• An Important Key to who Pope Francis is.

    Posted on January 5, 2017 by in Reflections on Sunday Gospels

        Pope Francis is a Jesuit (SJ).  I’ve read four biographies of the pope but Mark Shriver’s book unlocks, what to me is a key to who Jorge Bergoglio is.  I had read that the pope is an early riser, around 4:45 and that he prays his way to the preaching at the 7:00 a.m. Mass in Santa Martha’s chapel.  But on page 62 in the chapter titled Novice, I found a key to the pope’s dedication to prayer:

    “Piety” is a tricky word.  Today, when you hear someone called pious, the adjective usually implies sanctimony, a holier-than-thou bearing.  But it has its root in pietas, the Latin word for dutifulness. Mark Shriver quotes Fr. Paredes, Bergoglio’s former student: “We got the sense that Zaragozi (novice master) awoke in Bergoglio (novice) not just the habit but the rage for prayer that he has to this day.” Shriver writes: “  The “habit ” the “rage for prayer”—clearly, both the novice master and the novice saw prayer as a welcome duty that gave meaning to their daily lives. “

    Sebastien Maillard gives further information on Pope Francis’ daily prayer life.  Writing in the Huff Post he titled his article, “A Day in the Life of Pope Francis, Who Lives Behind This Gas Station”. “When the mass ends, everyone remains seated.  Pope Francis gets up in silence, often moving to a seat in the back row, to pray among the people. …Pope Francis ends his day, as it started — in prayer. He prays before dinner, where he helps himself at the buffet. He switches off the light at around 10 p.m.

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