Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered for Ash Wednesday Mass in the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, urged believers to unmask the demons that deaden and paralyze the soul to allow their hearts to beat in tune with the vibrant heart of Jesus. His Holiness Pope Francis highlighted that the season of Lent is a time to remedy the dissonant chords of our Christian life.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “The season of Lent is a favorable time to remedy the dissonant chords of our Christian life and to receive the ever new, joyful and hope-filled proclamation of the Lord’s Passover. The Church in her maternal wisdom invites us to pay special attention to anything that could dampen or even corrode our believing heart.” Further, His Holiness added, “If the fruit of faith is charity – as Mother Teresa often used to say – then the fruit of distrust is apathy and resignation. Distrust, apathy and resignation: these are demons that deaden and paralyze the soul of a believing people. Lent is the ideal time to unmask these and other temptations, to allow our hearts to beat once more in tune with the vibrant heart of Jesus.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his remarks by exhorting the faithful to “Pause, see and return. Return to the house of your Father. Return without fear to those outstretched, eager arms of your Father, who is rich in mercy, who awaits you.”
