|
A Big
Heart Open to God: a Conversation with Pope Francis. Interview by Antononio Spadaro, S.J. Harper One, 2013.In part one of this little book of 150 pages, Spadoro gives the questions he asked of Pope Francis in a long interview for the America magazine and other Jesuit publications. The result was an exciting document of the person of Pope Francis, a document which made world news and will remain fresh air for years to come. This book
does not contain the document per se, but rather the questions and reflections which led up to the document. It contains the reasons why the Pope thinks and acts as he does. Pope Francis gives hints about his spiritual life, his hopes for church reform, his open-minded view of gays and lesbians, his view on women, and even his favorite music, art work, and spiritual writers. Over and over again the Pope identifies himself as a sinner, and the church as a field hospital after battle. His view of
gays and lesbians is "We must accompany them with mercy." Never must we judge them is a favorite view he offers. Part two is a series of twelve inspirational writings containing the thoughts of important authors who have studied the document of Pope Francis. These authors include Timothy Radcliffe OP, Richard Rohr OFM, Cardinal Dolan, Drew
Christiansen SJ, Bishop Cupich, and Meghan Clark. Part three is the work of Father James Martin SJ who offers a spiritual reflection on the papal interview. (Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)
Hardback, Kindle, Audio book
|
Saint of the Week
|
St. Benedict Joseph Labre (d. 1783): April 17
Benedict Joseph Labre was truly eccentric, one of God's special little ones. Born in France and the eldest of 18 children, he studied under his uncle, a
parish priest. Because of poor health and a lack of suitable academic preparation he was unsuccessful in his attempts to enter the religious life. Then, at 16 years of age, a profound change took place. Benedict lost his desire to study and gave up all thoughts of the priesthood, much to the consternation of his relatives.
He became a pilgrim, traveling from one great shrine to another, living off
alms. He wore the rags of a beggar and shared his food with the poor. Filled with the love of God and neighbor, Benedict had special devotion to the Blessed Mother and to the Blessed Sacrament. In Rome, where he lived in the Colosseum for a time, he was called "the poor man of the Forty Hours Devotion" and "the beggar of Rome." The people accepted his ragged appearance better than he did. His excuse to himself was that "our comfort is not in this world."
On the last day of his life, April 16, 1783, Benedict Joseph dragged himself to a church in Rome and prayed there for two hours before he collapsed, dying peacefully in a nearby house. Immediately after his death the people proclaimed him a saint.
He was officially proclaimed a saint by Pope Leo XIII at canonization ceremonies in
1883. americancatholic.org site
|
|
Affliate Web Sites: Please give them a visit. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
