St. Francis is primarily known as a symbol of poverty and humility. But that’s not the only thing he excelled at. He was endowed with several virtues by God, which he displayed through his open heart. Alongside poverty, his humility is notable; he never dared to become a priest, remaining a deacon until his death. For Francis, the priesthood was such a noble and supreme calling that he did not consider himself worthy of it. Even his outward appearance expressed humility; he was not ashamed to wear the garment of a beggar. Thanks to this virtue, he always had an open heart for those who were equally poor, whether physically or spiritually. From his humble position, he could perceive all the beauty that God had hidden not only in magnificent things but also in the smallest and simplest of creatures.

O. Francis’s humility was characterised by courage and determination. After his conversion, he was not afraid to leave everything behind, including his clothes, and start completely afresh, as if he had just been born naked. He did not hesitate to stand up to his father’s plans. He did not hesitate to approach the Pope and request the Rule of Saint Benedict, also known as the Rule of Humility. This modest attitude moved even the pontiff himself. Determined to become a martyr, he went to the Muslims, but the Sultan accepted him as a servant of God and only allowed his brothers to work in the holy places of the Promised Land. Perhaps this was because they had conquered this territory with their hearts rather than their swords.

Thanks to that, the Franciscans still work there today. Francis’s determination to change himself and then the world inspired many followers to follow in his footsteps. This also improved the Church’s image, as it recovered from the medieval excesses of its dissolute sons and daughters and once again embraced the simplicity of Christ’s gospel. Francis’ perseverance in adopting a new life with Christ sets an example for us all. Initially, he zealously repaired the church; then he realised that his mission was to save the Church. 

St. Francis had enough worldly wealth, but it could not feed him. That’s why he sought real wealth, just as many young people today do. Many of them are saturated with materialism and consumerism, yet they still feel a hunger for spirituality. Unfortunately, they often turn to occultism, New Age practices, or other Eastern religious practices that try to connect with creation and seek harmony. Young people follow these movements because they dislike a society that prioritizes property over people. They also perceive the problems associated with destroying the environment and threatening the future itself. Ultimately, they believe that only these religions offer meaning and answers to the concerns of nature.

If they had known that Christianity long ago answered these questions and offered solutions that took into account both the world and humanity, perhaps they would have looked in the right place. However, we should all follow the example of today’s saint to some extent and protect and honour the world and the people who inhabit it with us. After all, the first commandment in the Scriptures is to conquer the earth, which means to be its responsible and caring masters. There are plenty of examples to follow in St Francis. We could hardly imitate him in everything. But the invitation is still valid, and we can start with the small things and the humility that we often lack.

Our prize is the blood of Christ, who, from generation to generation, saves us from death and feeds us in times of hunger. The Church offers us the words of the psalmist to help us enter into the mystery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and his love for us. They remind us that God’s heart conceals plans for each individual’s personal history; plans of freedom and life. We are not random and insignificant products of evolution. Each of us is the fruit of God’s thoughts. Each of us is wanted, each of us is loved, each of us is needed”.

Contemplating Jesus on the cross, we see that He let His heart be pierced to give us further proof of His unconditional love for us. Saint Ambrose emphasises that ‘just as Eve was born from the side of Adam when he fell asleep, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ when he died on the cross’ [3]. In a sense, we can say that our origin lies in the pierced heart of Jesus. Our Christian life stems from this source, like a spring to which we can return whenever we need strength on our journey.

„ Jesus on the cross, with his heart pierced out of love for humanity, provides an eloquent response to the question of the value of people and things, rendering words completely superfluous.
‘When we celebrate the Sacred Heart of the Lord, we realise that behind every moment of suffering and defeat, there is someone who considers us irreplaceable. People and their lives are of such great value that the Son of God gave himself up to redeem, purify and uplift them.”

