Pope celebrates penitential liturgy, compares sin to blindness

March 07, 2016

As part of the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, during which confessions were heard for an extended period of time, Pope Francis celebrated a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica on March 4.

The liturgy included a homily by the Pope and an opportunity for individual confession.

Reflecting on the Gospel passage in which the Lord heals the blind beggar Bartimaeus, Pope Francis preached that sin is “a blindness of the spirit, which prevents us from seeing what is most important, from fixing our gaze on the love that gives us life. This blindness leads us little by little to dwell on what is superficial, until we are indifferent to others and to what is good.”

“This Jubilee of Mercy is the favorable time to welcome God’s presence, to experience his love and to return to him with all our heart,” he continued. “Like Bartimaeus, let us cast off our cloak and rise to our feet: that is, let us cast aside all that prevents us from racing towards him, unafraid of leaving behind those things which make us feel safe and to which we are attached.”

 

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Further information:

• Penitential Celebration 2016.03.04 (YouTube Vatican)
• 24 Hours for the Lord, 04.03.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Penitential liturgy at St. Peter's: pastors are called to hear the cry, at times silent, of all those who wish to encounter the Lord, 05.03.2016 (Holy See Press Office)