Pope to young people in Assisi : I have neither silver nor gold to give you, but something far more precious, the Gospel of Jesus
Assisi (AsiaNews) - Two children with Down syndrome cling to his neck , their parents kissing his hands , a blind girl who tries to touch his face, a father who introduces him to his dystrophic son and the Pope who and hugs him tightly, a hug reciprocated by the small skinny little arms . This greeting with the sick was not planned as part of the encounter between Francis and the young people of Umbria in front of the basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. But the pontiff first approached the sector where the sick were seated, as if to signify by his gesture what he later said in his speech: " I have neither gold nor silver to give you, but something far more precious, the Gospel of Jesus. "
Proclamation of the Gospel was
the mandate he gave to the more than 40,000 young people in the square , along
with thousands of others along the path of the Popemobile . "Move forward with
courage ! " He said. "With
the Gospel in your heart and hands , be witnesses of faith with your life".
Pope
Francis arrived at the basilica at 17.35. After
his greeting to the sick, he greeted the Franciscan community and paused in
silence for a short period in the Portiuncula , one of the churches repaired by
the saint of Assisi, where he often withdrew to pray and where sent his
brothers on a mission .
These
historical memories also explain the themes that he developed in his dialogue
with young people : the gospel , mission in society, the vocation of marriage
and virginity , which also correspond to the questions that some young people
had for him.
"Here
in Assisi , near here at the Portiuncula , the pope said - I think I hear the
voice of St. Francis, who says to us: ' Gospel , Gospel .' He says it to me too,
indeed, above all to me : Pope Francis, be a servant of the Gospel!
But
the Gospel , dear friends, is not just about religion , it is about the person,
the whole person, and about the world , society, human civilization. The
Gospel is the message of God's salvation for mankind .... Salvation from what? From evil. The evil work , does his job . But
evil is not invincible and the Christian does not resign before the face of
evil . You
young people, do you want to resign in the face of evil , injustice ,
difficulties ? Our
secret is that God is greater than evil : God is infinite love, boundless mercy
, and that Love has conquered evil at its root in the death and resurrection of
Christ. This is
the Gospel , the Good News: God's love has won ! Christ
died on the Cross for our sins and rose again. With
him we can fight evil and win every day. "
"The
Gospel - he continued - has two destinations that are related: the first, to
arouse faith, and this is evangelization and the second, transform the world
according to God's plan , and this is the Christian animation of society. But
they are not two separate things , they are a single mission: to bring the
Gospel through the witness of our lives and transform the world! This is the
path, just look at Francis: he did both of these things , with the strength of
the one Gospel.
Francis increased the faith , renewed the Church , and at the same time renewed
society, made it more fraternal , but always with the Gospel . "
The
Pope stressed the importance of vocation, that of marriage and virginity. The
question about the sacrament of marriage was asked him by a young couple,
carrying their small baby.
"Two
Christians who are married - said Francis - have recognized the Lord's call in
their love, the vocation to form from two, male and female , one flesh , one
life. And the Sacrament of Marriage envelops this love with
the grace of God, rooted in God himself. With this gift, with the certainty of
this call, you can start off safe, afraid of nothing, in the knowledge that you
can deal with it together".
The
pontiff recalled the parents , grandparents , great-grandparents , "were
married in conditions much poorer than ours, some in time of war, or post-war,
and some emigrated , like my parents . Where did they get their strength from?
From the certainty
that the Lord was with them , that their family is blessed by God in the
sacrament of marriage, and blessed is the mission of giving birth to children
and educating them . Based on these assurances they survived even the most
severe trials . They were simple, but real certainties, which formed of the
pillars that supported their love . "
"Their
lives were not easy. There were so many problems, but these certainties helped
them to move forward and make a beautiful family."
"Dear
friends - he continued - it takes this basis to build such solid moral and
spiritual well being. Today , this base is no longer guaranteed by families and
social tradition . Indeed, the society in which you were born favors individual
rights rather
than the family, relationships that last until difficulties arise, and for this
reason sometimes speaks of the couple relationship, family and marriage in a
superficial and misleading ways. You
only have to watch certain television programs".
Then
leaving aside his written text , the Pope focused on relationships that last
" as long as we love each other " with feeling. Ending
a relationship because we no longer feels love , he said, " is
selfishness." He
also warned against the "temporary" culture, that does not make definitive
decisions".
"But
the Holy Spirit - he continued - always has new answers to new needs! And so paths
for couples , marriage preparation courses, groups of young couples in
parishes, family movements have multiplied in the Church... They
are an immense wealth ! These are points of reference for all : young people
who are searching, couples in crisis , distressed parents with their children
and vice versa. and then there are the different forms of care : foster care,
adoption, foster- families
of various types ... the fantasy of the Spirit is infinite, but it is also very
practical ! Then I would tell you not to be afraid to make the final decisions
in life, like that of marriage : deepen your love , respecting its timing and
expressions ,
pray and prepare well , but then trust that the Lord will not abandon you ! Let
him come into your home as one of the family , he will always support you .
"
The
Pope then spoke of a mother who complained to him that her son , although he
had a long time girlfriend, still would not get married. "Stop
ironing his shirts " , was the advice of Francis.
Two
other young people had asked him how to overcome fear before the call to consecrated
life and how to recognize this call . "Virginity
for the Kingdom of Heaven - explained the pope - is the vocation that Jesus
himself lived . How do we recognize it ? How can we follow it? This is third
question. And I reply with two essential elements: to pray and walk in
the Church. These two things go together, they are intertwined. The origin of
every vocation to the consecrated life is always a strong experience of God ,
an experience you will never forget but remember for a lifetime ! And this is
something we
can not calculate or plan. God always surprises us ! It is God who calls , but
it is important to have a daily relationship with Him, listening in silence
before the Tabernacle and within ourselves , talk to him, the Sacraments .
"
He
added: "Virginity for the Kingdom of God is not a ' no', it is a ' yes ' !
Of course , it implies the renunciation of a marital bond and family, but the
basis is 'yes ' , as
a response to the ' yes ' of total love of Christ towards us, and this ' yes '
makes it fruitful . But here in Assisi there is no need for words ! There is Francis,
there is Clare, speak to them ! Their charism continues to
speak to many young people in the whole world : boys and girls who leave everything
to follow Jesus on the path of the Gospel . "
He
concluded: "Bring Christ into your homes, announce Him among your friends
, welcome and serve the poor . Umbria Give a message of life, peace and hope".
At
the end of the pontiff made a private visit to the shrine of Rivotorto.
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