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Saturday 21 December 2013

A snippet from the Pope's talk today


The Pope is being a pastor.

Two points from a much longer talk from Pope Francis to the Curia. The entire text is found here.

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/pope-francis-christmas-address-to-roman-curia-full-text

First of all, in this small part which I chose, the Pope warns against gossip. This is a season for gossip, which is a horrible sin involving negativity, slander, calumny and maliciousness.

Walk away from gossip.

Second, St. Joseph was silent as he was a man close to God, most likely in contemplation.

Can we model him? Can men take more time for prayer at this time?


Holiness in the Curia also means conscientious objection to gossip! We rightfully insist on the importance of conscientious objection but perhaps we, too, need to exercise it as a means of defending ourselves from an unwritten law of our surroundings, which unfortunately is that of gossip. So let us all be conscientious objectors; and mind you, I am not simply preaching! Gossip is harmful to people, our work and our surroundings. 

Dear brothers and sisters, let us feel close to one another on this final stretch of the road to Bethlehem. We would do well to meditate on Saint Joseph, who was so silent yet so necessary at the side of Our Lady. Let us think about him and his loving concern for his Spouse and for the Baby Jesus. This can tell us a lot about our own service to the Church! So let us experience this Christmas in spiritual closeness to Saint Joseph.