Pope Francis: "Do not reduce faith to sugar that sweetens life"

“Let's not forget this: faith cannot be reduced to sugar that sweetens life. Jesus is a sign of contradiction ”. Like this Papa Francesco in the homily of the mass at the Stasin National Shrine (Slovakia) on the Solemnity of Blessed Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows, Patroness of the country.

Jesus, the Pontiff continued, "he came to bring light where there is darkness, bringing darkness out into the open and forcing them to surrender".

“Accepting him - continued Bergoglio - means accepting that he reveals my contradictions, my idols, the suggestions of evil; and that he becomes resurrection for me, the One who always raises me up, who takes me by the hand and makes me start again ”.

"Jesus told his disciples that he did not come to bring peace, but a sword: in fact, his Word, like a double-edged sword, enters our life and separates the light from the darkness, asking us to choose ”, the Pope added.

At the Sanctuary of Sastin, where the traditional pilgrimage takes place every September 15 on the occasion of the feast of the patroness, the Blessed Virgin of the Seven Sorrows, Pope Francis joined this morning with the Slovak bishops for a prayer of entrustment before celebrating mass.

According to the organizers' estimates, 45 thousand faithful were present at the sanctuary. “Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, we are gathered here before you as brothers, grateful to the Lord for His merciful love”, we read in the text addressed to Our Lady who has been venerated for centuries in the sanctuary of Sastin.

“Mother of the Church and Comforter of the afflicted, we turn to you with confidence, in the joys and labors of our ministry. Look at us with tenderness and welcome us into your arms ”, the Pope and the Slovak bishops said together.

“We entrust to you our own episcopal communion. Obtain for us the grace to live with daily fidelity the words that your Son Jesus taught us and that now, in him and with him, we address to God our Father ”.