Pope Francis reflects on baptism and raising of widow’s son
August 10, 2016
Continuing his series of Wednesday catechetical addresses on mercy, Pope Francis devoted his August 10 general audience to the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Lk. 7:11-17).
“Jesus, moved by compassion for the grief of a mother, directly confronts the reality of death and restores life to her young son,” the Pope told the crowd gathered in Paul VI Audience Hall, according to the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “This encounter before the town gates can inspire our own encounter with the Lord’s life-giving mercy as we pass through the Holy Door on our Jubilee pilgrimage.”
“We approach that Door bringing with us our entire past, its joys and sorrows, trusting that Jesus will grant us a new beginning and revive our hope in his promises,” he continued. “The new life given to the son of the widow of Nain reminds us that we too have been raised from the dead and given new life in Christ through the grace of baptism.”
The Pope added:
The Church has become our mother and we are called to be witnesses of God’s merciful love before the world. During this Jubilee Year, may we turn once more to Jesus, for he is the Door leading to salvation and new life. May the divine mercy which we have received pass from our hearts to our hands, and find expression in our practice of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
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Further information:
- Pope Francis General Audience 2016.08.10 (YouTube Vatican)
- L’Udienza Generale (Holy See Press Office)
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