'Mary's canticle leads us to think of many painful situations': Pope Francis prays for exploited women during the Feast of the Assumption

'The apostolic courage that the Holy Spirit lights in us like a fire helps us overcome walls and barriers...'

Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of the Assumption three days after visiting young sex trade survivors, where he prayed for all exploited women and girls.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to the Catholic Herald, Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of the Assumption on Monday, where the Virgin Mary's ascension into Heaven is acknowledged and the event is commemorated.

Mary, mother of God, was not the only woman mentioned during the Feast.

Pope Francis stated: "The Lord bows down to the lowly in order to raise them up as is proclaimed in the Magnificat. Mary's canticle leads us to think of many painful situations today and particularly those of women overpowered by the burdens of life and the drama of violence, women who are slaves of the abuse of the powerful, girls forced into inhuman work, women forced to surrender body and spirit to the greed of men."

Pope Francis then prayed for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse. He asked the Lord to allow exploited women to live lives of "peace, justice and love in expectation of the day they finally will feel held by hands that do not humiliate them, but tenderly lift them and lead them on the path to life."

According to the Ark of Hope for Children website, 600-800,000 men, women and children are sexually exploited each year, fifty percent of whom are underage.

Pope Francis' prayer serves as an example of what we as Catholics should also do: pray for the broken, the victims and survivors.

Following his prayer for exploited women, the Holy Father prayed for Mary to intercede and bring "compassion, understanding and agreement" to the cities and countries suffering war and other violent conflictions.

"My thoughts particularly go to the inhabitants of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recently struck by new massacres," he stated.

Pope Francis' thoughts must have been on the world's suffering lately. During his Sunday Angelus at St. Peter's Square, he reflected on pain around the world when he explained the Holy Spirit is a fire.

"If the Church does not receive this fire, or allow it to enter, it becomes a cold or lukewarm Church, incapable of giving life, since it is made of cold or lukewarm Christians."

He explained the Holy Spirit is a fire "present and alive in us from the day of our baptism. This fire is a creative force that purifies and renews, burning away every human misery, every selfishness, every sin, transforming us from within."

The pontiff explained the Church could do without bureaucrats and needs "passionate missionaries consumed with the drive to bring everyone the consoling word of Jesus and his grace."

The power of prayer is often underestimated. Meanwhile, the world falls to fiery pieces.

Pray for the lost, the broken, the victims of abuse and war. Pray for change and, when possible, be the change. Remember Christ has called us to help the needy. Whether that means feeding, clothing or praying for them, be passionate in the Lord's grace and do what you know is right.

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