The Cross isn't an ornament, mere symbol. It's the mystery of God's love, that He died for our sins.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that the Cross represents the depth of God's love and sacrifice, rather than just a sign or decoration.
Pope Francis highlights that the Cross should not be viewed merely as an ornament or symbolic representation; rather, it embodies the profound mystery of God's unconditional love exemplified by His sacrifice for humanity's sins. This perspective encourages believers to appreciate the Cross's deeper significance in their faith and relationship with God.
In practice
During a Good Friday service, to reflect on the true meaning of the Cross.
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.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
What I believe in my heart must make sense in my mind.
Civilization has given us enormous successes: going to the moon, technology. But then this is the civilisation that took us to debt, environmental crisis, every single crisis. We need a civilization where we say goodbye to these things.
True progress lies in the direction of decentralization, both territorial and functional, in the development of the spirit of local and personal initiative, and of free federation from the simple to the compound, in lieu of the present hierarchy from the centre to the periphery.
There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law.
And I began to feel sorry for myself; for so many years, my drawer full of memories had held the same old stories.
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