Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered in Paul VI Hall for his General Audience continued his catechesis on the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. His Holiness Pope Francis conveyed the significance of the penitential rite in preparation for the Holy Eucharist and mentioned this rite as the one which helps us to prepare our hearts to receive God’s mercy.
As reported by Vatican radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “We acknowledge before God and before our brothers and sisters that we are all sinners. A presumptuous heart, full of its own importance, is incapable of receiving God’s pardon and just as we know from experience that only by recognizing our faults and asking for forgiveness can we pardoned by other people.” Further, His Holiness added, “We confess that we have sinned in thought and word, and deed, because it is not enough to do no harm to others. Instead, we must choose to do good and bear witness to others that we are Disciples of Christ.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his general audience by reminding that “In this way, we join the great tradition of biblical figures- like David, the Prodigal Son, Zacchaeus and Saint Peter- who, conscious of their sins, acknowledged them before God with confidence in the transforming power of His grace.
