Pope to seminarians: Life is sustained by countless Simon of Cyrenes
Vatican news
Without the hope that Jesus brings, Pope Francis told seminarians in Cordoba, Spain, embarking on life’s journey would be folly.
By Kielce Gussie
Seminarians from Cordoba, Spain, spent the morning in audience with Pope Francis, who welcomed them to “the path of life.” The Pope explained that there are different signs of hope along the journey of life.
Towards the sky
“Direction: towards heaven, towards the ultimate encounter with Jesus” is the first sign of the path.
Pope Francis stressed that this orientation does not lead to a comfortable life, because choosing comfort leads to “dead ends.” If this path is chosen, we will have to go back “with shame”.
Hazards along the way
As he continues on the path of life, the Pope described the second sign: the dangers that people may encounter along the way.
Using the example of the life of their hometown saint, Pelagius of Cordoba, he encouraged the seminarians to “persevere in the path of the Lord,” emboldened by the knowledge that Jesus will support them and give them the strength to “be sowers of hope.
Places of provision
One of the stages of the seminarians’ life journey was this meeting with the Pope and the visit to the Holy Door during the Jubilee Year.
Pope Francis stressed that everyone needs to feel the presence of Jesus in their lives and, in the Eucharist, “he repairs us when we have a puncture in the middle of the road” and “he welcomes us when fatigue overcomes us and we have to stop for a break.
Without the hope that Jesus brings, the Pope said, “undertaking this journey would be madness.” Only by trusting in Him can man be sure of reaching his destination.
Yet Pope Francis warned seminarians that being sowers of hope does not mean “speaking words of courtesy or opting for saccharine kindness.”
This life path must not be traveled alone, he concluded. This requires a “community that guides, defends, assists and blesses those whom the Lord has entrusted to us as our task.”
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