It is a heart that keeps looking for us. Sometimes our peace may be threatened when we discover the presence of sin in our lives, perhaps when we fall into temptation and become entangled in our own vices. We hate the sin that takes us away from God and hurts us and others, yet we cannot seem to find a way out of it. In such moments, our willpower seems idle, and we may feel paralysed in our spiritual life. However, if we think that our hearts are somehow unresponsive, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus’ heart is tender and humble; it offers solace to those who turn to him: ‘Come to me, all you who are struggling and overloaded, and I will strengthen you’ (Mt 11:28). Christ is also a good shepherd who constantly looks for us, paves the way for us, and carries us on his shoulders again. Knowing that his heart never sleeps, even when ours seems far away, gives us the confidence to face our daily struggles once more.

„ The heart of the Good Shepherd tells us that his love knows no bounds; that he never grows weary or gives up. He is inclined towards us all, especially those who are far away. There he tenaciously shows the needle of his compass; there he reveals the weakness of his special love because he wants to reach everyone and not lose anyone”.[5] Our sins are no longer a reason to discourage us from wanting to be with God. The Lord allows us to experience weakness, which opens up the possibility of humility. He relies on our efforts, so that driven by his grace, we can rise. Sometimes, salvation history is carried out against hope in hope (Rom 4:18), that is, through our weaknesses. We often think that God relies only on our good and winning side, but in reality, most of his plans are implemented through and despite our weakness.

To make our way back… ↔ ON THE CROSS Jesus gets his side pierced with a spear: ‘The Saviour’s open heart attracts everyone to draw on the springs of salvation with joy’. Contemplating Christ in this way will help us find courage and our way back to friendship with God. ‘Find refuge in his wounds on his hands, on his feet and in his side,’ advises Saint Josemaría, ‘and your will to start again will be strengthened, and you will set off again with greater determination and effectiveness’. If we want to escape the trap of despondency, the best remedy is to think less about our limitations and to calmly contemplate the heart that was pierced by the sins of all.

‘You are still accompanied by mistakes,’ said the founder of Opus Dei, ‘and it hurts you! At the same time, however, you walk with such joy that it is as if your heart will jump out. And because your failures hurt you — the pain of love — they no longer rob you of peace.’⁹ God does not want our sins to fill us with sadness or burden us. That is why He gave us the gift of confession, so that we can regain joy whenever we need it. Repentance, or grief over one’s own faults, is inherent in a loving heart. It is not a feeling of despondency for not living up to the expectations of others or ourselves; rather, it is a sadness born of love for God, who does everything necessary for us.

In the heart of Christ, we will always have a place to which we can return. Become humble and enter through that door. If we ever find ourselves lost, we can count on Mary’s help. She shows us the way into her Son’s open side with her maternal gaze.

Many of us have trouble shopping. There are many goods, but you have to look for the best one, so we are willing to go to the whole city for it and, if necessary, stand in line for a long time. We refer to some products as “semifinished products.” It is already clear from the name that they are not quite finished, and therefore, they need to be completed. Many of us are certainly used to them, and when we have to make a quick lunch or dinner, they will serve us. Our faith is also an unfinished thing that needs to be continually completed. But it is not as simple as with a semifinished product. It is never “finished “; you have to work on it all your life. Perhaps someone will say, “But I have it firm and unwavering!” Is that really the case? The apostles teach us a nice lesson. They turned to Jesus with a request: “Give us more faith! “

Imagine those disciples who lived daily with Jesus for three years, walked with him, saw his miracles, and witnessed his fascinating manifestations. These disciples ask for the strengthening of their faith! It could literally freeze those who claim to have firm faith. However, let’s return to the apostles. They, despite walking with Jesus, did not have it easy. Jesus was outwardly a man like them, and to believe in his divinity, they needed firm faith. Because faith is certainty in something that we have not verified or proven by hand, and yet we accept it as a fact. How did Jesus react? He saw into the future with his divine nature. Therefore, he saw both the Mount of Olives and Golgotha and knew how the disciples’ faith would fail there, so he reacted in such a reproachful way: “If you had faith like a mustard seed and you said to this mulberry tree: ‘Break out with the root and plant yourself in the sea, ‘she would obey you. “

Therefore, when today we have before our eyes the apostles who, despite what they saw in Jesus, failed, we cannot claim that our faith is firm and perfect. We do not see, and daily experience teaches us how easily we can fail in faith. We must ask for the gift of faith all the sooner and more because most of us have become Christians without knowing it. Our parents baptized us as infants, so it is essential to nurture and strengthen this faith. We cannot even be satisfied with the faith that our young souls received in preparation for the first Holy Communion or for the Burmese. Because people who are satisfied with such faith often leave it behind as soon as they leave home and go to the dormitory or to war, and it fails. After all, faith is not a done deal, and just as there is never enough love, so it is with faith. There is never enough of it.

