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IMAGE: CNS photo/Narong Sangnak, EPA

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Celebrating the feast of the Assumption just three days after visiting a group of young women rescued from the sex trade, Pope Francis prayed for all exploited women and girls.

"The Lord bows down to the lowly in order to raise them up as is proclaimed in the Magnificat," Mary's hymn of praise to God, the pope said Aug. 15.

"Mary's canticle leads us to think of many painful situations today and particularly those of women overpowered by the burdens of life and the drama of violence, women who are slaves of the abuse of the powerful, girls forced into inhuman work, women forced to surrender body and spirit to the greed of men," Pope Francis told thousands of people gathered to pray the Angelus with him.

The pope prayed that exploited women soon would be able to live "a life of peace, justice and love in expectation of the day they finally will feel held by hands that do not humiliate them, but tenderly lift them and lead them on the path to life."

Pope Francis also prayed on the feast day that Mary would intercede to bring "compassion, understanding and agreement" to the many places in the world experiencing war and violent conflicts.

"My thoughts particularly go to the inhabitants of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recently struck by new massacres," he said, referring to reports that suspected rebels killed 42 people in the town of Beni Aug. 13. Such massacres, he said, have been occurring for months in "shameful silence."

Thousands of people also gathered under the window of the Apostolic Palace Aug. 14 for the Angelus prayer with the pope. In his Sunday Angelus talk, Pope Francis spoke about Jesus' words in the day's Gospel reading: "I have come to set the earth on fire."

"The fire Jesus is speaking about is the fire of the Holy Spirit present and alive in us from the day of our baptism," the pope said. "This fire is a creative force that purifies and renews, burning away every human misery, every selfishness, every sin, transforming us from within."

To renew the world and build the kingdom of God, he said, the fire must start in the hearts and lives of individuals. "It does not start from the head; it starts from the heart."

The Holy Spirit gives those with open hearts "the boldness and fervor to proclaim Jesus and his consoling message of mercy and salvation, navigating on the open sea without fear," the pope said.

Without the Holy Spirit's help, he said, the Christian community would "let itself be held back by fear and calculation," preferring to play it safe.

The church, Pope Francis said, "does not need bureaucrats and diligent functionaries, but passionate missionaries consumed with the drive to bring everyone the consoling word of Jesus and his grace."

"The apostolic courage that the Holy Spirit lights in us like a fire helps us overcome walls and barriers, makes us creative and pushes us to set out on unexplored or uncomfortable paths, offering hope to all we meet," the pope said.

Expressing his admiration for priests, religious and lay missionaries who devote -- and even risk -- their lives to share the Gospel, Pope Francis said the need is greater than ever for Christians willing to allow their hearts to be moved with compassion and reach out to those suffering material and spiritual poverty. Evangelization and mission, he said, need "the healing rhythm of closeness."

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The Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja in Nigeria, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has called on Nigerians to promote mutual trust and not allow evil people sow seeds of discord and misery in the land. The Cardinal made the call in a homily he preached at the funeral Mass of the late emeritus Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Athanasius Usuh. The Mass took place recently at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Makurdi, Benue State in Nigeria.

Reflecting on the state of the nation, Cardinal Onaiyekan emphasised the importance of unity in the life of the country and the need for all Nigerians to cooperate with the government in the fight against corruption and other vices that plague and stunt development in Nigeria.

“It is beautiful to see this large crowd gathered here in peace, with no fear of violence or mad attacks. Let us thank God for the measure of peace we still enjoy here and in most parts of our nation.” He added, “Considering the horrible things taking place all over the world these days, and sometimes here too in our nation, we should not take peace for granted. Rather we should all do our best to promote mutual trust, to build peaceful living together and give no room for evil people to sow discord and misery in our land,” the Cardinal emphasised.

Stressing that it is paramount and urgent for government at all levels to take the fight against corruption seriously, Cardinal Onaiyekan encouraged Nigerians to cooperate in the fight against corruption till victory is achieved. 

“But we cannot win this and other battles if the nation is not united as one under God,”Cardinal Onaiyekan said. He continued, “Whatever tends to tear us apart must be vigorously addressed. This is particularly so in the area of religion, whether it is attacks by herdsmen in farmlands or the gruesome murder of preachers or violent invading of places of worship by fanatics...”  The cardinal advocated that concrete, visible and convincing action must be taken urgently, to turn round the dangerous path that leads towards religious polarisation in the country.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja delivered a message of condolence from Pope Francis and another from the Holy See’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Archbishop Kasujja described Bishop Usuh as his acquaintance of about six years. He came to know Bishop Usuh as a “man of serenity and optimism even in the face of great pain and sickness.”

Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna, speaking on behalf of Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) stated, “Bishop Usuh was a father and made many contributions to the CBCN.” Archbishop Ndagoso lamented that Bishop Usuh’s great sense of humour which electrified the Conference would be greatly missed by fellow Bishops.

The current Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe CMF, in his address, thanked all those who supported the late Bishop during his trying moments of sickness, and also all those who stood by the diocese during the time of bereavement.  

(CNSN NewsOnline, Nigeria)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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Sr. Teresa Marcazzan, who belongs to the religious congregation of the Daughters of St. Paul (Paulines) has said that their founder Blessed James Alberione used to say, “If people do not come to Church, the Church must go where people are.”

Sr. Marcazzan was speaking to Vatican Radio’s English Africa Service, in Rome, not too long ago. She added, “People today are on Facebook, tweeter, and on phone sending messages to one another.” Just as Pope Francis, who uses social media regularly, Sr. Marcazzan believes that the Church must convincingly move to where people are.

Sr. Marcazzan is the Director of Pauline Publications Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has lived in Africa for the last 42 years. Among her many achievements is steering the committee that saw the publication of the ‘African Bible.’

Speaking on Vatican Radio’s English Africa radio programme, ‘Jubilee Year of Mercy,’ Sr. Marcazzan encouraged Africans to read the inspiring stories of African saints. “The lives of African saints and blesseds are beautiful examples of how to live the mercy of God," she said.

Through their publications, the Pauline Sisters would continue to produce books and booklets that help readers expand their understanding of God as a merciful father, Sr. Marcazzan said. ‘We have to live and appreciate the joy that this Year of Mercy brings to us and as Pope Francis insists,’ she said, "we must always carry with us, the Bible, especially the pocket Bible."

Sr. Marcazzan would like to see the Church embrace new media for the efficient spreading of the message of God’s mercy. “We can use these instruments to give good messages: ‘God is love, God is mercy,’ something short as the Pope often does … everyday short messages,” Sr. Marcazzan said.

Notwithstanding the importance of the print media to Africa, Sr. Marcazzan was quick to stress that radio, as a medium, in Africa was still a very powerful instrument at the disposal of the Church. Even as the Church moves into social media it must not neglect radio, she advised. She said radio spreads information to many people quickly and with great immediacy. “During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, radio and all media must be used to reinstate the language of mercy back into society,” she said.

(Fr. Brian Nonde CMM/Vatican Radio)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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