We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
In Madagascar, Pope Francis says that joy lightens the demands of discipleship
FREE Catholic Classes
Pope Francis Sunday told Catholics in Madagascar that following Jesus can be demanding, but that Christ calls his disciples to place God at the center of their lives.

Pope Francis in Antananarivo, Madagascar
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/9/2019 (5 years ago)
Published in Africa
Keywords: POPE FRANCIS - TRAVELS, ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR, MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA
Antananarivo, Madagascar, (CNA) - Pope Francis Sunday told Catholics in Madagascar that following Jesus can be demanding, but that Christ calls his disciples to place God at the center of their lives.
"As we look around us, how many men and women, young people and children are suffering and in utter need! This is not part of God's plan. How urgently Jesus calls us to die to our self-centredness, our individualism and our pride!" Pope Francis said during Mass Sept. 8, at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field, in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital city.
The pope celebrated Mass in Madagascar during a six-day trip to three African countries. He was in Mozambique Sept. 5-6 and will be in Mauritius Sept. 9.
The pope told Massgoers that Jesus demands that Catholics eschew tribalism.
"When 'family' becomes the decisive criterion for what we consider right and good, we end up justifying and even 'consecrating' practices that lead to the culture of privilege and exclusion: favouritism, patronage and, as a consequence, corruption. The Master demands that we see beyond this. He says this clearly: anyone incapable of seeing others as brothers or sisters, of showing sensitivity to their lives and situations regardless of their family, cultural or social background 'cannot be my disciple.'"
He added that Catholics are called "not to dilute and narrow the Gospel message, but instead to build history in fraternity and solidarity, in complete respect for the earth and its gifts, as opposed to any form of exploitation."
Christ, the pope said, "shows us how hard it is to follow him if we seek to identify the kingdom of heaven with our personal agenda or our attachment to an ideology that would abuse the name of God or of religion to justify acts of violence, segregation and even murder, exile, terrorism and marginalization."
He added that Jesus "wants to prepare his disciples for the celebration of the coming of the kingdom of God, and to free them from the grave obstacle that, in the end, is one of the worst forms of enslavement: living only for oneself. It is the temptation to fall back into our little universe, and it ends up leaving little room for other people. The poor no longer enter in, we no longer hear the voice of God, we no longer enjoy the quiet joy of his love, we are no longer eager to do good... Many people, by shutting themselves up in this way, can feel 'apparently' secure, yet they end up becoming bitter, querulous and lifeless."
"The demands that Jesus sets before us cease to be burdensome as soon as we begin to taste the joy of the new life that he himself sets before us. It is the joy born of knowing that he is the first to seek us at the crossroads, even when we are lost like the sheep or the prodigal son. May this humble realism inspire us to take on great challenges and give you the desire to make your beautiful country a place where the Gospel becomes life, and where life is for the greater glory of God."
"For us as Christians, our sacrifices only make sense in the light of the joyful celebration of our encounter with Jesus Christ," the pope added.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
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.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

One Nation Under God

Pope Leo XIV to Celebrate First-Ever “Mass for the Care of Creation”

Catholic Online AI Open Letter
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Monday, July 07, 2025
Bl. Ralph Milner: Saint of the Day for Monday, July 07, 2025
Prayer to God the Father: Prayer of the Day for Monday, July 07, 2025
Daily Readings for Sunday, July 06, 2025
St. Maria Goretti: Saint of the Day for Sunday, July 06, 2025
- Prayer to the Holy Trinity: Prayer of the Day for Sunday, July 06, 2025
Copyright 2025 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 2025 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.