Pope Francis: trust Jesus and not the psychics and magicians
Pope Francis has scolded people who consider themselves Christian practitioners, but who turn to fortune telling, psychic readings and tarot cards.
True faith means abandoning oneself to God "who does not make himself known through occult practices but through revelation and with gratuitous love," said the Pope on December 4 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.
Building on his prepared observations, the pope called Christians seeking reassurance from practitioners of magic.
"How is it possible, if you believe in Jesus Christ, you go to a sorcerer, a fortune teller, this kind of people?" churches. "Magic is not Christian!
These things that are done to predict the future or predict many things or change life situations are not Christian. Christ's grace can bring you everything! Praying and trusting in the Lord. "
To the public, the pope resumed his series of speeches on the Acts of the Apostles, reflecting on the ministry of Saint Paul in Ephesus, a "famous center for the practice of magic".
In the city, St. Paul baptized many people and aroused the wrath of the silversmiths who took care of making idols.
While the silversmiths' revolt was finally resolved, the pope recounted, St. Paul went to Miletus to give a farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus.
The pope called the apostle's speech "one of the most beautiful pages of the Acts of the Apostles" and asked the faithful to read chapter 20.
The chapter includes an exhortation of Saint Paul to the elders to "watch over yourselves and the whole flock".
Francis said that priests, bishops and the pope himself must be vigilant and "close to the people to protect and defend them", rather than being "disconnected from the people".
"We ask the Lord to renew in us his love for the church and for the deposit of the faith that she preserves, and to make us all co-responsible in the care of the flock, supporting the shepherds in prayer so that they can manifest the firmness and tenderness of the Divine Shepherd. "Said the Pope.
