Pope Francis: We need courageous Christians like Elijah

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-we-need-courageous-christians-like-elijah.html While remembering today October 7, 2020 the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary and encouraging the faithful to say the Rosary as a great prayer to the Mother of God, Pope Francis, during Wednesday’s General Audience resumed his catechesis on prayer following the cycle on the Healing the World wounded by the pandemic. This week he tells the faithful. “We need the spirit of Elijah.” Speaking to the faithful in the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday, Pope Francis described the prophet Elijah as “one of the most compelling characters in the whole of Sacred Scripture.” Elijah and the Bible “He goes beyond the confines of his time,” the Pope said. He also recalled how Elijah appeared at Jesus' side, together with Moses, at the moment of the Transfiguration. In the Bible, the Pope noted, “Elijah appears suddenly, in a mysterious way.” Pope Francis said the prophet Elijah is a man without “a precise origin, and above all without an end, taken up into heaven: for this reason, his return was expected before the coming of the Messiah.” The Pope emphasized, “Scripture presents Elijah as a man of crystalline faith.” “Elijah is the example of all people of faith who know temptation and suffering, but do not fail to live up to the ideal for which they were born.” Prayer life Focusing on Elijah’s prayer life, Pope Francis underlined how prayer and contemplation sustained the Prophet not only in moments of great success but also in the face of adversity and persecution. In off the cuff remarks, Pope Francis highlighted the need for the “spirit of Elijah” in today’s world. “How much we need believers, zealous Christians, who stand up in front of people with responsibility with the courage of Elijah: to say, "You cannot do this.” “Elijah is the man of God, who stands as a defender of the primacy of the Most High. And yet, he too is forced to come to terms with his own frailties.” Wisdom of Elijah Pope Francis explained to those gathered, that Elijah “shows us that there should be no dichotomy in the life of those who pray: one stands before the Lord and goes towards the brothers and sisters to whom He sends us. The proof of prayer is the real love of one’s neighbour.” Elijah teaches us, commented the Pope, that ardent prayer and union with God cannot be separated from concern for the needs of others. Digressing from his prepared text, Pope Francis noted that prayer is “a confrontation with God and letting oneself be sent to serve one's brothers and sisters.” In prayer, Pope Francis pointed out, the prophet grew in discernment of the Lord’s will and found the courage to denounce injustice, even at great personal cost. Elijah’s experience of God in prayer, he noted, culminated, when the Lord appeared to him not in wind and fire, but “in a quiet whisper.” Elijah, a story for us all “This is the story of Elijah,” the Pope concluded, “but it seems written for all of us." "In some evenings we can feel useless and lonely. It is then that prayer will come and knock on the door of our hearts.” “Even if we have done something wrong, or if we feel threatened and frightened, when we return before God in prayer, serenity and peace will return as if by miracle.”

The "Alter Christus" St. Francis of Assisi - Memorial on October 4

From the Sacro Convento (Franciscan Friary) in Assisi, the celebration of Holy Mass was presided over by Pope Francis, and the signing of the Encyclical "Fratelli tutti" on Saint Francis's tomb. It took place on October 3, the eve of the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was born to a rich merchant in Assisi in the 12th century. He was given the name Francesco (the French man) by his father in honour of his French business. In Francesco's early youth years he spent his time with rich friends and in worldly pleasure, yet he also showed generosity to beggers. This is the heart that the Crucified opened up. In 1201 Francis joined a military expedition against Perugia and was taken as a prisoner where he spent a year in captivity. When he returned to Assisi he became seriously ill and there had a conversion experience. While praying at the church of St. Damieno, he had a vision of the Crucified Christ speaking to him and asking him to "Rebuild my Church." Francis took this request literally and started rebuilding the church of stone with money from his father's business. While asking God to show him the way, he came to understand Christ's request in a new way - rebuild the Church of souls. This was a turning point in Francis' life. Francis had already spent much time in meditation and came to reject the worldly life that he had experienced in his early youth. The Roman Church was at the peak of its earthly power with Pope Innocent III. Francis requested the pope to allow him to start a beggars order. Innocent III had a vision of the future Church after which he approved Francis' request. All of this is history, but the significant lesson is the way Francis responded to the call of the Crucified. His conversion was probably gradual. However his generosity allowed him to share in the poverty of beggars' life of need and create a huge order with many followers - The Franciscans who grew up to count in thousands only in a few years. Francis was called the Alter Christus (the Other Christ); for he imitated Christ in his tender love of all creatures. Francis taught by example and talked to animals, birds, called the Sun Sister and the moon Brother and seemed at ease with wild animals. He is probably the first humanist in history; for he loved Christ and every other human he encountered. He built the first manger and added real animals to be part of the nativity scene. He insisted on the beauty of creation and was himself a poet. His mission took him to Egypt to preach to the Muslim Caliph Al-Kamel and then to Acre but without success. Francis received the first known stigmata in history and suffered with Christ in silence "to complete" in his flesh "what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body that is the Church" (Col 1:24). On his death bed, Francis was surrounded by his followers singing his hymn "Make me a channel of your peace." Contrary to us, he was not afraid of death; for he himself considered death "a brother." Since his mission started in the 13th century, he has been beloved by many generations; for like the prostitute whom Christ forgave, he "loved much." (Luke 7: 47). Pope Francis wrote a new encyclical "Fratelli Tutti" on fraternity and social friendship. He said "I offered it to God on the tomb of Saint Francis, who inspired me, as in the previous Laudato Si’. The signs of the times clearly show that human fraternity and care of creation form the sole way towards integral development and peace, already indicated by the Popes Saints John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II. Today, to you in the square - and also those outside the square - I have the joy of giving the new Encyclical, in a special edition of the Osservatore Romano. And with this edition, the daily printed edition of the Osservatore Romano resumes. May Saint Francis accompany the Church’s path of fraternity, among believers of every religion, and among all peoples." The full text may be read here.