Pope Francis is renowned for breaking new ground in so many ways. He encourages all of us to “go to the frontiers.” He goes there too; in his preaching and teaching, in his traveling, remarkable for an octogenarian, but also in the topics that he raises. He wants the light of the Gospel to shine on so many varied areas of human experience. He reminds us that it must.
The Pope’s prayer intention invites us to an examination of conscience with respect to its topic each month. It prompts us to ask about where this month’s concern might connect with some-thing in our own experience and asks us how we might respond. As we make our Daily Offering, we unite it to that intention and, this month, that will lead us to reflect on our personal use of so-cial networks. Do we use them to build up others, for dialogue, for the greater common good? Or do we succumb to temptation to be exclusive, interacting only with like-minded others, refusing to respect difference and diversity? Our God-given human freedom is delicate and tender. We can prayerfully commit ourselves to its protection, especially online, this month.
We might also keep in mind that June is traditionally the month of the Heart of Christ. In many places the faithful will pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart, in our churches or at home in their own prayer-time. It would be wonderful if we could unite the Pope’s Intention for the month to our contemplation of the Heart of Christ, for those challenges that face us all are on the heart of the Trinity, too!
This month, ponder the role that the joy of the heart of Christ has played in your Christian life and how that joy is visible to others.
– Fr. David Stewart, SJ
National Director
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (United Kingdom)
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