VATICAN CITY. The Pontiff at the Angelus before Christmas invites us to avoid self-pity and sadness, and instead seek someone to support. Enough complaints, Francis exhorts, helping others and cultivating a healthy humor is the way forward. A few hours earlier, the Pope met the children assisted by the Santa Marta Dispensary, taking the opportunity to affirm that «we must listen to the needs of the people. There are always people who need us but if we don’t look them in the face we will never understand ».
Overlooking the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Pope introduces the Marian Prayer recalling that today’s Gospel of the Liturgy, the fourth Sunday of Advent, “narrates Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Having received the angel’s announcement, the Virgin does not stay at home, to rethink what had happened and consider the problems and unexpected events, which certainly were not lacking: Because, poor thing, she did not know what to do with this news, with that culture. epoch … He did not understand … ». On the contrary, first of all “think about who is in need; instead of being turned to her problems, she thinks of those in need, she thinks of her relative Elizabeth, who is advanced in years and pregnant: a strange, miraculous thing ». Our Lady sets out on her journey «with generosity, without letting herself be intimidated by the inconveniences of the journey, responding to an inner impulse that calls her to come close and to give help. A long road, miles and miles, and there was no bus going: she had to walk. She goes out to help, sharing her joy ». Mary gives Elizabeth «the joy of Jesus, the joy that she bore in her heart and in her womb. He goes to her and proclaims his feelings, and this proclamation of feelings then became a prayer, the Magnificat, which we all know. And the text says that Our Lady “got up and went quickly.” She got up and went – reiterates Bergoglio – In the last stretch of the Advent journey, let us be guided by these two verbs. Get up and walk quickly: these are the two movements that Mary did and she invites us too to do in view of Christmas ».
First of all, getting up: «After the announcement of the angel, a difficult period was looming for the Virgin: her unexpected pregnancy exposed her to misunderstandings and also to severe penalties, even to stoning, in the culture of that time. Let’s imagine how many thoughts and disturbances he had! However, he is not discouraged, he does not despair, but he gets up. He does not look downwards, towards problems, but upwards, towards God. And he does not think about who to ask for help, but to whom to bring help. He always thinks of others: so is Mary, always thinking of the needs of others ». He will do the same afterwards, at the wedding at Cana, when he realizes that the wine is missing. It’s other people’s problem, but she thinks about it and tries to find a solution. Maria always thinks of others. Think of us too ».
Francis encourages us to learn «from Our Lady this way of reacting: to stand up, especially when difficulties risk overwhelming us. Get up, so as not to get bogged down in problems, sinking into self-pity or falling into a sadness that paralyzes us ». But why get up? Because «God is great and is ready to raise us up if we hold out our hand to him. Then let us throw negative thoughts into him, the fears that block every momentum and prevent us from moving forward. And then we do like Mary: let’s look around us and look for someone to whom we can be of help! »He exhorts. Is there any “elder I know to whom I can do a little help, some company?” Everyone think about it. Or do a service to a person, a kindness, a phone call? But who can I help? I get up and help. By helping others, we will help ourselves to get up from difficulties ».
The second movement is «walking quickly. It does not mean proceeding with agitation, in a breathless way, no, it does not mean that ». Instead, it is a question of «conducting our days with a happy pace, looking forward with confidence, without reluctantly dragging ourselves into slaves of complaints – these complaints ruin many lives, because one starts complaining and complaining and life goes down. Complaints lead you to always look for someone to blame. ” Going towards the house of “Elizabeth, Mary proceeds with the quick step of one who has a heart and a life full of God, full of his joy”. So we must ask ourselves, «for our own profit: how is my“ step ”? Am I proactive or do I linger in melancholy, sadness? Am I going forward with hope or do I stop to feel sorry for myself? ». If in life we proceed «with the weary pace of grumbling and chattering, we will not bring God to anyone, we will only bring bitterness, dark things. Instead, it does so much good to cultivate a healthy humor, as did, for example, St. Thomas More or St. Philip Neri. We can also ask for this grace, the grace of healthy humor: it does so much good. Let us not forget that the first act of charity we can do to our neighbor is to offer him a serene and smiling face. It is bringing him the joy of Jesus, as Mary did with Elizabeth ». The Pope invokes “the Mother of God” to “take us by the hand, help us get up and walk quickly towards Christmas!”.
After the Angelus, Francis expressed “closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong typhoon, which destroyed many homes. May the Santo Niño bring consolation and hope to the families most in difficulty; and inspire all of us with concrete help! The first concrete help is prayer, and other aids ”.
The Pope then greets “all of you, pilgrims who have come from Italy and from various countries. In particular, I greet the Peruvian community of Rome and its folkloristic group gathered here on the occasion of the celebration in honor of the “Niño Jesús Andino” of Choqcca, the place of origin of the Nativity scene set up in this square. Thank you! I greet the band of Soriano al Cimino. I’d like to listen to them later … (the band intones “Happy Birthday to you”, ed) They sound good, these! I greet the faithful from Terni, the scouts from Marigliano and the boys from Cingoli (Macerata) ».
And he wishes everyone “a good Sunday and a good journey in this last part of Advent which prepares us for the birth of Jesus. May it be for all of us a time of waiting and collaboration: hope, hope and pray, in the company of the Virgin Mary, woman of waiting. And please don’t forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch and goodbye. And now the band, what a beautiful thing to play! ».
Although the Angelus prayer took place outdoors, in St. Peter’s Square, the faithful were invited by the police who carried out the usual checks for entry into the square to wear masks. An invitation, not an obligation. In fact, this Sunday, also thanks to the good weather and the arrival of tourists in Rome for the holidays, the appointment with the Pope is particularly crowded with pilgrims. In the area around the Vatican, which has been full of people for days, there are many who still wear masks outdoors spontaneously, given the growing number of Covid infections in Italy.
A few hours earlier, a big party in the “Paul VI Hall” where Francis met the children assisted by the Santa Marta dispensary and the volunteers. A large cake was also brought to the «Aula Nervi» to celebrate the Pope’s birthday which was last December 17th. Bergoglio was entertained with the little ones, conversing directly with them. During the meeting, the children sang some songs and presented a short recitation to the Pontiff.
Francis commented: «We must listen and look at the needs of the people. There are always people who need us but if we don’t look them in the face we will never understand. Listening is an important word. A person who does not listen to others listens only to himself. It is boring to listen to oneself: it is better to listen to others “to understand” needs and needs “. The Pontiff also played with the children and to get the children to repeat his words aloud he said: «Great! I am deaf, I do not hear ». Then he asked: “If I see a person who is bad but cold, hungry, what is better: do I leave or stop?”. “I’ll stop,” the children replied. Also to «what is not a good person? Even what he spits at me ». The Pope smiled when he heard a “no” from a little girl: “It came out of his heart, you are sincere, all right. Always help each other, today we are here because we are friends who would like to help each other. Thanks for this very beautiful party ».