Homily of Pope Francis celebrating Confirmation Mass
(Vatican Radio) Below is an English language translation of the Pope's Homily at Holy
Mass in St Peter's Square with the Rite of Confirmation.
Dear Brothers and
Sisters, Dear Confirmands, I would like to offer three short and simple thoughts
for your reflection.
1. In the second reading, we listened to the beautiful
vision of Saint John: new heavens and a new earth, and then the Holy City coming down
from God. All is new, changed into good, beauty and truth; there are no more tears
or mourning… This is the work of the Holy Spirit: he brings us the new things of God.
He comes to us and makes all things new; he changes us. The Spirit changes us! And
Saint John’s vision reminds us that all of us are journeying towards the heavenly
Jerusalem, the ultimate newness which awaits us and all reality, the happy day when
we will see the Lord’s face – that marvelous face, the most beautiful face of the
Lord Jesus - and be with him for ever, in his love.
You see, the new things
of God are not like the novelties of this world, all of which are temporary; they
come and go, and we keep looking for more. The new things which God gives to our
lives are lasting, not only in the future, when we will be with him, but today as
well. God is even now making all things new; the Holy Spirit is truly transforming
us, and through us he also wants to transform the world in which we live. Let us
open the doors to the Spirit, let ourselves be guided by him, and allow God’s constant
help to make us new men and women, inspired by the love of God which the Holy Spirit
bestows on us! How beautiful it would be if each of you, every evening, could say:
Today at school, at home, at work, guided by God, I showed a sign of love towards
one of my friends, my parents, an older person! How beautiful!
2. A second
thought. In the first reading Paul and Barnabas say that “we must undergo many trials
if we are to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The journey of the Church,
and our own personal journeys as Christians, are not always easy; they meet with difficulties
and trials. To follow the Lord, to let his Spirit transform the shadowy parts of
our lives, our ungodly ways of acting, and cleanse us of our sins, is to set out on
a path with many obstacles, both in the world around us but also within us, in the
heart. But difficulties and trials are part of the path that leads to God’s glory,
just as they were for Jesus, who was glorified on the cross; we will always encounter
them in life! Do not be discouraged! We have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome
these trials!
3. And here I come to my last point. It is an invitation which
I make to you, young confirmandi, and to all present. Remain steadfast in the journey
of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives
us the courage to swim against the tide. Pay attention, my young friends: to go against
the current; this is good for the heart, but we need courage to swim against the tide.
Jesus gives us this courage! There are no difficulties, trials or misunderstandings
to fear, provided we remain united to God as branches to the vine, provided we do
not lose our friendship with him, provided we make ever more room for him in our lives.
This is especially so whenever we feel poor, weak and sinful, because God grants strength
to our weakness, riches to our poverty, conversion and forgiveness to our sinfulness.
The Lord is so rich in mercy: every time, if we go to him, he forgives us. Let us
trust in God’s work! With him we can do great things; he will give us the joy of
being his disciples, his witnesses. Commit yourselves to great ideals, to the most
important things. We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; push
onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals, my dear young
people! The new things of God, the trials of life, remaining steadfast in the Lord.
Dear friends, let us open wide the door of our lives to the new things of God which
the Holy Spirit gives us. May he transform us, confirm us in our trials, strengthen
our union with the Lord, our steadfastness in him: this is a true joy! So may it be.