All articles tagged with #holy spirit
On Pentecost, Pope Leo XIV prayed for the Holy Spirit to foster peace and reconciliation in a war-torn world, urging for de-escalation and dialogue, and expressed gratitude to those involved in the Jubilee of Movements and for students finishing their academic year.
During Pentecost Mass, Pope Leo XIV emphasized how the Holy Spirit transforms believers by shattering inner fears and chains, opening hearts and borders, and renewing the Church and the world through love, understanding, and reconciliation.
Pope Francis, during his General Audience, emphasized the importance of concise preaching, advising that homilies should be no longer than 10 minutes to maintain focus and clarity. He highlighted the dual elements of Christian preaching: the Gospel's content and the Holy Spirit's guidance. The Pope urged preachers to rely on the Holy Spirit, focus on the kerygma, and avoid self-promotion, ensuring that the message of Christ is effectively communicated.
During a Mass in St Peter’s Square for the first World Children’s Day, Pope Francis emphasized the roles of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the lives of the faithful, encouraging children to seek guidance and comfort from the Holy Trinity and to pray for their families and world peace.
On the solemnity of Pentecost, Pope Francis urged Catholics to invoke the Holy Spirit daily to bring harmony to a divided world, a polarized Church, and to broken hearts. He called for the Synod on Synodality to place the Holy Spirit at the beginning and at the heart of the work of the synod. The Holy Spirit restores harmony in the heart, forgives sins, reconciles souls, and creates intimacy with God. The Palestrina Choir from Dublin led the congregation in the traditional “Veni Sancte Spiritus” sequence for the Mass for Pentecost.
On the Solemnity of Pentecost, Pope Francis urged Christians to overcome their fears and let the Holy Spirit revive the flame of God's love. He explained that fear can cause people to shut themselves in and isolate themselves from others, but the gift of the Spirit frees us from fear and opens doors. The Spirit makes us feel God's proximity, casting out fear, illuminating the way, and sustaining us in adversity. The Pope called on everyone to invoke the Holy Spirit for a new Pentecost to cast out the fears that assail us and revive the flame of God's love.
Pope Francis calls on us to invoke daily the Holy Spirit who brings harmony to the world, directs the course of time, and renews the face of the earth. The Spirit creates harmony out of diversity in the Church and restores harmony in our hearts, creating intimacy with God. The synodal process offers the People of God a unique opportunity to journey together, filled with the Spirit, to build harmony in the Church and be renewed. Let us invoke the Holy Spirit each day and become docile to him.
Pope Francis rebounded quickly after clearing his schedule Friday morning due to a fever, holding several meetings and giving an interview to Italy’s state broadcaster Saturday and then presiding over Pentecost Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday. During the Mass, the pontiff seemed tired but resilient, delivering his homily in a strong voice and going off the cuff at certain points. The pope said the Holy Spirit’s primary task is to create harmony and promote unity among diversity at various levels: in the world generally, in the church, and in the lives of each individual.
Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday by presiding over a chrism Mass with over 1,880 priests, bishops, and cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica. During the Mass, the pope highlighted the vital presence of the Holy Spirit in the ministry and life of every priest. He also blessed the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the chrism oil, which will be used in the diocese during the coming year. The pope gifted a book to the priests at the Mass by René Voillaume called “La Segunda Llamada” (The Second Call) and urged the clerics to leave the initiative to the Holy Spirit and show their willingness to serve wherever and however they are asked.
During Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, Pope Francis urged priests to invoke the Holy Spirit as "the breath of each day," which gives them joy and points them in the right direction, toward Christ. He thanked priests for their service, which often goes unrecognized, and reflected on the Holy Spirit as the giver of life. The Pope warned against the dangers of compromise, surrogates, and discouragement, and urged priests to preserve their anointing by allowing the Spirit to act within them. He also stressed the importance of harmony and gratitude in the priesthood.