Franco Pisano

Joy is “the fullness of consolation, the fullness of the presence of the Lord. Because, as Paul says to the Galatians, 'joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit', it is not the consequence of emotions that burst for a wonderful thing ... No more. This joy, this which fills us is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit one cannot have this joy. Receiving the joy of the Spirit is a grace. "

"When in Hebrew we wish shalòm, we wish for a beautiful, full, prosperous life, but also according to truth and justice, which will be fulfilled in the Messiah, prince of peace". "True shalòm and true inner balance flow from the peace of Christ, which comes from his Cross and generates a new humanity, embodied in an infinite host of saints, saints, inventive, creative, who have devised ever new ways to love.

God "is faithful to his promise". "God's fidelity is a patient fidelity: He is patient with His people, listens to them, guides them, explains slowly and warms their hearts". "God's fidelity always precedes us and our fidelity is always the answer to that fidelity that precedes us".

Tomorrow’s general elections will measure the mood of the country, with President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party earning good points on its quick handling of the pandemic, not so many for its management of the economy.

Conversion is fidelity, "that human attitude that is not so common in people's lives, in our lives. There are always illusions that attract attention and many times we want to go behind these illusions. Loyalty, in good times and in bad times”.

Women were the first to meet the Risen Jesus and bring to the apostles the announcement that carries hope even today. During this epidemic, many women care for others: “women doctors, nurses, law enforcement and prison officers, employees of stores selling basic necessities”. Some of them “are at risk of violence, in a relationship in which they carry too great a burden.”

“Remember what Jesus said: there are two lords, the Lord God and the god of money. One cannot serve both.” “May the Lord be both in our personal life and in our social life”. May he “always help us to choose the announcement: the announcement that is horizon, open, always; may he lead us to choose what is good for people. And never fall into the tomb of the god of money.”

At the Easter vigil, Francis recalls that "God is faithful" and does not abandon us. ). Do not be afraid, do not yield to fear: This is the message of hope. It is addressed to us, today. These are the words that God repeats to us this very night. Tonight we acquire a fundamental right that can never be taken away from us: the right to hope.” The hope of Jesus "places in the heart the certainty that God knows how to turn everything to good."

Francis celebrated the ‘In Coena Domini” Mass in an empty St Peter’s Basilica, except for a dozen people present. “Nobody knows their names”. They are “anonymous priests, country parish priests who know the locals. One told me that he knew the names of all the people in the village. ‘Really? I said to him.’ Even the dogs. [. . .] Today I carry you all to the altar.”

The Pope will not celebrate the chrism mass today, instead it will take place once the crisis is over. There will be Mass in Coena Domini, but without the washing of the feet. Tomorrow, the Via Crucis will be in St. Peter's square. During the Holy Saturday Vigil, at 9 pm, no baptisms will be celebrated. At Easter he will pronounce the message Urbi et Orbi and impart the Easter blessing before the altar of confession.

In the story of the Passion, the answer to the question "what is God doing" in the face of the pandemic. "Let us not forget that the cross is the chair of God. It will do us good to look at the Crucifix in silence and see who our Lord is." “Easter tells us that God can turn everything to good. That with Him we can truly trust that everything will be fine ".

“They pretend to serve God to serve money. They are the hidden exploiters who are socially flawless, but under the table they do business, even with people: it doesn't matter. Human exploitation is selling one's neighbor."