Franco Pisano

Francis chooses theme "The Words of Vocation" for the Day of Prayer for Vocations. "On this day in particular, but also in the ordinary pastoral life of our communities, I ask the Church to continue to promote vocations. May she touch the hearts of the faithful and enable each of them to discover with gratitude God’s call in their lives".

24 doctors and about 50 priests have died in Italy serving the sick. Almost five thousand health workers infected. In his homily, Francis speaks of sloth, "the sin of the neutral, neither white nor black". "The sin of sadness that is the seed of the devil, of that inability to make a decision about one's life, but yes, to look at the life of others to complain".

At Mass this morning, Francis invited people to pray for those who are suffering from the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. “The Lord does not disappoint: he does not disappoint. He makes us wait, He takes His time, but He doesn't disappoint. Faith, perseverance and courage”.

The Apostolic Penitentiary issues a decree for coronavirus patients, those in quarantine as well as healthcare workers and family members who expose themselves to the risk of contagion to help those affected by COVID-19.

Francis reminds people how they can confess in the absence of a priest. A prayer for the healthcare personnel who are working hard to assist coronavirus patients, in particular in Italian cities of Bergamo, Treviglio, Brescia and Cremona.

In a letter, the Ecumenical Patriarch thanks those who fight against the disease, first of all the healthcare personnel, and invites faithful to respect the indications of authorities, beginning with staying at home.

Francis invites us to pray for prisoners who are suffering particularly in this epidemic. Joseph, "a 'just man', that is, a man of faith". "Our faithful, our bishops, our priests, our consecrated men and women, the popes: are they capable of entering into mystery?". Invitation to spiritual communion.

"There is no Christianity without mercy." Always invoke "Saint Joseph," especially in difficult moments and entrust your existence to this great Saint " and also that of those who are sick and those who assist the sick, people who risk their life".

"Our God is close and asks us to be close to each other, not to move away from each other. And in this moment of crisis for the pandemic we are experiencing, asks us to manifest this closeness more, to show it more. We cannot, perhaps, physically get closer because of the fear of contagion, but yes, we can awaken in us an attitude of closeness among us: with prayer, with solidarity, many forms of closeness".

God wants you to forgive "from the heart". “When God forgives us, He forget all the evil we have done. Someone said: 'It is God’s disease'. "When we go to confession, to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we first ask ourselves: 'Do I forgive?'. If I am not forgiving, I cannot pretend to ask for forgiveness, because I will not be forgiven. "

“In a world where there is so much inclination to make money, find good jobs, become professionals, I suddenly realise that these material things do not bring me the kind of happiness that the soul within me desires.”

Yesterday Francis went to pray to the Virgin Salus populi Romani, Health of Romans, kept in Saint Mary Major and the large miraculous Crucifix which in 1522 was carried in procession through the districts of the city to end the "Great Plague" in Rome and which is located in the church of San Marcello al Corso.