The Church is full of sinners, says Pope

[Mirror]

...as Church beatifies late Croatian priest

Pope Francis at the weekend urged thousands of pilgrims gathered on St Peter's Square to recognise that "we are a Church of sinners" but that "we must not be afraid of holiness.

"Do not be afraid to aim for holiness and turn yourselves over to the love of God. Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things but carrying out daily things in an extraordinary way – that is, with love, joy and faith," the Pope said.

Pope Francis asked in what sense could the Church be holy if we look at its 2000-year history and its trials, problems and moments of darkness. "But how can a Church made up of human beings, of sinners, be holy?"

Referring to St Paul's letter to the Ephesians (5: 25-26), he said that it is Christ's love for the Church and his sacrifice that renders the Church holy. The reasons, he continues, are threefold: firstly, the Church is faithful to God, who does not abandon it to the "powers of death and evil"; secondly, because it is "united in an everlasting way to Jesus Christ"; and thirdly because it is led by the Holy Spirit "who purifies, transforms and renews it". "We do not make the Church holy," he said. "God, the Holy Spirit, does."

The Church is not without sin because it is made up of sinners. Priests, sisters, bishops, cardinals and even Popes are sinners. Pope Francis warned us not to believe the misconception that the Church is filled only with the "pure" and that all others are to be "removed". "This is not true!" he exclaimed. "This is heresy!"

He concluded by recalling the parable of the prodigal son, reminding us that God waits for us with open arms and celebrates when we return. God wants us to be a part of a Church that opens its doors to everyone so they may find God's tender mercy and forgiveness. "Every Christian is called to holiness."

Meanwhile, a young priest who was murdered by Communist partisans during a wave of anti-Church violence in 1947 has been beatified as a martyr in Croatia.

Father Miroslav Bulesic, 27 at the time of his death, was portrayed as a victim of a hate crime during a time of upheaval in post-World War II Croatia by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Saints' Causes, during the ceremony on Saturday.

"All hate crimes are an abomination against religion, but the circumstances of the murder of Father Miroslav Bulesic were particularly loathsome," Cardinal Amato told hundreds of priests and 20,000 Catholics at the beatification Mass.

"Human wickedness was vented on a helpless priest, and the wolf tore the lamb apart. Hatred extinguished a human life, which is always precious but was twice as priceless this time as the life of a good man," the cardinal said.

He added that honouring the priest expressed the Church's "reverence and gratitude" for martyrs and should also encourage faith "in a world of transient ideologies."

Born in Svetvincenat, in northwest Croatia, Father Bulesic was sent to Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University after seminary studies. He was recalled by his bishop because of the outbreak of World War II and was ordained in April 1943.

After ministering at Baderna, the scene of fighting between Communist and Fascist units, he was transferred in 1945 to a larger parish at Kanfanar, where he also spoke out against Communist abuses as secretary of the local priests' association.

Source: The Church is full of sinners, says Pope

[Folami David]

He has said the truth i must say cos churches nowadays are mostly filled with sinners i must confess.
This is just the truth!