Vatican
City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) – During the Mass celebrated this
morning on the Solemnity of Christ King of the Universe, the Holy
Father canonized blesseds Giovanni Antonio Fraina (1803-1888),
Kuriakose Elias Chavara of the Holy Family (1805-1871), Ludovico da
Casoria (1814-1885), Nicola da Longobardi (1650-1709), Euphrasia
Eluvathingal of the Sacred Heart (1877-1952) and Amato Ronconi (c.
1226-c.1292).
In
his homily, the Pope remarked that the kingdom of Jesus is the
“kingdom of truth and life, the kingdom of sanctity and grace, the
kingdom of justice, love and peace”, and he commented on today's
readings show how the Lord established his kingdom, how He brings it
about as history unfolds, and what He now asks of us.
Jesus
brought about his kingdom “through his closeness and tenderness
towards us”, as the prophet Ezekiel foresaw in the first reading
that describes the attitude of the Shepherd towards His flock, using
the verbs such as to seek, to keep watch, to round up, to lead to
pasture, to bring to rest; to seek the lost sheep, to tend to the
wounded, to heal the sick, to care for and to graze. “Those of us
who are called to be pastors in the Church cannot stray from this
example, if we do not want to become hirelings. In this respect, the
People of God have an unerring sense for recognising good shepherds
and distinguishing them from hirelings”.
After
his victory, that is, after the Resurrection – Jesus' kingdom grew,
but it was not a kingdom according to earthly models. “For Him, to
reign was not to command, but to obey the Father, to give Himself
over to the Father, so that His plan of love and salvation may be
brought to fulfilment. … The Gospel teaches what Jesus' kingdom
requires of us: it reminds us that closeness and tenderness are the
rule of life for us also, and that on this basis we will be judged. …
The starting point of salvation is not the confession of the
sovereignty of Christ, but rather the imitation of Jesus' works of
mercy through which He brought about his kingdom”. He explained
that those who accomplish these works show that they have understood
and welcomed Jesus' sovereignty, because they have opened their
hearts to God's charity. “In the twilight of life we will be judged
on our love for, closeness to and and tenderness towards our brothers
and sisters. … Jesus has opened to us His kingdom to us, but it is
for us to enter into it, beginning with our life now – his kingdom
begins now – by being close in concrete ways to our brothers and
sisters who as for bread, clothing, acceptance, solidarity,
catechesis”.
“Today
the Church places before us the examples of these new saints. Each in
her or her own way served the kingdom of God, of which they became
heirs, precisely through works of generous devotion to God and their
brothers and sisters. They responded with extraordinary creativity to
the commandment of love of God and neighbour. They dedicated
themselves without reserve to serving the least and assisting the
destitute, sick, elderly and pilgrims. Their preference for the
smallest and poorest was the reflection and the measure of their
unconditional love of God. In fact, they sought and discovered love
in a strong and personal relationship with God, from whence springs
forth love for one's neighbour”. Pope Francis concluded, “Through
the rite of canonisation, we have confessed once again the mystery of
God's kingdom and we have honoured Christ the King, the Shepherd full
of love for His sheep. May our new saints, through their witness and
intercession, increase within us the joy of walking in the way of the
Gospel and our resolve to embrace it as the compass of our lives”.
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