‘Merciful love is the most striking attribute of God,’ Pope says in homily

December 14, 2015

Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Spanish in St. Peter’s Basilica on the evening of December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and emphasized God’s merciful love for humanity.

“This merciful love is the most striking attribute of God,” he preached. “No sin can cancel his merciful closeness or prevent him from unleashing the grace of conversion, provided we invoke it. Indeed, sin itself makes more radiant the love of God who, to ransom a slave, sacrificed his Son.”

“That mercy of God comes to us with the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, enables, generates and nourishes the new life of his disciples,” he continued. “For, howsoever great and grave the sins of the world, the Spirit, who renews the face of the earth, makes possible the miracle of a life that is more human, more full of joy and hope.”

The Pope concluding by asking Our Lady that “this jubilee year will be a planting of merciful love in the hearts of individuals, families and nations.”

“Let us convert and become merciful people, and may all Christian communities be oases and sources of mercy, witnesses to a charity that does not allow exclusions,” he said. “Let us implore her to guide the footsteps of the American people, a pilgrim people looking for the Mother of mercy and asking only one thing: to show them her Son, Jesus.”

 

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Further information:

• Mass for Latin America 2015.12.12 (YouTube Vatican)
• Santa Messa celebrata dal Santo Padre Francesco in occasione della Festa liturgica della Beata Vergine Maria di Guadalupe, 12.12.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
• Booklet for the Celebration (Holy See)
• Pope Francis celebrates Mass on Our Lady of Guadalupe (Vatican Radio)