Pope Francis invites families to open themselves by renewing their faith in the Lord‘s Word
A joyful family, ready to teach the children every gesture aimed at overcoming evil in "every nation, religion or region" and that witnesses that "the Spirit is alive and at work."
This is how Pope Francis described the family during Holy Mass before more than a million people at the end of the VIII World Meeting of Families, on Sunday, September 27th, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.
The family—said the Pope—is the domestic Church, where life grows in the faith "molded by love." It is also the place where we experience the extent to which faith and holiness are linked to the most simple gestures that open "a window to the presence and working of the Spirit." These are "the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children. They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion. Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home."
The Pope, addressing those present at the celebration, finally asked "in my home, do we yell, or do we speak with love and tenderness? This is a good way to recognize our love." He thus reminded us of our mission as prophets and especially how important it is that each of us is open to the miracle of love, for the sake of our own family and all the families of the world, and so to "overcome the scandal of a narrow, petty love, closed in on itself, impatient with others."