Unfortunately, we must acknowledge that numerous factors threaten and weaken faith. Young people often talk about science. But serious scientists say that science is not an enemy of faith. On the contrary, faith and science complement each other, and those who adhere more to science have enriched themselves in faith thanks to it. The prominent French poet and playwright Paul Claudel also responds to this problem, saying: “Young people who give up their faith so easily do not know what a pain it is to get it again. “For others, faith is degraded by clinging to wealth, career, and fame. Others, on the other hand, are ashamed to confess their faith and consider human considerations, such as how it hurts when the church is full at a wedding, and I myself pray the Our Father with the minister. Is it possible for the few dozen people not even to know this prayer?

Last but not least, it must be acknowledged that our faith is weakened by television, the Internet, and computers, which allow us to sit for hours and then leave us with little time for reading a religious book, attending catechism, praying, or meditating. So what to do? To ask for the gift of faith. Ask for strengthening in faith. Let’s make sure that each of our prayers also contains a request: “Lord, strengthen my faith. “We do not have to be ashamed of this request, because if the apostles made it, we have all the more reason to make it too. Do I do that? Do I strengthen my faith through education, prayer, and meditation? Am I a witness of faith in events where strangers also participate? Can I bless myself in front of them or pray? Am I not ashamed to show them that I know?

Princess Lee of Korea, who became a Christian in 1962, said: “Not that happy days were missing in our previous life, but it cannot even be compared to the happiness that faith brought us. “And a certain Vietnamese, who turned from Confucianism, spoke in the circle of believers: ‘You Christians who have owned the faith from birth, so to speak, have no idea what treasure you have received. Only we who have wandered one whole human life, who have had to go through darkness, fear, uncertainty, and bitterness, can know this. I have been carrying peace of mind since I found Krista “. What did these people have in common? They found Christ, strengthened their faith in him, and indeed constantly asked for its strengthening. Because faith is like a precious treasure that must be continuously improved, now let us also ask our heavenly Father together: “Lord, do not allow us to be satisfied with our delicate and hesitant faith, but in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, we ask you to strengthen our faith every day. “Let’s not forget to put this intention into our daily prayers.

Perhaps everyone who remembers their first childhood prayers has dealt with the world of angels. A picture of a guardian angel above a dangerous ravine used to be a standard fixture in children’s rooms, and the prayer to the guardian angel is still part of every child’s prayer repertoire. It is probably true, as Dr. Paul Strauss suggests, that “the fullness of man is in his childlike imagination.” When the exotic dreamlands gradually break and fade, the insurmountable journeys into unimaginable possibilities come to an end, and man grows into the shrunken dimensions of adulthood. This is one reason why adult Christians rarely remember these reasonable spiritual beings of God, perhaps only in danger. However, it is strange that many who are averse to the supernatural are drawn to mysterious figures that hover between heaven and earth. While it may seem that in today’s over-technologized world, where we can rationally explain everything, God is distant, He moves closer to us through His messengers – the angels. It is as if today’s man desires to transcend the known world and see the light of a new one, to be convinced that there is something else besides what we produce and consume.

