蜜桃交友

By Lisa Zengarini

Christians cannot let themselves be 鈥渢rapped in the bonds of tired worldliness鈥�, but are called to 鈥渞ediscover the beauty鈥� of their faith they have received and 鈥渢o intercede鈥� with God so as to attract others to that beauty.

Pope Francis made this invitation as he welcomed in the Vatican on Saturday a group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia, in the Central Italian region of Umbria, celebrating their Jubilee year for the 825th anniversary of the dedication of the city鈥檚 Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Communicating faith is above all a question of beauty

Dwelling on the beauty of Spoleto鈥檚 Romanesque Cathedral, one of the ancient city鈥檚 main attraction, Pope Francis noted that 鈥渃ommunicating faith is above all a question of beauty鈥�, something that 鈥渃annot be explained鈥�, but to which we must 鈥渂ear witness鈥� and which must be 鈥渂rought to light鈥�, like 鈥渁 restorer does when he rediscovers the colours of an ancient fresco鈥�.

This - the Pope said 鈥� applies to the Church, 鈥渨here what doesn鈥檛 appear to the eye is more precious than what is seen: prayer, charity done in secret, the strength of forgiveness, do not make the front page, as don鈥檛鈥� the self-sacrifice of the shepherds, the life of so many 鈥榮aints of next door鈥�, the testimony of parents, families, of the elderly鈥︹��

A living faith is not an artifact in a museum

But the beauty of faith, not only needs to be 鈥渞ediscovered鈥�, it must be further enhanced, the Pope continued, because is not a thing of the past, like some kind of an artifact in a museum, 鈥渂ut always lives in the joy of the Gospel, in the community made up of people, in the assembly of those who experience mercy and recognize each other by grace as brothers and sisters loved by God鈥�.

Coherence between faith and Christian witness

The Pope went on to note that seeking beauty is going 鈥渢o the heart of things鈥�. In the Church this translates into focusing less on 鈥渆xternal aspects鈥� and instead on its real  鈥渞eal priorities鈥�: prayer, charity and the proclamation of the Gospel.

For this proclamation to be effective the Church must not be afraid to update its methods of evangelization, catechesis, the ministry parish priests and the service of pastoral workers, in other words to 鈥渕ove from a pastoral care of conservation, where people are expected to come along, to a missionary pastoral care鈥�, always keeping in mind that 鈥渢he testimony of life communicates the beauty of faith鈥�. This testimony, the Pope stressed, must always be coherent with our faith.

A Church that intercedes for those who don鈥檛 know God's love

Another keyword mentioned by Pope Francis in his address was 鈥渋ntercession鈥�,

bringing others before the Lord, fighting with Him through prayer, knowing how to insist, not only and not so much for our friends and loved ones, but above all for those who are far away, for those who don鈥檛 know God's love, like Mary did.

Again, Pope Francis insisted on an open and dynamic approach capable of embracing changes, against 鈥渢ired鈥� worldliness turned to the past.

Concluding his discourse, Pope Francis noted that this year鈥檚 Jubilee celebrations will help the faithful of the Dioces of Spoleto-Norcia strengthen their roots so they may 鈥渞ejoice in the beauty of the love of God and of being Church, and feeling called to intercede鈥�.