No 1398 of Living Life Series 1
On 23rd April 2017, Pope Francisco at a retreat said words of wisdom that apply not only to the Catholic faithfuls but to all. He obviously wanted to reach out to all and dwelt on the common space of all religions what Bo Tien 武 天 refers to as the Inner Truth. Excerpts of what the learned Pope said are appended below.
"There is no perfect family. We do not have perfect parents, we are not perfect, we do not marry a perfect person or have perfect children. We have complaints from each other. We disappoint each other. So there is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of forgiveness. Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival. Without forgiveness, the family becomes an arena of conflict and a stronghold of hurt."
"Without forgiveness, the family becomes ill. Forgiveness is the asepsis (purity from ailments) of the soul, the cleansing of the mind and the liberation of the heart. Whoever does not forgive, does not have peace in the soul nor communion (oneness or in tune) with God. Hurt is poison that intoxicates and kills. Keeping heartache in the heart is a self-destructive gesture. It's autophagy (eating oneself up). Those who do not forgive are physically, emotionally and spiritually ill."
"Parents are the childrens' source of life. They are there to protect their sons and daughters and not to compete with them."
"That is why the family must be a place of life and not of death; Territory of cure and not of illness; Stage of forgiveness and not guilt. Forgiveness brings joy where sorrow has produced sadness; Healing where sorrow has caused disease."
Thank you Pope for your words of wisdom. You are a blessing to mankind regardless of culture, faith or sect.
Thank you Pope for your words of wisdom. You are a blessing to mankind regardless of culture, faith or sect.