Crucifix of Jesus, Words of Pope Francis
"The crucifix is not another ornamental
object or clothing accessory to buy, - sometimes used abusively! - but a
religious sign that must be contemplated and understood". It was the
Pope's warning while leaning out of the window of his personal study in the
Vatican Apostolic Palace before pronouncing the Marian prayer of the Angelus
together with more than 20 thousand people gathered in the Plaza de San Pedro
in Vatican City.
"The Gospel of today invites us to direct our gaze to the
crucifix, which is not an ornamental object or an accessory of clothing that is
sometimes abused, but a religious sign that we must contemplate and
understand," he stated. He noted that "in the image of Jesus
crucified the mystery of the death of the Son of God is revealed as the supreme
act of love, source of life and salvation for humans of all times."
"I can think: how do I look at the crucifix? As a work of
art, to see if it is beautiful or not beautiful? Or do I look inside, into
Jesus' wounds to his heart? Do I look at the mystery of the God suffocated to
death, like a slave, like a criminal? Do not forget about this: look at the
crucifix but look inside.
There is this beautiful devotion to pray an Our Father for each of
the five wounds: when we pray that Our Father, we seek to enter through the
wounds of Jesus within, within his heart. And there we will learn the great
wisdom of the mystery of Christ, the great wisdom of the cross, "he added.
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