Pope at Regina Coeli: Ascension
recalls Jesus's constant presence among us
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| Pope Francis prays the Regina Coeli on Sunday (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis prays the Regina Coeli on Ascension Sunday, and
reminds Christians that Jesus remains among us as our source of strength and
joy.
By Devin Watkins
The Solemnity of the Ascension was celebrated in the Vatican
last Thursday, but Italy and many other countries celebrate the Lord’s ascent
into Heaven on Sunday.
At the Regina Coeli prayer in the Apostolic Library, Pope
Francis reflected on the missionary mandate Jesus gave His disciples during
their final meeting(Mt 28:16-20).
Jesus invests all who follow Him with the mission to all
peoples, said the Pope.
“The contents of the mission entrusted to the Apostles are
these: to proclaim, baptize, and teach how to walk the path traced out by the
Master, that is, the Gospel.”
Courageous witnesses
Pope Francis said the message of salvation requires
Christians to be witnesses, “to explain why we believe.”
He added that we will surely feel inadequate when faced with
such a daunting task, as the Apostles undoubtedly felt before us.
But “we must not be discouraged, remembering the words Jesus
addressed to them before ascending to Heaven: ‘I am with you always, to the
very end of the age’ ”, the Pope said.
Constant, consoling presence
Jesus thus promised to remain with us always, in the
constant and consoling presence of the Holy Spirit.
“That Spirit, sent by Christ and the Father, works the
remission of sins and sanctifies all those who are repentant and open
themselves with confidence to His gift.”
Pope Francis said Jesus’s presence among us as the Risen One
is revealed “in the Word, in the Sacraments, and in the constant and interior
action of the Holy Spirit.”
“The Feast of the Ascension,” he noted, “tells us that
Jesus, although He ascended to Heaven to dwell gloriously at the right hand of
the Father, is still and is always among us: this is the source of our
strength, our perseverance and our joy.”
Gentleness and courage
In conclusion, the Pope asked the Virgin Mary to accompany
our journey with her maternal protection.
“From her may we learn the gentleness and courage to be
witnesses in the world of the Risen Lord.”
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