Dec. 7, 2017: St. Ambrose
Dec. 7, 2017: St. Ambrose
There are those who are Christians only in appearance: people who make themselves up as Christians, but in the moment of truth they have only makeup. And we all know what happens when a woman, all made up, gets caught in the rain without an umbrella: it all comes off, appearances wind up on the ground. That makeup is a temptation.
On the other hand, we have so many saints among the People of God, who are not necessarily canonized, but saints! So many men and women who lead their life in Christ, who put the Commandments into practice, who put Jesus’ love into practice. So many!
Let’s consider the smallest: the sick who offer their suffering for the Church, for others. Let’s consider the many lonely elderly people who pray and offer. Let’s consider the many mothers and fathers who work so hard for their family, their children’s education, daily work, problems, always with hope in Jesus. They don’t strut about, but rather they do what they can. Let’s consider the many priests who work with such love in their parishes: catechesis for the children, care for the elderly and the sick, preparation for newlyweds. And every day it’s the same, the same, the same. They don’t tire because the rock is their foundation.
Jesus: this is what gives holiness to the Church; this is what gives hope. We have to take great care of the hidden holiness that there is in the Church.
-Pope Francis
There are those who are Christians only in appearance: people who make themselves up as Christians, but in the moment of truth they have only makeup. And we all know what happens when a woman, all made up, gets caught in the rain without an umbrella: it all comes off, appearances wind up on the ground. That makeup is a temptation.
On the other hand, we have so many saints among the People of God, who are not necessarily canonized, but saints! So many men and women who lead their life in Christ, who put the Commandments into practice, who put Jesus’ love into practice. So many!
Let’s consider the smallest: the sick who offer their suffering for the Church, for others. Let’s consider the many lonely elderly people who pray and offer. Let’s consider the many mothers and fathers who work so hard for their family, their children’s education, daily work, problems, always with hope in Jesus. They don’t strut about, but rather they do what they can. Let’s consider the many priests who work with such love in their parishes: catechesis for the children, care for the elderly and the sick, preparation for newlyweds. And every day it’s the same, the same, the same. They don’t tire because the rock is their foundation.
Jesus: this is what gives holiness to the Church; this is what gives hope. We have to take great care of the hidden holiness that there is in the Church.
-Pope Francis
