‘Urbi et Orbi’ (To the City and World) message from Pope Francis

April 19, 2015

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

This week I share with you the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (To the City and World) message from Pope Francis given on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.

 

“Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter!

Jesus Christ is risen! Love has triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled the darkness! Out of love for us, Jesus Christ stripped himself of his divine glory, emptied himself, took on the form of a slave and humbled himself even to death, death on a cross. For this reason God exalted him and made him Lord of the universe. Jesus is Lord! 

By his death and resurrection, Jesus shows everyone the way to life and happiness: this way is humility, which involves humiliation. This is the path which leads to glory. Only those who humble themselves can go towards the “things that are above”, towards God(cf. Col 3:1-4). The proud look “down from above”; the humble look “up from below”.

On Easter morning, alerted by the women, Peter and John ran to the tomb. They found it open and empty. Then they drew near and “bent down” in order to enter it. To enter into the mystery, we need to “bend down”, to abase ourselves. Only those who abase themselves understand the glorification of Jesus and are able to follow him on his way.

The world proposes that we put ourselves forward at all costs, that we compete, that we prevail…But Christians, by the grace of Christ, dead and risen, are the seeds of another humanity, in which we seek to live in service to one another, not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and ready to help.

This is not weakness, but true strength! Those who bear within them God’s power, his love and his justice, do not need to employ violence; they speak and act with the power of truth, beauty and love. From the risen Lord we ask today the grace not to succumb to the pride which fuels violence and war, but to have the humble courage of pardon and peace. We ask Jesus, the Victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence. There are so many of them! We ask for peace, above all, for beloved Syria and Iraq, that the roar of arms may cease and that peaceful relations may be restored among the various groups which make up those beloved countries. May the international community not stand by before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries and the drama of the numerous refugees.

We pray for peace for all the peoples of the Holy Land. May the culture of encounter grow between Israelis and Palestinians and the peace process be resumed, in order to end years of suffering and division.

We implore peace for Libya, that the present absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence may cease, and that all concerned for the future of the country may work to favour reconciliation and to build a fraternal society respectful of the dignity of the person. For Yemen too we express our hope for the growth of a common desire for peace, for the good of the entire people. At the same time, in hope we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world.

We ask the risen Lord for the gift of peace for Nigeria, South Sudan and for the various areas of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. May constant prayer rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives – for those killed last Thursday at Garissa University College in Kenya –, for all who have been kidnapped, and for those forced to abandon their homes and their dear ones.

May the Lord’s resurrection bring light to beloved Ukraine, especially to those who have endured the violence of the conflict of recent months. May the country rediscover peace and hope

thanks to the commitment of all interested parties. We ask for peace and freedom for the many men and women subject to old and new forms of enslavement on the part of criminal individuals and groups. Peace and liberty for the victims of drug dealers, who are often allied with the powers who ought to defend peace and harmony in the human family. And we ask peace for this world subjected to arms dealers, who profit from the blood of men and women.

May the marginalized, the imprisoned, the poor and the migrants who are so often rejected, maltreated and discarded, the sick and the suffering, children, especially those who are victims of violence; all who today are in mourning, and all men and women of goodwill, hear the consoling and healing voice of the Lord Jesus:

“Peace to you!” (Lk 24:36). “Fear not, for I am risen and I shall always be with you” (cf. Roman Missal, Entrance Antiphon for Easter Day).””

Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Michael and St. Paul, may our Risen Lord grant His peace to all human hearts and the whole world!

 

In Christ through Mary,

Fr. Kasel

 

Please reload

Featured Posts

Dear Parishioners,

 

I write from Kitui, Kenya. The first week has been ver hectic. I stayed this past weekend with a priest, Fr. Richard Ngutu, in the...

From Kitui, Kenya

October 10, 2014

Growing in our devotion to the Holy Angels

October 5, 2014

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

 

First, I want to thank you for your prayers while I was on a mission trip to Kitui, Kenya! I think of m...

Thank you for your prayers

October 19, 2014

1/3
Please reload

Recent Posts

Relief of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

November 15, 2020

Parable of the Ten Virgins

November 8, 2020

Holy Souls in Purgatory

October 31, 2020

Seeking the Peace of Christ

October 25, 2020

St. Theresa of Avila

October 17, 2020

Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary

October 10, 2020

Please reload

all souls day

angels

bible study

fall festival

holy souls

kenya

kitui

purgatory

revelation

sacrament of confession

solemnity of all saints

youth retreat

Please reload

Search By Tags

November 2020 (2)

October 2020 (5)

September 2020 (3)

August 2020 (5)

July 2020 (4)

June 2020 (4)

May 2020 (5)

April 2020 (4)

March 2020 (4)

February 2020 (5)

January 2020 (1)

December 2019 (5)

November 2019 (3)

October 2019 (4)

September 2019 (4)

August 2019 (5)

July 2019 (4)

June 2019 (5)

May 2019 (4)

April 2019 (4)

March 2019 (5)

February 2019 (4)

January 2019 (4)

December 2018 (5)

November 2018 (4)

October 2018 (4)

September 2018 (5)

August 2018 (4)

July 2018 (4)

June 2018 (5)

May 2018 (4)

April 2018 (4)

March 2018 (5)

February 2018 (4)

January 2018 (4)

December 2017 (5)

November 2017 (4)

October 2017 (4)

September 2017 (5)

August 2017 (4)

July 2017 (5)

June 2017 (4)

May 2017 (4)

April 2017 (5)

March 2017 (4)

February 2017 (4)

January 2017 (4)

December 2016 (5)

November 2016 (4)

October 2016 (5)

September 2016 (4)

August 2016 (4)

July 2016 (5)

June 2016 (4)

May 2016 (4)

April 2016 (5)

March 2016 (4)

February 2016 (3)

January 2016 (5)

December 2015 (4)

November 2015 (4)

October 2015 (5)

September 2015 (4)

August 2015 (5)

July 2015 (4)

June 2015 (4)

May 2015 (5)

April 2015 (3)

March 2015 (4)

February 2015 (4)

January 2015 (5)

December 2014 (4)

November 2014 (4)

October 2014 (5)

Please reload

Archive

Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

  • Home

  • About our Parishes

  • Parish Life

  • Worship

  • Sacraments

  • Faith Formation

  • Ministries

  • Contact

  • Blog

  • More

    Sponsors

    749 South Main Street

    Zumbrota, MN 55992

    Parish Office: (507) 732-5324

    Fax: (507) 732-5347

     

    Locate Us