Pope Francis continues to make headlines. This past week his interview with America Magazine caught many people’s imagination. It caught mine and just in case you didn’t get a chance to read it, you can access and read it here: http://www.americamagazine.org/pope-interview
What I found most interesting is that Pope Francis seems to agree with my previous blog (I doubt that he read it) on OATS. From my reading of the interview, it looks like Pope Francis thinks OATS is a good way to build community. The following are quick quotes from the interview. Of course I’m putting my spin on his thoughts. I don’t mean to imply in anyway that I have a special insight into Pope Francis’s mind. I’m just hoping you’ll read the whole interview if you haven’t already and just as important share your reflections.
- Openness
“…That means being able to do the little things of every day with a big heart open to God and to others.” - Awareness
“…So we grow in the understanding of the truth. Exegetes and theologians help the church to mature in her own judgment. Even the other sciences and their development help the church in its growth in understanding.” - Togetherness
“…Thinking with the church, therefore, is my way of being a part of this people. And all the faithful, considered as a whole, are infallible in matters of belief…” - Separateness
“’I see the holiness,’ the pope continues, ‘in the patience of the people of God: a woman who is raising children, a man who works to bring home the bread, the sick…”
So what do you think?
We are a community of laymen and laywomen who, with vowed Passionists, seek to share in the charism of St. Paul of the Cross through prayer, ongoing spiritual formation, and proclamation of the message of Christ Crucified.
