Pope Francis prays for deceased Cardinals and Bishops
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday, November 4 celebrated Mass in remembrance
of all the Cardinals and Bishops who died during the past year. During the
Mass, which was held in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope reminded us that we are all
in the merciful hands of God who will grant heavenly rewards to the just and the righteous.
Linda
Bordoni reports :
Please
find below Vatican Radio's translation of the Pope's homily: In the spiritual
atmosphere of the month of November which is marked by the memory of the faithful
departed, we remember our brother Cardinals and Bishops from around the world who
have returned to the Father's house during the past year. While we offer for each
of them this Holy Eucharist, let us ask the Lord to grant them the heavenly reward
promised to good and faithful servants.
We listened to the words of St.
Paul: "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither
our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can
separate us from God's love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord "(Rom 8:38-39
).
The Apostle speaks of the love of God as the deepest, most invincible
motive for our trust in Christian hope. He lists the opposing and mysterious forces
that can threaten the path of faith. But he states with confidence that even if our
entire existence is surrounded by threats, nothing will ever separate us from the
love that Christ himself gained for us, giving of himself completely. Even evil powers
that are hostile to man are powerless in the face to the intimate union of love between
Jesus and those who welcome him with faith. This reality of faithful love that God
has for each of us helps us to face our daily life, which is sometimes slow and tiring,
with serenity and strength.
Only the sin of man can break this bond, but even
in this case God will always go in search for him to restore that union that lasts
even after death, it is indeed a union that in the final encounter with the Father
reaches its climax. This certainty gives a new and full meaning to earthly life and
opens us to hope for life beyond death.
In fact, every time we are faced
with the death of a loved one or of someone we knew well, the question arises: "What
will become of his life, his work, his service to the Church? “ The Book of Wisdom
tells us that they are in God's hands! The hand is a sign of welcome and protection,
it is the sign of a personal relationship of respect and loyalty: to offer one’s hand,
to shake hands. These zealous pastors who have dedicated their lives to the service
of God and to their brothers are in the hands of God. They are well looked after and
they will not be corroded by death. All their days interwoven with joys and sufferings,
hopes and labors, fidelity to the Gospel and passion for the spiritual and material
salvation of their flocks, are in the hands of God.
Our sins are also in
God's hands, those merciful hands with their "wounds" of love. It is not by chance
that Jesus wanted to preserve the wounds on his hands to make us feel his mercy. This
is our strength and our hope!
This reality, which is full of hope, is the
prospect of final resurrection, of eternal life, to which the “righteous", those who
accept the Word of God and are obedient to His Spirit are destined.
This
is how we want to remember our brother Cardinals and Bishops who are deceased. Men
who were devoted to their vocations and to their service to the Church, which they
loved as one loves a bride. In prayer, we entrust them to the mercy of the Lord, through
the intercession of Our Lady and of St. Joseph, so they be welcomed into his kingdom
of light and peace, where the just and those who have been faithful witnesses to the
Gospel live eternally.
And let us also pray that the Lord may prepare us for
this encounter. We do not know the date, but that encounter will take place!