There are the saints of every day, the 'hidden' saints, a sort of 'middle class of holiness'... to which we can all belong.
Interpretation
Pope Francis highlights the everyday holiness found in ordinary people, suggesting that everyone can achieve a form of sanctity in their lives.
In this quote, Pope Francis emphasizes the idea that holiness is not limited to prominent figures like canonized saints; instead, it exists among ordinary individuals who live their daily lives with kindness and virtue. He encourages a recognition of the 'hidden' saints who, through small acts of goodness and compassion, contribute to the sanctity of the world, implying that anyone can aspire to be part of this 'middle class of holiness' through their daily actions.
In practice
In a sermon about compassion, this quote can remind the congregation that everyone has the potential to be a saint in their daily lives.
We are a church of sinners but we must not be afraid of holiness. Do not be afraid to aim for holiness and turn yourselves over to the love of God. Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things but carrying out daily things in an extraordinary way that is with love, joy and faith.
I join the March for Life in Washington with my prayers. May God help us respect all life, especially the most vulnerable.
No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas. This is an excuse commonly heard in academic, business or professional, and even ecclesial circles. While it is quite true that the essential vocation and mission of the lay faithful is to strive that earthly realities and all human activity may be transformed by the Gospel, none of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice
We face so many challenges in life: poverty, distress, humiliation, the struggle for justice, persecutions, the difficulty of daily conversion, the effort to remain faithful to our call to holiness, and many others. But if we open the door to Jesus and allow him to be part of our lives, if we share our joys and sorrows with him, then we will experience the peace and joy that only God, who is infinite love, can give.
More and more people work on Sundays as a consequence of the competitiveness imposed by a consumer society.
This Christmas may we be consistent in living the Gospel, welcoming Jesus into the centre of our lives.
If I had not grown up in Nigeria- and if all I knew of Africa were of popular images- I too would think that africa was a place of beautiful landscapes, beautiful animals and incomprehensible people fighting sensless wars, dying of poverty and aids- unable to speak for themselves and waiting to be saved by a kind white foreigner.
The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention argues that no two countries that are both part of the same global supply chain will ever fight a war as long as they are each part of that supply chain.
But you see, a rich country like America can perhaps afford to be stupid.
The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting.
I have never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter the pulpit.
Most zombie stories, the problems they solve are not the actual zombies. The problems they solve are the human interactions.
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