Bogotá, Colombia, Sep 7, 2017 / 11:22 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a lengthy speech on Thursday, Pope Francis urged the bishops of Colombia to uphold their pastoral responsibilities, proclaiming and teaching the truth even in the face of challenges.
“From your lips as legitimate shepherds of Christ, Colombia has a right to be challenged by the truth of God, who never ceases to ask: ‘Where is your brother?’ That question may not be silenced…” the Pope said Sept. 7.
“Even if those who hear it can do no more than lower their gaze in embarrassment and stammer in shame that they sold him, perhaps for the price of a fix of narcotics or for some misguided notion of reasons of state, or even for the false belief that the end justifies the means.”
Though many people can help, the mission of the bishops is unique, Pope Francis continued. “You are not mechanics or politicians, but pastors.”
“Christ is the word of reconciliation written on your hearts. You have the power to preach that word not only in pulpits, in ecclesial documents or newspaper articles, but also in the hearts of individual men and women,” he said.
“You have the power to proclaim it in the inner sanctum of their consciences, where they hope to hear the heavenly voice that proclaims: ‘Peace to those whom God loves’ (Lk 2:14). You must speak that word with the frail, lowly yet invincible resource of God’s mercy, which is capable of averting the pride and cynicism of selfish hearts.”
Pope Francis addressed the Colombian bishops in Bogota on the first full day of his Sept. 6-11 apostolic visit to the country.
Keep your gaze fixed not on some vague or generalized “man,” he told the bishops, but on concrete men and women, who are “loved by God and composed of flesh and bones, history, faith, feelings, disappointments, frustrations, sorrows and hurts.”
This approach is what will help to “unmask cold statistics, twisted calculations, blind strategies and falsified data,” he said.
Acknowledging the generous pastoral work already carried out by the bishops, Francis then laid out his concerns for what he sees as challenges to the Church living out its mission.
First among these are challenges to Colombia’s families. The defense of life from the womb to natural death, the “scourge of violence,” alcoholism, the weakening of the marriage bond and the absence of fathers are all attacks on the life of the family today, he said.
Young people are facing the threat of “spiritual emptiness,” which they seek to escape through drug use, frivolous lifestyles and a rebellious spirit. Lay faithful in general, even those who attend Mass and practice their faith, face “the new dogma of selfishness and the death of solidarity,” he noted.
There are also challenges for generous priests, he said, who require support in their daily commitment to Christ and the Church, while others “continue to propose the easy way out, avoiding genuine commitment and remaining isolated and self-centered.”
“I offer you no recipes, much less do I intend to leave you a list of things to do. Still, I would ask you, as you carry out in communion your demanding mission as the bishops of Colombia, to maintain your serenity,” he encouraged.
Though the devil continues to sow weeds, “imitate the patience of the Lord of the harvest and trust in the good quality of his grain. Learn from his patience and generosity. He takes his time, because his loving gaze sees far into the distance.”
When love grows weak we become impatient and anxious, making ourselves busy with many things as we are “hounded by the fear of failure,” he said.
Instead, “believe above all in the smallness of God’s seeds. Trust in the power hidden in his yeast. Let your hearts be drawn to the great beauty that leads us to sell everything we have, in order to possess that divine treasure,” he urged.
Speaking more about priests, who he said are on “the front lines” of the Church, the Pope said that the first gift a bishop can give his priests is to be a father to them – the physical and affective closeness of their bishop is a vital and urgent need.
And although in this digital age it is easy to reach each other instantly, the paternal heart of a bishop should not be content with this impersonal and formal means of communication, but be truly concerned with where and how his priests are living.
“Are they truly living as Jesus’ disciples? Or have they found other forms of security, like financial stability, moral ambiguity, a double life, or the myopic illusion of careerism?”
Pope Francis also appealed to bishops to show concern for the lives of consecrated men and women, who represent “an evangelical rebuke to worldliness.”
“They are called to purify every residue of worldly values in the fire of the Beatitudes lived sine glossa and in total self-abnegation for the service of others.” They should not be looked at as merely “‘useful resources’ for the works of the apostolate,” he said, instead hearing in them the “Bride’s cry of consecrated love: ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’”
The formation of the laity should not be forgotten either, Francis said, noting that they are the ones responsible not only for the strength of their faith communities, “but in great part for the Church’s presence in the area of cultural, political and economic life.”
When it comes to the history of the Church in Colombia, he asked the bishops “not to be afraid to touch the wounded flesh of your own history and that of your people.”
This path isn’t easy, but it’s necessary, he explained. Colombia needs that attention in order “to sustain its courage in taking the first step towards definitive peace and reconciliation, towards abdicating the method of violence and overcoming the inequalities at the root of so much suffering.”
