Caution Francis Speaks: To Proselytise Or Not?
Double minded Modernist Francis has said not to proselytize in times past now he speaks of proselytizing?
He tries to convert everyone to the New Religion not Catholicism. Avoid churches teaching Vatican II. His Gospel is not Christ's but of man.
At today’s Angelus, the Pope sent out an appeal to faithful for
Christmas, urging them to leave aside “the idols of success, power and
money” and embrace God. “When missionaries proclaim Jesus, they do not
proselytise like football fans seeking more people who support their
team,” Francis assured, inviting them to “abandon paths that are easy
but misleading, worldly idols: success at all costs, power at the
expense of the weak, the thirst for riches and pleasure at any price”.
On the Second Sunday of Advent, the Pope appeared at the window of the papal study in the Apostolic Palace to recite the Marian prayer in the presence of a crowd of faithful gathered in St. peter’s Square. The Pope repeated John the Baptist’s invitation: “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." He underlined that Jesus began his mission in Galilee with these very words and “this is the message the disciples have to bring on their first missionary experience”.
Commenting on Sunday’s Gospel passage, the Pope emphasised that Matthew the evangelist introduces “John as the one who prepares the path towards Christ who is to come and the disciples as the perpetuators of Jesus’ teaching”. The message is the same: “the Kingdom of God is coming, in fact it is near, it is among us”. This, the pope stressed is the core message of every Christian mission. “But what is this Kingdom of heaven? The Pope asked. “We immediately think of something to do with the afterlife: eternal life. Of course, the Kingdom of God will extend beyond life on earth but the good news Jesus brings and John discloses, is that we must not wait for God’s Kingdom in the future.” Indeed, the Pope stressed, “the Kingdom of God is near, it is in some way present and we can feel the spiritual power even now: God comes to establish his dominion in our history, in our everyday life and love, joy and peace grow wherever it is accepted with faith and humility.” The condition for entering this Kingdom, the Pope continued, is “to make a change in our lives, in other words, convert”.
Hence the invitation to “open the way for the Lord who comes,” “because Christ does not rob us of our freedom, but grants us true happiness”. When Jesus is born in Bethlehem, Francis explains, “it is God himself who has come to dwell among us, to free us from selfishness, from sin and corruption”. This is why, Francis added, “Christmas is a day of great joy, external joy too, but it is first and foremost a religious event that requires spiritual preparation”. So, in this time of Advent, let us allow ourselves to be guided by the Baptist’s exhortation to prepare the way of the Lord and resume God’s path”. We achieve this by “examining our consciences, when we scrutinise our attitudes, when we confess our sins with sincerity and faith, in the sacrament of Penance”. In this sacrament, “we feel in our hearts the closeness of God’s Kingdom and His salvation”. “God’s salvation is the fruit of a love that is greater than our sin, only God’s love can erase sin and free us from evil and only God’s love can send us on the path of goodness”.
Francis invoked the help of Mary: “Help us to prepare for pour encounter with this ever-growing Love that became tiny on Christmas Eve, like a seed that fell to earth, the seed of God’s Kingdom”.
After the Angelus the Pope greeted “all of you, Romans and pilgrims”. He gave a special mention to “faithful from Córdoba, Jaén and Valencia in Spain, Split and Makarska in Croatia and the Roman parishes of St. Mary of the Prayer and Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. “I wish everyone a pleasant Sunday and may the journey of Advent be a fruitful one.” Francis said. “See you again on Thursday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Over the coming days, let us pray together for her maternal intercession for the conversion of hearts and the gift of peace. And please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch.”
Francis invited Romans and pilgrims to join him for the traditional act of veneration to the Immaculate Conception at Rome’s Spanish Steps on 8 December. On Twitter, the Pope described Advent as “a time to prepare our hearts to receive Christ, our Saviour and hope”.
