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A daily message from Pope Francis
FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021
“Thanks to God and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from COVID-19. They grant us the hope of ending the pandemic, but only if they are available to all and if we work together. Being vaccinated with vaccines authorised by the competent authorities is an act of love. And contributing to ensure the majority of people are vaccinated is an act of love. Love for oneself, love for one’s family and friends, love for all people.” Pope Francis
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021
“Do I want to be recognized by others, to affirm myself and to be praised, or do I think rather about serving?… Do I know how to take a step back, defuse quarrels and arguments, or do I always want to excel? Let us think about these questions, each one of us: how am I doing with humility?… With God, only those who recognize themselves as nothing can receive the all.” Pope Francis
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021
“God does not exalt us because of our gifts, because of our wealth or how well we do things, but because of humility… God lifts up the one who humbles him or herself; He lifts up the one who serves.” Pope Francis
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021
“The human eye always looks for grandeur and allows itself to be dazzled by what is flashy. Instead, God does not look at the appearance, God looks at the heart… Humility of heart enchants God.”
Pope Francis
MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021
“May the Lord help us to journey along the path of the commandments but looking toward the love of Christ, with the encounter with Christ, knowing that the encounter with Jesus is more important than all of the commandments.”
Pope Francis
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021
“As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I entrust you and your families to her maternal intercession, that she may guide us on our pilgrim way to the fullness of Christ’s promises. May God bless you!” Pope Francis
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021
“At least once a day we find ourselves eating together; perhaps in the evening with our family, after a day of work or study. It would be lovely, before breaking bread, to invite Jesus, the bread of Life, to ask Him simply to bless what we have done and what we have failed to do. Let us invite Him into our home; let us pray in a “homey” style. Jesus will be at the table with us and we will be fed by a greater love.” Pope Francis
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021
“It might make us more comfortable to have a God who stays in heaven without getting involved in our life, while we can manage matters here on earth. Instead, God became man to enter into the concrete reality of this world… And He is interested in every aspect of our life. We can tell him about what we are feeling, our work, our day, our heartache, our anguish, so many things. We can tell Him everything because Jesus wants this intimacy with us. What does he not want?… To be overlooked and set aside, or called on only when we need him.” Pope Francis
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021
“Those who are hungry do not ask for refined and expensive food, they ask for bread. Those who are unemployed do not ask for enormous wages, but the “bread” of employment. Jesus reveals himself as bread, that is, the essential, what is necessary for everyday life; without Him it does not work… In other words, without Him, rather than living, we get by: because He alone nourishes the soul; He alone forgives us from that evil that we cannot overcome on our own; He alone makes us feel loved even if everyone else disappoints us; He alone gives us the strength to love and, He alone gives us the strength to forgive in difficulties; He alone gives that peace to the heart that it is searching for; He alone gives eternal life when life here on earth ends. He is the essential bread of life.” Pope Francis
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021
“With the truth of the Gospel, one cannot negotiate. Either you receive the Gospel as it is, as it was announced, or you receive any other thing. But you cannot negotiate with the Gospel. One cannot compromise. Faith in Jesus is not a bargaining chip: it is salvation, it is encounter, it is redemption. It cannot be sold off cheaply…. The Gospel is Christ’s gift to us, He Himself revealed it to us. It is what gives us life.” Pope Francis