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.
Humanity needs justice, peace and love and we can have this only by returning with our hearts towards God who is the source of all this.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that true justice, peace, and love come from a connection to God, who embodies these qualities.
Pope Francis highlights the fundamental human need for justice, peace, and love, suggesting that these ideals can only be realized through a heartfelt return to God. This reflects the notion that divine inspiration and spiritual guidance are essential for fostering harmony and compassion within society. By acknowledging God as the source of these virtues, individuals are called to develop a deeper relationship with the divine, ultimately leading to a more just and peaceful world.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech advocating for community values, this quote could be used to inspire collective action towards peace.
More from Pope Francis
All quotes βI 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.
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