Pope Francis Friday morning homily

Pope at Santa Marta: Contemplate the Virgin Mary at the Cross

Francis Recalls Our Lady of Sorrows, Calls for Contemplation

September 15, 2017Deborah Castellano LubovFrancis

Mass Santa Marta © Foto L’Osservatore Romano

Contemplate the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sorrow at the foot of the cross on the day.
Pope Francis gave this advice in his homily on September 15, 2017, reported Vatican Radio, as he reflected on Our Lady of Sorrows.
His homily came as he celebrated daily Mass in the Casa Santa Marta for the second time after the summer break.

In it, he said: “Contemplate the Mother of Jesus, contemplate this sign of contradiction because Jesus is the winner, but [is] on the Cross, on the Cross. It’s a contradiction, one does not understand.”

Francis stressed that it takes faith to understand, at least to approach this mystery.

“She followed Jesus and heard people’s comments, sometimes positive, others not, but she was always behind her Son,” the Pope noted.

“That is why,” Francis stressed, “we say that she is the first disciple.”

In the end, she was there, silently, under the Cross looking at the Son. 

Perhaps, the Pope speculated, she heard comments such as: “Look, that’s the Mother of one of the three delinquents.

Francis noted that he was offering his explanation is his little way of helping to silently contemplate this mystery, reminding she gave birth to the Church. 

‘Woman’ – her Son told her – ‘Here are Your Children.’ He does not say ‘mother’, he says ‘woman.’ Strong, brave woman; woman who was there to say: ‘This is my Son: I do not give him a break.'”

The passage of today’s Gospel, Pope Francis, calls on more than just reflecting, but for contemplating

“May the Holy Spirit,” he concluded, “tell each of us what we need.”