Speaking of the “first step” that must be taken on the path to peace and reconciliation, he said, “God goes before us. We are only branches, not the vine.”
He warned them about silencing the voice of God or falling under the delusion that the success of the mission depends on their own “meagre virtues,” saying that prayer should be fundamental in the life of a bishop.
Instead of relying on themselves or others, he urged praying “fervently when you have so little to give, so that you will be granted something to offer to those who are close to your hearts as pastors.”
In his lengthy speech, the Pope also spoke about the Church in Amazonia, the southernmost region of Colombia, encouraging the bishops not to abandon it and the “profound wisdom of the indigenous peoples.”
He said they should also show particular sensitivity to the Afro-Colombian roots of the country, which have had a great influence on Colombia.
“I am convinced that Colombia has one remarkable feature: it has never been a goal fully attained, a destiny completely achieved, or a treasure totally possessed,” he said.
This treasure includes the nation’s human riches, vast natural resources, culture, heritage of the faith, and irrepressible joy and fidelity to the Gospel of Christ and his Church, he noted.
“And, above all, its indomitable courage in resisting threats of death not merely proclaimed but often experienced at first hand,” he said. “All this recedes, hides itself, from those who come here as foreigners bent on domination, while offering itself freely to those who touch its heart with the meekness of a wayfarer.”
“Such is Colombia.”
[…]
Hmmm. https://roddreher.substack.com/p/mexico-rebarbarizes?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=136360&post_id=158730057&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=p4r48&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
When you go to Mexico you see this ceremony performed on tourists in public squares. It’s not considered something sinister nor related to human sacrifice.
The president of Mexico is not a Catholic. Catholics should know better than to associate with non Christian rituals but in Latin America there’s a hazy line between those things.
I’d rather see more concern about organized crime, violence, and the increase of feticides in Mexico.
One problem in Mexico is that the country has made it official an exaltation of the Indigenous People past. But look at what this scholarly article tells us about the Indigenous People in Central America and the Americas in general:
https://www.thepostil.com/author/dario-fernandez-morera/
The demons of the Aztecs are back and this is their fruits! Stand by Christ and His Mother!
The cult of Santa Muerte (Our Lady of Holy Death) is quite popular within the criminal element in Mexico. Santa Muerte is also revered and seen as a saint and protector of the LGBTQ communities in Mexico. This cult has made inroads into the US. But “Diversity is our strength” – right?
Yes, Santa Muerte is really disturbing & as you say, it’s not unique to Mexico. I’ve seen SM candles for sale in several grocery stores & a otherwise respectable looking mother driving a nice SUV with a Santa Muerte decal on the rear window.
Question to all: Do you have evidence that Mexico is a Christian nation?
I have evidence that there are numerous Mexican Christians in the same ways there are numerous US Christians.
So, mrscracker, same question: “Do you consider the US to be a Christian nation at present? Thanks for your considered reply.
I guess my reply would be similar. There are many sincere Christian people in the US. Our nation didn’t begin in the same way Mexico did through the Spanish but I think we were certainly founded from a Judeo Christian world view.
mrscracker: But our country was founded 250 years ago. That doesn’t tell us whether the USA could be considered a Christian country in 2025. Are you saying that you think we are? Does it matter whether or not we are a Christian country?
Absolutely true. By attacking us, her children, they attack the Blessed Mother as our Lady of Guadalupe, since it was she who claimed the Americas for her Son.
Prayers and supplications to our Lady of Guadalupe are powerful in helping all the peoples of the Americas.
Amen.
In Guatemala where I used to lead medical missions, there was a cult practice that was intermingled with the local Catholic faith. The idol’s name was Machemon. Here is how Wikipedia describes the practice:
“Maximón is venerated in the form of an effigy or cult image. Worship varies greatly by location. In Santiago Atitlán, Maximón’s effigy resides in a different household every year. His image is normally only taken out of this house during Holy Week, whereafter it will change households, but is on display year-round due to the popularity of pilgrimages. The effigy has special attendants that stay by the altar year-round, drinking and smoking alongside it. They deliver offerings from the public to the image. Popular offerings include money, tobacco, and moonshine.
In the town of San Andrés Itzapa, there is a large temple to Maximón. Here, offerings such as corn, flowers, and candles are burned in public by shamans for the deity. Pilgrims travel to this temple from all across Latin America.
Guatemalan press has claimed that the worship of Maximón has declined in recent decades, but this is difficult to measure with much certainty”.
