Pope Francis I’s first homily was simple, hard hitting and perfect for Lent. That the Holy Father would so starkly draw the dichotomy in the world between Our Lord Jesus Christ and the devil must surely have its origins in St Ignatius of Loyola’s meditation on the Two Standards, the standard of Christ and the standard of Satan. Pope Francis is showing himself in his first homily a true son of St Ignatius:
‘When one does not profess Jesus Christ – I recall the phrase of Leon Bloy – “Whoever does not pray to God, prays to the devil.” When one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil.’
Pope Francis’ plain speaking about bishops, priests, cardinals, and Popes being worldly, and not disciples of the Lord if they fail to follow Christ Crucified was also startling, and a sign of his commitment to the purification of the Church:
‘This Gospel continues with a special situation. The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.’
I would like that all of us, after these days of grace, might have the courage – the courage – to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Cross of the Lord: to build the Church on the Blood of the Lord, which is shed on the Cross, and to profess the one glory, Christ Crucified. In this way, the Church will go forward.’
Protect the Pope comment: It is significant that Pope Francis refers to the French Catholic writer, Leon Bloy, who was known for his uncompromising, uncomfortable, prophetic critique of society and bourgeois, hedonistic Christianity. If Leon Bloy is one of the inspirations of Pope Francis I’s pontificate we have a prophet in the Temple.
Here’s the full homily:
In these three readings I see that there is something in common: it is movement. In the first reading, movement is the journey [itself]; in the second reading, movement is in the up-building of the Church. In the third, in the Gospel, the movement is in [the act of] profession: walking, building, professing.
Walking: the House of Jacob. “O house of Jacob, Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” This is the first thing God said to Abraham: “Walk in my presence and be blameless.” Walking: our life is a journey and when we stop, there is something wrong. Walking always, in the presence of the Lord, in the light of the Lord, seeking to live with that blamelessness, which God asks of Abraham, in his promise.
Building: to build the Church. There is talk of stones: stones have consistency, but [the stones spoken of are] living stones, stones anointed by the Holy Spirit. Build up the Church, the Bride of Christ, the cornerstone of which is the same Lord. With [every] movement in our lives, let us build!
Third, professing: we can walk as much we want, we can build many things, but if we do not confess Jesus Christ, nothing will avail. We will become a pitiful NGO, but not the Church, the Bride of Christ. When one does not walk, one stalls. When one does not built on solid rocks, what happens? What happens is what happens to children on the beach when they make sandcastles: everything collapses, it is without consistency. When one does not profess Jesus Christ – I recall the phrase of Leon Bloy – “Whoever does not pray to God, prays to the devil.” When one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil.
Walking, building-constructing, professing: the thing, however, is not so easy, because in walking, in building, in professing, there are sometimes shake-ups – there are movements that are not part of the path: there are movements that pull us back.
This Gospel continues with a special situation. The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.
I would like that all of us, after these days of grace, might have the courage – the courage – to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Cross of the Lord: to build the Church on the Blood of the Lord, which is shed on the Cross, and to profess the one glory, Christ Crucified. In this way, the Church will go forward.
My hope for all of us is that the Holy Spirit, that the prayer of Our Lady, our Mother, might grant us this grace: to walk, to build, to profess Jesus Christ Crucified. So be it.
He is not Francis the First. It’s like talking about Queen Victoria the First. For some reason Albino Luciani signed off his first documents “Ioannes Paulus pp I”. This raised eyebrows at the time – some even said later he had a premonition of his own death. The new pontiff will presumably sign himself “Franciscus pp”. Interestingly, British monarchs don’t sign with their regnal numbers – it’s “Elizabeth R.”
good point which applies to ordinary folk too. It isn’t “John Smith the first” unless he has a son with the same name.
It reminds me of the Catholic Herald’s 2005 profile of him:
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2013/03/13/quiet-thunder-in-argentina/
‘When he does speak, however – in the annual Te Deums preached from the cathedral – it is dramatic. Bergoglio thunders like an Old Testament prophet; the government quakes in its boots.’
Oh dear, here we go again. Old Nick raising his profile. And I suppose the Devil was at the back of this?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/14/catholic-priest-sexual-assault-married?
Where Victoria I is concerned, a good pair of binoculars, or a suitably enlarged photo, does show that the text under the clock on Big Ben does say “Domine salvam fac Reginam nostram Victoriam Primam”. Maybe a suitable name for the Duchess of Cambridge’s putatively female offspring????
Wonderful! Let us thank God for Pope Francis!
“When one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil.”
That should go down well with Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and (of course) atheists.
Pedro, read the homily again and note that the Holy Father was addressing CATHOLICS: “We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.” You may query but, it so happens to be the case that Jesus Christ is the centre of our faith.
it is a fact and we pray that we profess christ and not the wordliness devil Amen.
Great to see the new Pope speak of Satan. These are Catholic basics….that are so lacking in our secularised Catholic schools and even Churches. What will they make of our new blunt, no-frills Pope?! Hopefully Catholics will flock to him.
