We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
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 >
Pope Francis: The meek are not pushovers
FREE Catholic Classes
Pope Francis said Wednesday that a meek Christian is not weak, but defends his faith and controls his temper.
Highlights
2/19/2020 (4 years ago)
Published in U.S.
Keywords: POPE FRANCIS - GENERAL AUDIENCE, VATICAN CITY, VATICAN
Vatican City, (CNA) - Pope Francis said Wednesday that a meek Christian is not weak, but defends his faith and controls his temper.
"The meek person is not accommodating, but is a disciple of Christ who has learned to defend another land well. He defends his peace, defends his relationship with God, and defends his gifts, preserving mercy, fraternity, trust, and hope," Pope Francis said Feb. 19 in Paul VI Hall.
The pope reflected on the third beatitude from Christ's Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
"Meekness manifests itself in moments of conflict, you can see how you react to a hostile situation. Anyone might seem meek when everything is calm, but how does he react 'under pressure' if he is attacked, offended, assaulted?" Pope Francis asked.
"A moment of anger can destroy many things; you lose control and do not evaluate what is really important, and you can ruin the relationship with a brother," he said. "On the other hand, meekness conquers many things. Meekness is capable of winning the heart, saving friendships and much more, because people get angry, but then calm down, rethink and retrace their steps, and you can rebuild."
Pope Francis quoted St. Paul's description of "the sweetness and meekness of Christ," and said that St. Peter also called attention to this quality of Jesus at his passion in 1 Peter 2:23 when Christ "did not respond and did not threaten because 'he entrusted himself to the one who judges with justice.'"
The pope also pointed to examples from the Old Testament, quoting Psalm 37, which similarly links "meekness" with the possession of land.
"In Scripture the word 'meek' also indicates one who has no landed property; and therefore we are struck by the fact that the third beatitude says precisely that the meek 'will inherit the earth,'" he said.
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sacrifices of Faith: The Pro-Life Legacies of St. Gianna and Jessica Hanna
-
How to love God by caring for our bodies
-
Pope Francis calls for negotiations to End Russia-Ukraine War
-
Pope Francis Contemplates Return to U.S. for United Nations Assembly Address
-
Pope Francis Calls on Faithful to Embrace Faith, Hope, and Charity in New Teaching Series
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Monday, April 29, 2024
- St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Day for Monday, April 29, 2024
- Prayer for the Dead # 3: Prayer of the Day for Monday, April 29, 2024
- Daily Readings for Sunday, April 28, 2024
- St. Peter Chanel: Saint of the Day for Sunday, April 28, 2024
- Prayer before a Crucifix: Prayer of the Day for Sunday, April 28, 2024
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
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 >
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.