Preparing to Welcome Our Common Father
Catholics believe that the pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth, il dolce Cristo in terra (“the sweet Christ on earth”), as St. Catherine of Siena affectionately put it. He is the common father of all the members of God’s family on this earth, of all who are united to Christ’s Church either visibly (through baptism and a shared profession or faith) or invisibly (through charity and a sincere quest to seek the truth and live in accordance with it).
Melissa Moschella
A pope’s visit is always an extraordinary moment of grace, a time in which God touches the hearts of people in a special way, leading some to return like the prodigal son and be welcomed anew into their Father’s house, sparking in others a new and deeper conversion; illuminating some to discover their particular vocation in life, strengthening others on the path of joyful fidelity to their calling. And for the nation as a whole, a papal visit is an opportunity for spiritual growth and renewal, an impetus to take concrete steps in order to bring our laws and culture more closely into line with the demands of human dignity.
One of the reasons why see such extraordinary grace at work during a papal visit is that millions of people around the world are united in prayer for this special intention. Now that the Pope’s arrival is imminent, we can each ask ourselves: How am I contributing to the fruitfulness of the Pope’s visit through my own prayer and sacrifice? How am I preparing my own heart to respond to the graces that God wants shower upon me during this time?
We don’t need to do extraordinary things: Perhaps we can challenge ourselves to spend a few minutes each day in prayerful conversation with God or meditation on the Scriptures, offering this time (and the sacrifice involved in carving out those moments of quiet time in our busy schedule) for Pope Francis and the fruits of his visit. Perhaps we can resolve to be more diligent in a particular aspect of our work or studies, offering that effort to God for this intention. Perhaps we can find concrete ways to treat the others around us with greater kindness and respect, offering a sympathetic ear to someone whose conversation we find a bit tiresome, smiling and being courteous to family members, roommates or colleagues even if we’re tired or having a hard day. … The possibilities are endless!
These, and many other small resolutions that we might make to live out our calling as Christians with greater joy and fidelity, are the kinds of things that Pope Francis has been exhorting each of us to do in his homilies, audiences, speeches, and writings. They may seem small, but so is the bit of leaven that enables the whole loaf of bread to rise, or the pinch of salt that gives flavor to a meal. These are all ways in which we can strive to walk with Francis, supporting his efforts to bring the Good News to the people of Cuba and the United States, and preparing our own hearts for the blessings that God wants to send us.
— Melissa Moschella is an assistant professor at The Catholic University of America School of Philosophy.
