I especially love what he had to say to the patients in recovery at St. Francis of Assisi Hospital.
To embrace someone is not enough, however. We must hold the hand of the one in need, of the one who has fallen into the darkness of dependency perhaps without even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: You can get up, you can stand up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to. Dear friends, I wish to say to each of you, but especially to all those others who have not had the courage to embark on our journey: You have to want to stand up; this is the indispensible condition! You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you, but no one is able to stand up in your place. But you are never alone! The Church and so many people are close to you. Look ahead with confidence. Yours is a long and difficult journey, but look ahead, there is “a sure future, set against a different horizon with regard to the illusory enticements of the idols of this world, yet granting new momentum and strength to our daily lives” (Lumen Fidei, 57). To all of you, I repeat: Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! And not only that, but I say to us all: let us not rob others of hope, let us become bearers of hope! - Read the full text here.It is so good to hear the Pope affirm that.
You can change.
"It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to."
Let's pray especially for those who relapse.
“The young Francis abandoned the riches and comfort of the world in order to become a poor man among the poor. He understood that true joy and riches do not come from the idols of this world – material things and the possession of them – but are to be found only in following Christ and serving others”. - Pope Francis
From the moment he became pope, Francis has offered useless advice and condemnations. His cocoon is unraveling and what we see is a man without a clue. He looks at results and condemns, but he offeres no solutions. He is more concerned with material poverty than spiritual poverty. Perhaps he is a less severe Boff. The church has, though malevolence, deceit, incompetence and plain stupidity lost generations of souls, and the pope whines on about world financial systems. Lord help us.
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