Friday, March 15, 2013

First Mass of Pope Francis with English Translation of First Homily




English Translation of the First Homily of Pope Francis:

In these three readings, I see a common element: that of movement. In the first reading, it is the movement of a journey; in the second reading, the movement of building the Church; in the third, in the Gospel, the movement involved in professing the faith. Journeying, building, professing. 
Journeying. 'O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord' (Is 2:5). This is the first thing that God said to Abraham: Walk in my presence and live blamelessly. Journeying: our life is a journey, and when we stop moving, things go wrong. Always journeying, in the presence of the Lord, in the light of the Lord, seeking to live with the blamelessness that God asked of Abraham in his promise.

Building. Building the Church. We speak of stones: stones are solid; but living stones, stones anointed by the Holy Spirit. Building the Church, the Bride of Christ, on the cornerstone that is the Lord himself. This is another kind of movement in our lives: building.

Thirdly, professing. We can walk as much as we want, we can build many things, but if we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but not the Church, the Bride of the Lord. When we are not walking, we stop moving. When we are not building on the stones, what happens? The same thing that happens to children on the beach when they build sandcastles: everything is swept away, there is no solidity. When we do not profess Jesus Christ, the saying of Léon Bloy comes to mind: 'Anyone who does not pray to the Lord prays to the devil.' When we do not profess Jesus Christ, we profess the worldliness of the devil, a demonic worldliness.

Journeying, building, professing. But things are not so straightforward, because in journeying, building, professing, there can sometimes be jolts, movements that are not properly part of the journey: movements that pull us back.

This Gospel continues with a situation of a particular kind. The same Peter who professed Jesus Christ, now says to him: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. That has nothing to do with it. I will follow you on other terms, but without the Cross. When we journey without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord, we are worldly: we may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, but not disciples of the Lord.

My wish is that all of us, after these days of grace, will have the courage, yes, the courage, to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Lord's Cross; to build the Church on the Lord's blood which was poured out on the Cross; and to profess the one glory: Christ crucified. And in this way, the Church will go forward. My prayer for all of us is that the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, will grant us this grace: to walk, to build, to profess Jesus Christ crucified. Amen.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

English Translation of the Speech of the New Pope Francis from Vatican




We joyfully welcome Pope Francis as the new successor of Saint Peter in Vatican. Pope Francis was originally from Argentina. He was considered as one of the direct fore runners during the conclave when Pope Benedict XVI was elected. It was very inspiring that he led the crowd to say the prayers of the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to set the tone of his prayerful pontificate. With a smile on his face he waved a blessing of farewell as he stepped into his new permanent residence in Rome. May the blessing of the Lord guide and protect the new pope in his journey to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ around the world for the conversion and salvation of souls. Viva il Papa!


Here is the English Speech Translation of Pope Francis I:



Brothers and sisters good evening. 

You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome.

It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the earth to get him but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome.

First of all I would say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our Lady protect him.

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory to the Father…

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood . My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with help of my Cardinal Vicar, be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.

And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favour. Before the bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence. 

[The Protodeacon announced that all those who received the blessing, either in person or by radio, television or by the new means of communication receive the plenary indulgence in the form established by the Church. He prayed that Almighty God protect and guard the Pope so that he may lead the Church for many years to come, and that he would grant peace to the Church throughout the world.]

[Immediately afterwards Pope Francis gave his first blessing Urbi et Orbi – To the City and to the World.]

I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will.

Brothers and sisters, I am leaving you. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon.

We will see one another soon. 

Tomorrow I want to go to pray to the Madonna, that she may protect Rome. Good night and sleep well!

The Final Analysis by Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered
... forgive them anyway!

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives
... be kind anyway!

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and make some true enemies
... succeed anyway!

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you
... be honest and frank anyway!

What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight
... go ahead and build anyway!

If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous
... be happy anyway!

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow
... do good anyway!

Give the world the best you have, and even that may never be enough
... give it anyway!

You see in the final analysis, its all between you and God, it was never between you and them anyway!

Saint George

Saint George

St. George Pray for us...

"Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, Saint George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end. Amen."