Francis in Gyumri: St Gregory of Narek, voice of
Armenia.
(Vatican Radio) On the
morning of Saturday 25th of June during his homily at an open air Holy
Mass in the north eastern Armenian city of Gyumri badly hit in 1988 by a
massive earthquake Pope Francis highlighted the figure of St. Gregory of Narek.
These are his exact words:
"All the same, we might
ask ourselves: how can we become merciful, with all the faults and
failings that we see within ourselves and all about us? I would
like to appeal to one concrete example, a great herald of divine mercy, one
to whom I wished to draw greater attention by making him a Doctor of the
Universal Church: Saint Gregory of Narek, word and voice of Armenia.
It is hard to find his equal in the ability to plumb the depths of misery
lodged in the human heart. Yet he always balanced human weakness with
God’s mercy, lifting up a heartfelt and tearful prayer of trust in the Lord who
is “giver of gifts, root of goodness… voice of consolation, news of comfort,
joyful impulse… unparalleled compassion, inexhaustible mercy… the kiss of
salvation” (Book of Lamentations, 3, 1). He was certain that “the light
of God’s mercy is never clouded by the shadow of indignation” (ibid., 16,
1). Gregory of Narek is a master of life, for he teaches us that the most
important thing is to recognize that we are in need of mercy. Despite our
own failings and the injuries done to us, we must not become self-centred but
open our hearts in sincerity and trust to the Lord, to “the God who is ever
near, loving and good” [ibid., 17, 2), “filled with love for mankind … a fire
consuming the chaff of sin (ibid., 16, 2).
In the words of Saint
Gregory, I would like now to invoke God’s mercy and his gift of unfailing love:
Holy Spirit, “powerful protector, intercessor and peace-maker, we lift up our
prayers to you… Grant us the grace to support one another in charity and
good works… Spirit of sweetness, compassion, loving kindness and mercy…
You who are mercy itself… Have mercy on us, Lord our God, in accordance with
your great mercy” (Hymn of Pentecost).
All the same, we might ask
ourselves: how can we become merciful, with all the faults and failings that we
see within ourselves and all about us? I would like to appeal to one
concrete example, a great herald of divine mercy, one to whom I wished to draw
greater attention by making him a Doctor of the Universal Church: Saint Gregory
of Narek, word and voice of Armenia. It is hard to find his equal in the
ability to plumb the depths of misery lodged in the human heart. Yet he
always balanced human weakness with God’s mercy, lifting up a heartfelt and
tearful prayer of trust in the Lord who is “giver of gifts, root of goodness…
voice of consolation, news of comfort, joyful impulse… unparalleled compassion,
inexhaustible mercy… the kiss of salvation” (Book of Lamentations, 3, 1).
He was certain that “the light of God’s mercy is never clouded by the shadow of
indignation” (ibid., 16, 1). Gregory of Narek is a master of life, for he
teaches us that the most important thing is to recognize that we are in need of
mercy. Despite our own failings and the injuries done to us, we must not
become self-centred but open our hearts in sincerity and trust to the Lord, to
“the God who is ever near, loving and good” [ibid., 17, 2), “filled with love
for mankind … a fire consuming the chaff of sin (ibid., 16, 2).
In the words of Saint
Gregory, I would like now to invoke God’s mercy and his gift of unfailing love:
Holy Spirit, “powerful protector, intercessor and peace-maker, we lift up our
prayers to you… Grant us the grace to support one another in charity and
good works… Spirit of sweetness, compassion, loving kindness and
mercy… You who are mercy itself… Have mercy on us, Lord our God, in
accordance with your great mercy” (Hymn of Pentecost)."
To afford a little
background already on the 12th of April 2015 Pope Francis had highlighted
the figure of this 10th century Armenian monk St Gregory of Narek proclaiming
him Doctor of the Church. Please find below a selection of the Popes words
relating to St Gregory of Narek on this occasion which coincided with the 100th
anniversary of 'Metz Yeghern':
"Today is a propitious
occasion for us to pray together, as we proclaim Saint Gregory of Narek a
Doctor of the Church. I wish to express my deep gratitude for the presence here
today of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and His
Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics.
Saint Gregory of Narek, a
monk of the tenth century, knew how to express the sentiments of your people
more than anyone. He gave voice to the cry, which became a prayer, of a sinful
and sorrowful humanity, oppressed by the anguish of its powerlessness, but
illuminated by the splendour of God’s love and open to the hope of his salvific
intervention, which is capable of transforming all things. “Through his
strength I wait with certain expectation believing with unwavering hope that… I
shall be saved by the Lord’s mighty hand and… that I will see the Lord himself
in his mercy and compassion and receive the legacy of heaven” (Saint Gregory of
Narek, Book of Lamentations, XII)"....
And again further on in this
message Pope Francis referring to the sorrowful anniversary of the 'Metz
Yeghern' goes on to say:
"May this sorrowful
anniversary become for all an occasion of humble and sincere reflection, and
may every heart be open to forgiveness, which is the source of peace and
renewed hope. Saint Gregory of Narek, an extraordinary interpreter of the human
soul, offers words which are prophetic for us: “I willingly blame myself with
myriad accounts of all the incurable sins, from our first forefather through
the end of his generations in all eternity, I charge myself with all these
voluntarily” (Book of Lamentations, LXXII). How striking is his sense of
universal solidarity! How small we feel before the greatness of his
invocations: “Remember, [Lord,]… those of the human race who are our enemies as
well, and for their benefit accord them pardon and mercy… Do not destroy those
who persecute me, but reform them, root out the vile ways of this world, and
plant the good in me and them” (ibid., LXXXIII)."
For the full message of Pope
Francis relating to the 100th anniversary of 'Metz Yeghern':
For more about St Gregory of
Narek:
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