Meditation by Pope Francis

The Holy Father delivered the homily, engaging in dialogue with the children who were making their first communion.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The priest, in his words, reminded me of a beautiful thing about the Virgin Mary. When the Virgin Mary, after receiving the announcement that she would be the mother of Jesus, and also the announcement that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant—as the Gospel says—she left in haste; she didn't wait. She didn't say, "But now I'm pregnant, I have to take care of my health. My cousin will have friends who might help her." She sensed something and "set out without delay." It's beautiful to think this of the Virgin Mary, our Mother, who sets out without delay, because she has this in her: to help. She goes to help, she doesn't go to boast and say to her cousin, "Listen, now I'm in charge, because I'm the Mother of God!" No, she didn't do that. She went to help! And the Virgin Mary is always like that. She is our Mother, who always comes quickly when we need her. It would be beautiful to add to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary a litany that would say: "Lady who comes quickly, pray for us!" It's beautiful, isn't it? Because she always comes quickly, she doesn't forget her children. And when her children are in difficulty, when they have a need and they call upon her, she comes quickly. And this gives us security, the security of having our Mother by our side, always by our side. We move forward, we walk better in life when we have our Mother near us. Let us think of this grace of the Virgin Mary, this grace she gives us: to be near us, but without making us wait. Always! She is there—we trust in this—to help us. The Virgin Mary who always hurries, for us.

The Madonna also helps us to understand God, Jesus, to understand the life of Jesus, the life of God, to understand who the Lord is, what the Lord is like, who God is. I ask you, children: "Who knows who God is?" Raise your hand. Tell me? There you go! The Creator of the Earth. And how many Gods are there? Just one? But I was told there are three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! How do you explain that? Is there only one, or are there three? Just one? Just one? And how do you explain that one is the Father, another the Son, and another the Holy Spirit? Well done! That's good. They are three in one, three persons in one. And what does the Father do? The Father is the beginning, the Father, who created everything, who created us. What does the Son do? What does Jesus do? Who can say what Jesus does? He loves us? And then what? He brings the Word of God! Jesus comes to teach us the Word of God. Very good! And then what? What did Jesus do on earth? He saved us! And Jesus came to give his life for us. The Father creates the world; Jesus saves us. And what does the Holy Spirit do? He loves us! He gives you love! All children together: the Father creates everything, he creates the world; Jesus saves us; and the Holy Spirit? He loves us! And that is the Christian life: talking with the Father, talking with the Son, and talking with the Holy Spirit. Jesus saved us, but he also walks with us in life. Is that true? And how does he walk? What does he do when he walks with us in life? It's difficult. Whoever does it wins the derby! What does Jesus do when he walks with us? Great! First: he helps us. He guides us! Very good! He walks with us, he helps us, he guides us, and he teaches us how to move forward. And Jesus also gives us the strength to walk. Is that true? He sustains us! Good! In times of difficulty, right? And also with schoolwork! He sustains us, helps us, guides us, supports us. There you go! Jesus is always with us. Okay. But listen, Jesus gives us strength. How does Jesus give us strength? You know how he gives us strength! Strong, I don't hear! In Communion, he gives us strength, he truly helps us with his strength. He comes to us. But when you say, "he gives us Communion," does a piece of bread give you that much strength? Isn't it bread? Is it bread? It is bread, but what about the one on the altar? Is it bread or isn't it bread? It looks like bread! It's not really bread. What is it? It's the Body of Jesus. Jesus comes into our hearts. Let us all reflect on this: the Father gave us life; Jesus gave us salvation, he accompanies us, guides us, sustains us, teaches us; and the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit give us? He loves us! He gives us love. Let us think of God in this way and ask the Virgin Mary, our Mother, always ready to help us, to teach us to truly understand who God is: who is the Father, who is the Son, and who is the Holy Spirit. Amen.

VISIT TO THE ROMAN PARISH

SAINTS ELIZABETH AND ZECHARIAH

HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS

Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Sunday, May 26, 2013