During this morning’s catechesis, Pope Francis explained the meaning of 'blessing' in the Christian faith. He highlighted that the importance of blessing is an essential dimension of prayer.
The pope said that God's blessing is important for Christians because it is the sign of His unconditional love and His way of “speaking something good.” As a response, the pope encouraged Catholics to thank God through prayers, adoration, and thanksgiving, saying that “The prayer of blessing is man’s response to God’s gifts.”
SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In our continuing catechesis on Christian prayer, we now consider the importance of blessing as an essential dimension of prayer. To “bless” literally means to “speak something good”. In creating and sustaining the world, God speaks a good word; he “blesses” his creation and sees that it is “good.”
God did not withhold his blessing even after we turned away in sin, but continues to desire our good. In the history of salvation, the greatest of God’s blessings is Jesus Christ himself. Saint Paul exhorts us to bless God, who has blessed us in Christ, and made us his beloved sons and daughters (cf. Eph 1:3-6).
In response to God’s blessings, we in turn bless him, the source of all good, through our prayers of praise, adoration and thanksgiving. As the Catechism teaches: “The prayer of blessing is man’s response to God’s gifts” (No. 2626). May we always find joy in blessing the Father with gratitude for the infinite goodness he has shown us in giving us his Son.
I cordially greet the English-speaking faithful. On our Advent journey, may the light of Christ illumine our paths and dispel all darkness and fear from our hearts. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
Javier Romero
Translation: Christian Campos
