Pope Francis’ Angelus: “our life is not a video game or a soap opera; our life is serious”

Here is Vatican Radio‘s translation of Pope Francis’ Angelus address today:

Vatican Radio translation of the Pope’s Angelus address:

“Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! [He said, “Buon giorno”. We are after noon, of course.]

Today’s Gospel passage invites us to meditate on the theme of salvation. The Evangelist Luke tells us that Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem and along the way is approached by a man who asks him this question: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23). Jesus does not give a direct answer, but takes the discussion to another level, with suggestive language that at first, the disciples don’t understand:   “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter, but they will not succeed” (v.24 ). [“many… πύλης… many… “] With the image of the door, He wants to explain to his listeners that it is not a question of numbers – how many people will be saved.   It doesn’t matter how many, but it is important that everyone knows which is the path that leads to salvation: the door.

To go along this path, one must pass through a door. But where is the door?  What is it like?  Who is the door?  Jesus himself is the door (cf. Jn 10,9).  He himself says it, ‘I am the door’ in John’s Gospel.  He leads us in communion with the Father, where we find love, understanding and protection. But why is this door narrow? One can ask. Why is it narrow?  It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive – no, but because it asks us to restrict and limit our pride and our fear, to open ourselves with humble and trusting heart to Him, recognizing ourselves as sinners, in need of his forgiveness.  [Another reason why it is narrow is because HE is the ONLY path to salvation.  Anyone who is saved, is saved through Him and that salvation is mediated through the Church.]  For this, it is narrow: to contain our pride, which bloats us.  The door of God’s mercy is narrow but always wide open, wide open for everyone! God has no favorites, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction. [Everyone can repent and believe the Gospel, confess her sins and be baptized!] A door, that is narrow to restrict our pride and our fear.  Open because God welcomes us without distinction.   And the salvation that He gives us is an unceasing flow of mercy…which breaks down every barrier and opens up surprising perspectives of light and peace.  The narrow but always open door:  do not forget this.  Narrow door, but always open.

Jesus offers us today, once again, a pressing invitation to go to him, to cross the threshold of a full life, reconciled and happy. He waits for each of us, no matter what sin we have committed, no matter what!  To embrace us, to offer us his forgiveness. [Which means, for the baptized, confession of our mortal sins in kind and number.] He alone can transform our hearts, He alone can give full meaning to our existence, giving us true joy. Upon entering the door of Jesus, the door of faith and of the Gospel, we can leave behind worldly attitudes, bad habits, selfishness and the closing ourselves off. When there is contact with the love and mercy of God, there is real change. And our life is illuminated by the light of the Holy Spirit: an inextinguishable light!”

Pope invites faithful to examine their consciences

“I’d like to make you a proposal,” the Pope said to the pilgrims in the square, and invited them to think in silence  for a moment about the things they have inside that prevent them from passing over the threshold: pride, arrogance, sin. “And then, let us think about that other door, the one open to God’s mercy and He is waiting on the other side to forgive us,” Francis added.  [Let’s make good examinations of conscience, remembering also sins of OMISSION.]

“The Lord offers us many opportunities to save ourselves and to enter through the door of salvation,” the Pope continued.  “This door is an opportunity that must not be wasted: we must not make an academic discourse of salvation, as did the man who questioned Jesus, but we must seize the opportunities for salvation. [GO TO CONFESSION!] Because at a certain moment “the landlord got up and locked the door” (v.25), as mentioned in the Gospel. But if God is good and loves us, why does he close the door – he will close the door at a certain point? Because our life is not a video game or a soap opera; our life is serious and the goal to achieve is important: eternal salvation.  [You can LOSE what Christ won for you!  You really can.  Salvation isn’t automatic.  Remember the horrific words the foolish virgins heard from the other side of the locked door: “I do not know you.” Is that what you want to hear from the other side of the door?]

To the Virgin Mary, Door of Heaven, [one of her titles in the Litany of Loreto] we ask help so that we seize the opportunities that the Lord gives us to cross the threshold of faith and thus to enter into a wide road: [Convert!  Enter the CATHOLIC CHURCH, which is the only Church Christ, the Door, founded!] it is the path of salvation that can accommodate all those who allow themselves to love and be loved (it: si lasciano coinvolgere dall’amore). It is love which saves;  the love that is already here on earth is a source of happiness to those who, in meekness, patience and justice, forget themselves and give themselves to others, especially the weakest.”

Here’s the video.  The Pope shows up around 3:50. Small crowd, but it is August. And, frankly, perhaps the Pope should be out at Castel Gandolfo having some “relax”, as we say in Italian.

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3 Comments

  1. S.Armaticus says:

    Wow. Small crowd indeed. [Yes, it is.]
    This is August, the height of tourist season. [No, it isn’t. And tourism is down in Europe.]
    And the Year of Mercy to boot.
    This is the real Francis Effect. [Maybe so, maybe now.]
    Even the tourists are staying away. [It is August. The ROMANS are gone.]

    PS A co-worker did Italy this year. He said the crowds in Florence were humongous. [Florence is always awful that way. They don’t do crowds as well as Rome.] Didn’t want to wait in line to see the Churches since they were 1 hour +. In Rome crowds weren’t that large. In the Vatican, got into St. Peter’s Basilica with at 10 minute wait.

  2. robtbrown says:

     Fr Z says,

    The Pope shows up around 3:50. Small crowd, but it is August. And, frankly, perhaps the Pope should be out at Castel Gandolfo having some “relax”, as we say in Italian.

    Not surprising.

    Some years ago Fr Aidan Nichols told me that he once was invited for Christmas Dinner at the Gregoriana Jesuit Community. He said that about 15 minutes after dinner, he could hear the electric typewriters starting (this was before PCs were so common).

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