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‘A Parish Where There Is No Gossip, Is a Perfect Parish!’ Says Pope

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‘A Parish Where There Is No Gossip, Is a Perfect Parish!’ Says Pope

Jesus Christ”€™s first disciples were “€œsinners,”€ like all of us, but they had a great strong point: they never spoke badly of one another and in this they gave a great example, succeeding in spreading the Gospel throughout the world. In his first post-Jubilee parish visit to Setteville of Guidonia in Rome, Pope Francis prayed for a special grace for the community: to never “€œgossip,”€ to never talk about one another. The Holy Father took his cue from today”€™s Gospel (John 1:29-34), to reflect on the concept of “€œtestimony”€ : many of John the Baptist”€™s disciples listened to the prophet”€™s testimony, chose to follow Jesus and “€œremained happy,”€ saying: “€œWe have found the Messiah!”€ Those first disciples of the Nazarene “€œfelt Jesus”€™ presence thanks to a man, John, who gave witness of Christ.Casting a look on today”€™s reality, the Pontiff noted: “€œSo many Christians confess that Jesus is God,”€ and among these there are “€œpriests”€ and “€œbishops.”€ A question arises, however: “€œDo they all give witness of Jesus?”€To be Christians, continued the Pope, is something very different from being “€œfans of a team”€ or adhering to a “€œphilosophy. It also goes beyond simple respect for the “€œCommandments,”€ of a “€œI must do this …”€ Those first disciples, the Apostles, did not follow a course,”€ nor did they “€œgo to university”€ to give witness of Jesus Christ. Moreover, they were all “€œsinners,”€ not “€œonly Judas”€ of whom, after all, we do not know what happened after his death,”€ in as much as, perhaps, God”€™s mercy could have saved him. The Twelve Apostles, added Francis, were full of defects, they were “€œenvious,”€ experienced “€œjealousy between them,”€ argued about who should “€œoccupy the first place.”€ They were even “€œtraitors”€ and it is demonstrated by the fact that “€œwhen Jesus was seized, they all fled …. They were afraid, they hid.”€ Peter himself, “€œwho was the head,”€ tried to follow the Master up closer in his final trial but “€œwhen a servant recognized him, he denied Jesus.”€ Thus, St. Peter’s Successor stressed: “€œThe first Pope betrayed Jesus.”€ However, all those first disciples “€œlet themselves be saved”€ and became “€œwitnesses of salvation,”€ granted to them by Jesus. They committed “€œso many sins,”€ including the Lord”€™s betrayal, but they were great in one aspect: “€œThey weren”€™t gossipers, they did not talk badly of one another,”€ as opposed to so many of today”€™s communities, where they end by “€œskinning one another.”€ Hence, the Pope re-launched a strong point of his preaching: “€œA community where there are gossipers doesn”€™t give witness. If you have something to say, say it to the face or, at most, “€œsay it to the parish priest.”€ From whence the Bishop of Rome drew his recommendation to Saint Mary”€™s parish: “€œI would like this community to make the resolution not to gossip.”€ In face of such a temptation, “€œbite your tongue!”€, he added. Given that “€œthe Apostles never gossiped about one another, “€œa parish without gossip is a perfect parish,”€ made up “€œof witnesses,”€ of which one can say credibly “€œHow they love one another!”€, said Francis, praying finally to the Lord for the parishioners of Setteville of Guidonia, to be given the grace “€œnever to talk about one another.”€

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