I’m certain that some in our current Vatican would approve of this practice of mixing the Catholic faith with other local cultural expressions.
This is all so interesting. I’m new to El Paso TX and my naivety about what I thought it would be like was so far off base I don’t know what to do with my feelings about; screaming in my head isn’t working and I trying to learn to leave it at the foot of the cross, to no avail. I’m not sure why but I idealized the notion of El Paso and New Mexico being a bastion of Catholicism being back stopped by Our Lady of Guadalupe. Instead I found that Satan still reigns; he passed the torch to Margaret Sanger who left her demonic mark on El Paso and New Mexico, which have become voracious purveyors of endorsing and action the slaughtering of the innocents; their target – the family, the cultures and the lives of the next generations. In my humble opinion – I can feel the demonic presence in this area, which is 100% on board with Margaret Sangers goal of destruction of the undesirables in the form of the local cultures, both Mexican /Hispanic and native populations that exist here – they even have cartoonish billboards right across the state line in New Mexico enticing young women and girls from those cultures toward abortion. The local populace en masse seems immune to, and supportive of the killing fields that exist, with few exceptions compared to the population. While Texas is a no abortion strong hold; El Paso County and City elected leaders have openly voted to stand in solidarity with Planned Parenthood as a matter of civic vote, with and without public comment. Elected National representatives are also voracious in their thirst for blood through abortion endorsement, tied the second place issue of maintaining unfettered migration across our southern border. I can’t even begin to expound on the demonic level of support for the mass slaughter that is championed with fanatical “religious” fervor by New Mexico elected officials from the state reps down through the Governor and local officials. It is chilling. As a pro-life supporter and active participant in prolife events in El Paso and New Mexico, the level of evil that hangs in the air is palpable as a stand for life is taken in this area. I’d say it’s not “the people” of El Paso or New Mexico who facilitate this, and have to pinch myself and hold back throwing the BS card on that, when our Lady of Guadalupe is revered yet abortion reigns here through public vote for elected officials whose stated platform objectives are to support and raise abortion and opportunities for the same to a frenetic level. Both can’t legitimately co-exist, and Our Lady seems to be a show piece of days gone by, certainly not by all, but obviously a majority given the voting outcomes, where abortion is the actionable item, second only to unfettered streams of broken humanity across an open border. Second only to abortion is support to unfettered open borders and the cash cow that facilitates, as well as setting the ground work to fundamentally change the electorate and the country. Arguing to the contrary is pointless given the feckless approach to the problem, and the horrendous outcomes leading to servitude and being beholden to a party only focused on power, not true benevolence toward rhe “invited” guests. Generally, the elected politicos and the masses in many cases, demonize those standing for the rule of law and managed immigration, amplified by the Diocese of El Paso’s clear focus on sustaining the migrant flow we’ve experienced while throwing the anti-abortion components of Family Life Ministry scraps from the bone of support, in my observational based opinion. The unfettered migration we’ve experienced is not only inhumane but undignified in itself; despite local civic and religious leaders calling the cessation of that unchecked migration, inhumane and undignified, the lack of moral standing of the argument and the subjugation of the issue that has a clear moral component to a second class issue. If there is unchecked abortion, the immigration issue becomes moot. There would be much less of a problem if the government had not circumvented law and the will of the people. The indignation by the local community leaders, faux outrage by local national representatives and the tale of woe from the Diocese is sad and appears farcical. Migrants streamed into the country with little to no pastoral care, in some cases based on status were fed and clothed as Christ commended by local pastors, but were fed into the mill of voter cultivation and loads of “free chicken” once onward moved into the corners of the country. There was little capacity enroute or while in this city to provided pastoral care, the Sacraments or nurture faith, which was likely lost or challenged when our goverment enticed people to walk across the southern portion of the continent to become unwhiting prey to one political party who offered overcrowding, inhumane conditions, facilitated human trafficking, extortion, rape, molestation, indentured servitude, and a host of other undignified outcomes intentionally or unintentionally; it doesn’t matter – it’s reality and a consequence of their action. I know this from good authority. We also hear about it from honest journalism and media, AND federal agencies trying to manage the nightmare our government created will attest to it, while being immediately vilified. We are at a major cross roads in Mexico and the US; none of it will lead to good; all of it leading away from Mother Mary and Her Son, to increased literal tribalism, rejection of the one true God, rejection of His mother and eventually, I believe, war over pat grievances, perceived utopia existing in the green grass across the road, etc. I pray that is not the case. I lament it will likely be so. God bless Mexico and the US and help us get focused on His will, and that His will be done; not the Devil and his demonic forces which have a strong hold on both countries, overtly and covertly.