We must remind our Catholic institutions ….that Catholics are called to be different from our secularists. We are not called to produce good secularists.
Without secularism no religion is safe!
Without Catholicism….secularism is gone. Islam will eat it alive.
In theory perhaps. In practice Catholicism and secularism appear to be equally useless in resisting islamism, with some notable exceptions from both camps.
Too many secularists foolishly think that opposting islam is somehow racist.
And Catholics can’t decide if they should compete with islam or find common cause with it against liberal moral positions. It is a strange mixture of fear and jealousy.
Ian is correct that proper secularism fairly applied to all religions does give some measure of protection to all religions. But it means giving up traditional privileges and it means having faith that your religion will florish in a free and open market of ideas.
it’s just because Catholicism is so weak at at the moment….and all is run along secular post-Christian principles…that Islam has found a footing and is the fastest growing religion in the West. Secularists have nothing to counter it with….but Catholics have. We actually believe something other than all religions are equal (which they are not). Secularists don’t. Islam will ruthlessly take advantage of secular weakness.
All Western Catholics need to do at this moment…is practise their religion faithfully. In other parts of the world where Islam is violently attacking….it is time for Christians to defend themselves in the appropriate way.
Prevaricating politicians are the biggest danger to everyone.
Dear Deacon Nick,
Please put a picture of Pope Francis on your banner!
For me Pope Francis speaks with a great clarity. He does not shy away from describing the reality of the world and our life within it. There is a stark choice either to follow Jesus Christ or to follow the Catechesis of the Devil.
There has been a problem of an almost sugar coated religion where some have been almost afraid to talk abut the Devil, sin and judgement. However this is essential for our salvation. From what I have seen, heard and read I am very happy that God has blessed us with a Pope for our time. May God Bless and Keep Pope Francis.
Should I change my avatar to the mask with the red face and the horns. Really people, get a grip, you’ll be afraid to go to the toilet in the night just in case Old Nick is hiding under your bed to grab you by the ankles when you’re least expecting it.
Very off topic and I really don’t mean to make light if satan’s power, but your post did give me a big laugh.
Sorry to be picky but I wonder whether Silvester II could be considered as the first scientific Pope. In his excellent book “God’s Philosphers”, James Hannam describes Pope Silvester whose papacy was between 999 and1003. Silvester (Gerbert of Aurillac) was an astronomer and mathematician and a scholar – a very interesting person.
Sufferin’ succotash could have been invented only by a scientist called Silvester.
Not bad for a cartoon cat!
Sorry to go slightly off topic, but has anyone seen Hugh Sykes’ outrageous tweets about the Catholic Church during the papal conclave. Sykes is employed by the BBC as a journalst yet feels no compunction in making comments which directly insult all Catholics as misogynists and the Church as uniquely corrupt and paedophilic. Even though he tweets in a personal capacity this is unacceptable and surely contravenes BBC policy for current affairs journalists on social networking. May I encourage people to make a formal complaint to the BBC?
Sykes’ tweets pales into insignificance alongside Cardinal Wilfred Napier’s recent comments.
I have just been sent this from a friend in Brazil
it is from APARECIDA, THE FIFTH GENERAL CONFERENCE
LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS
I have been told that Pope Francis strongly identifies with this document.
I am currently reading the 200 or so pages – but below is an extract
In Medellin and Puebla we concluded by saying “WE BELIEVE”. In Aparecida, as we did in Santo Domingo, we proclaim with all our strength: WE BELIEVE AND WE HOPE.
To be a lively Church, faithful and credible, which is nourished from the Word of God and the Eucharist.
To live our being Christians with joy and conviction as disciples-missionaries of Jesus Christ.
To form lively communities that nourish the faith and encourage missionary action.
To value the diverse ecclesial organizations in a spirit of communion.
To promote a mature laity, steward in the mission of announcing and making visible the Kingdom of God.
To impel the active participation of women in society and in the Church.
To maintain our preferential and evangelical option for the poor with a renewed effort.
To accompany the youth in their formation and search for identity, vocation and mission, renewing our option for them.
To work with all the people of good will in the building of the Kingdom.
To strengthen with audacity Family and Respect Life Ministries.
To value and respect our Indigenous and Afro-American peoples.
To advance in the ecumenical dialogue “so that all may be one”, as well as in the inter-religious dialogue.
To make of this continent a model of reconciliation, justice and peace.
To be stewards of creation, home of all, in fidelity to the project of God.
To collaborate in the integration of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
May this Continent of hope also become the Continent of love, life and peace!
Aparecida – Brazil, May 29, 2007
peter
What we need is a Pope who will bring simplicity to the Vatican. It can never be reformed as it is, a vast empire of bureaucrats and priests living the lives of bureaucrats instead of working in the parishes. it has to be stripped down to the essentials otherwise reform of the personnel will be impossible.