Before praying the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) Marian prayer, which replaces the Angelus prayer at Easter, and remembering that it is Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis encouraged people to open their hearts to Jesus, to true life respectively.
In front of around 15,000 believers in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the Holy Father reminded that the second Sunday of Easter was dedicated to Divine Mercy at the request of Pope Saint John Paul II.
Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel that speaks of eternal life and explained what can be done to live authentic life: “We all want to have life, but there are different views on how to achieve it. For example, there are those who reduce existence to a frantic race to enjoy and possess many things: eat and drink, have fun, accumulate money and objects, feel strong emotions and new things, etc.
“In fact, many aspects of existence remain unanswered, such as love, the inevitable experiences of pain, limitations and death. And beyond that, the dream we all have in common: hope doesn’t come true. To live forever, to be loved without end,” he added.
“Today the Gospel says that this fullness of life to which each of us is called is realized in Jesus: it is he who gives us full life. But how can we achieve it, how can we experience it?” Francis.
In the case of the 12 apostles, they were challenged by the risen Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and he asked each of them, “I ask you, do you have hope?” Everyone asks themselves: How is it going? My hope is going?
The Pope expressed that in order to live every day, “it is enough to fix our gaze on the crucified and risen Jesus, to find him in the sacraments and in prayer, to recognize his presence, to believe in him, us to be touched and guided by his grace.” Experience the joy of loving like him through his example.”
The Holy Father then emphasized that “every encounter with Jesus, a living encounter with him, allows us to have more life. We must seek Jesus, let ourselves be found (for he is looking for us), open our hearts to the encounter with Jesus.”
The Pope also asked everyone: “Do I believe in the power of the resurrection of Jesus, do I believe that he is risen? Do I believe in His victory over sin, fear and death? Do I allow myself to get involved in the relationship with the Lord, with Jesus? And am I letting Him push me to love my brothers and sisters and have hope every day?”
Finally, he encouraged “Mary to help us grow more and more in faith in the risen Jesus, so that we can ‘have life’ and spread the joy of Easter.”
With information from agencies