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Holy Father Francis Calls Faithful to Courageously Follow Jesus Christ as the Early Disciples Did

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Only the presence of the Risen Lord with them, and the action of the Holy Spirit can explain this

Do not forget that the Apostles were simple men. They were neither scribes, nor teachers of the law, nor of the priestly class. How could they, with [all] their limits, and opposed by the authorities, fill Jerusalem with their teaching (cf. Acts 5:28)? (Pope Francis)

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Highlights

By Deacon Keith Fournier
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
4/15/2013 (1 decade ago)

Published in Europe

Keywords: Regina Caeli, Christian courage, Pope Francis, vatican, Catechesis, Rome, Catholic

P>VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - During the Easter season, our Holy Father Francis continues the practice of praying the Marian Prayer, the Regina Caeli, on the Lords Day, rather than the Angelus which is prayed throughout the rest of the Liturgical year.

"Queen of Heaven Rejoice, Alleluia. For the Son thou wast privileged to bear, Alleluia, Has risen as He said. Alleluia! Pray for us to God. Alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia, For the Lord is truly risen! Alleluia!"

Let us pray:

"O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life: Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen."

The Bishop of Rome and universal pastor of the Church gathered as a pilgrim, with the thousands of other pilgrims who gathered together with him, in St Peters Square. By extension, we are all able to gather with him, because we too are pilgrims.

His message was characteristically simple and profound. This is an evangelical Pope who lets the Word of God speak through Him. he communicates with enthusiasm the fact that Jesus Christ is alive - and at work, through His Body, the Church, of which we are all members.

On Sunday, April 14, 2013, the crowd in the square was estimated to be well over 80,000 strong and the joy and excitement filled the air. We offer below the official translation of the reflection shared by Pope Francis before the people gathered in St Peter's Square on the Third Sunday of Easter.

*****
Dear brothers and sisters, a good day to you!

I would like to touch briefly on the passage from the Acts of the Apostles, which we read in the liturgy of this Third Sunday of Easter. This text says that the first preaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem filled the cities with the news that Jesus had truly risen, according to the Scriptures, and he was the Messiah foretold by the Prophets. The chief priests and the rulers of the city tried to nip the community of Christian believers in the bud. They imprisoned the Apostles, ordering them not to teach in his name.

Peter and the other eleven answered, however, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus . exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior . And we are witnesses to these things and so is the Holy Spirit[.](Acts 5:29-32)" So they scourged the Apostles and commanded them not to speak again in the name of Jesus And they went, "rejoic[ing] that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus]. (Acts 5:41)"

And I ask myself: "Where were the first disciples the strength for this their testimony?" Not only: whence came to them the courage to preach and the joy of preaching, notwithstanding the obstacles and violence [they faced]? Do not forget that the Apostles were simple men. They were neither scribes, nor teachers of the law, nor of the priestly class. How could they, with [all] their limits, and opposed by the authorities, fill Jerusalem with their teaching (cf. Acts 5:28)?

Only the presence of the Risen Lord with them, and the action of the Holy Spirit can explain this. It was the Lord, who was with them, and the Spirit, who moved them to preach: [this] explains this extraordinary episode. Their faith was based on so powerful and personal an experience of Christ crucified and risen, that they were not afraid of anything or anyone, and even saw their persecution as a badge of honor, that made them capable of following in the footsteps of Jesus and to be like Him, bearing witness [to Him] with their lives.

This history of the first Christian community tells us something very important, which applies to the Church in every age, and so to us: when a person truly knows Jesus Christ and believes in Him, one experiences His presence and the power of His Resurrection in one's life, and one cannot help but communicate this experience. If (that communication) it encounters misunderstanding or adversity, one behaves like Jesus in His Passion: one responds with love and with the power of truth.

As we pray the Regina Caeli together, let us ask the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary that the Church worldwide might proclaim the Resurrection of the Lord with frankness and courage, and bear effective witness through signs of brotherly love - for brotherly love is the most intimate witness we can bear to [the truth] that Jesus is alive and with us, that Jesus is Risen.

Let us pray especially for Christians who suffer persecution - [and] in these times, there are many Christians who suffer persecution, a great many, in many countries: let us pray for them from our heart, with love, that they might feel the living and comforting presence of the Risen Lord.

Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

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Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

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