and his 21 companions were killed by the king in the 1880s, alongside 23 Anglican converts to Christianity for refusing to recant their faith. They were canonized Oct. 18, 1964, by Bl. Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Basilica.

“Ask for the grace never to forget but to keep alive their memory,” Pope Francis said.

In order to keep the memory of the martyrs alive, it must live on in the faithful witness of priests and religious today, he added.

“You are part of the future glory (of the Church),” the Pope said.

All clergy and religious are called “to be witnesses just as the martyrs laid down their lives for the Gospel.”

The Pope then reflected on fidelity, and the need for clergy and religious to be faithful to the memory of the martyrs as well as to their own vocations.

One way to show this fidelity, the Pope suggested, is to keep the missionary spirit alive within the country of Uganda.

“Fidelity means having a bishop that is generous in offering priests to a neighboring diocese that needs clergy,” he said.

It also means “persevering in one’s vocation, and I want to thank here especially the example of fidelity that I received in the House of Charity – fidelity to the poor, to the infirm, the disabled, because Christ is there,” he said, referencing his earlier visit to the House of Charity in Nalukolongo, Uganda.

The Holy Father then emphasized the need for prayer as the only thing that makes possible the witness of memory and fidelity.

“If a religious or a priest stops praying, because he or she has too much work, then he or she has begun to lose their memory and to lose their fidelity,” he said.

Prayer also means regular confession, to ensure that one is not living a double life as a religious, the Pope added.

“If you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness, but don’t keep hidden what God doesn’t want to remain hidden.”

At the conclusion of his address, the Pope called on the intercession of the martyrs of Uganda, and asked all those present to pray for him. He then led the clergy and religious in the Hail Mary.

The Pope will conclude his trip to Africa in the Central African Republic, which he will visit Nov. 29-30.

Vatican

Previous Post

November 28, 2015

Pope to Ugandan youth: You are a people of martyrs

Next Post

November 29, 2015 Pope advocates for peace, unity in Central African Republic

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

Who was Ahab's wicked wife, notorious for her cruelty?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jezebel Athaliah Michal Abigail