Be that as it may, the world of angels is not just for children and romantics. Angels are part of the history of salvation, and their existence, as St. Gregory the Great claims, is spoken of on every page of Holy Scripture. From conception to ascension, the life of the incarnate Word is surrounded by the service of angels. They will also participate in Christ’s second coming and will serve Him at the Last Judgment. The protection and intercession of angels surrounds the life of man from birth to death. The Church believes, in the words of St. Basil the Great: “Every believer has an angel with him as a protector and shepherd, who guides him through life.” Already in this world, Christian life by faith participates in the blessed communion of angels and people united with God. God’s care for man and his salvation is almost unimaginable to human reason. The Old Testament Jews understood this as well, stating in the Talmud that God even gave an angel to every blade of grass to make it grow. How much more, then, does He care for man, whom He created in His own image! The task of an angel is to lead us deeper into the art of life, so that we may discover joy in it and act with appropriate responsibility. Everything in life is valuable, for it was miraculously created by God and enlivened by His Spirit. The angel’s most crucial task, in cooperation with us, is to bring us into God’s eternal kingdom, so that we may fully participate in His life. The return of angels to our lives is therefore more than necessary. For God needs us for His plan. He needs our hope, our faith, our heart, but also our courage to stake our lives on His promise, and for that, He has appointed helpers for us.

Suffering, pain, and death are the result of Adam and Eve’s original sin (see Gn 3:16–19). Until then, suffering itself had no meaning. However, through his suffering and death on the cross, our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ gave suffering a new spiritual meaning because he conquered death and secured our eternal life.

Before the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, let us try to meditate on the patience with which Jesus bore suffering, pain, and death on the cross, and on the patience of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

Patience is a virtue that enables us to maintain peace of mind and heart amidst life’s difficulties and sufferings. It is the ability to persevere in the face of problems and trials, and to seek new solutions in a patient, flexible, and creative manner.

The word ‘patience’ contains the word ‘suffer’. Only with patience can we listen to our pain, and accept and overcome it with confidence in God’s providence, if possible. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) said that ‘patience is the sister of courage’.

Those who suffer are courageous, like the biblical Job. Patience strengthens character, giving it inner resilience and directing our attention to the correct values.

THREE DIMENSIONS

In life, we need patience in three areas. Firstly, we need patience with God because he is infinitely patient with us. A well-known Latin proverb, quoted by the teacher and writer Jan Amos Komenský (1592–1670), states, ‘Man plans, God changes.’ We can plan for the future, but ultimately, God has the final say, as everything is in His hands and under His power.

The second dimension of patience is patience with oneself. The ancient philosopher Plato (427–347 BC) wrote, ‘Victory over oneself is the greatest victory.’

The most significant challenges and struggles we face in life are our weaknesses, sins, doubts, fears, and desires. Overcoming these inner obstacles with faith and a sacramental life is precisely that patient victory over oneself.

The third dimension is patience with others. Jesus Christ is an example of endless patience with humanity. He had to be patient with the Pharisees and scribes, the apostles, the sick, and the suffering. Finally, he was patient with his tormentors. The crucified ‘love’ is patient, kind, and merciful (1 Cor 13:4).

We also need to constantly replenish our patience with our neighbours, whether at home, with our families, with our children and young people at school, or with adults at work or in everyday life.

CHALLENGES FROM THE MOUTHS OF THE WISE

I offer a few more sayings of the wise; may they encourage us to be patient.
The Greek philosopher Publilius Syrus (1st century BC): ‘Time is the best doctor. Patience brings roses. Every pain will be cured by patience.’

Spanish Carmelite Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582): ‘The best and most powerful weapon to conquer heaven is patience in trials, because it gives you everything.’

Carmelite priest St. John of the Cross (1542–1591): ‘The strength and courage of the soul grows and is strengthened in patiently endured difficulties.’

St. Geneva, Archbishop. Francis from Sales (1567–1622): ‘In this life, our daily bread must be patience. Bear every cross patiently and out of love for God.’

And let’s not forget the Arabic proverb: ‘Patience is the key to joy.’


Archangel can be mentioned in the biblical New Testament tradition even without a name: „For at the command, at the voice of the archangel and the sound of God’s trumpet, the Lord himself he will descend from heaven and those who died in Christ will rise first.“ (1Sol 4, 16)

According to an old Hebrew tradition, Lucifer was also an archangel (Hebrew Héllel ben Sáchára), meaning ‘Son of the Morning Star’. This term was translated into Greek as ‘Heosphoros’ and into Latin as ‘Lucifer’. Unlike the other archangels, Lucifer did not stand the test; he fell and became the leader of a third of the fallen angels who seek to turn mankind away from God.

The Catholic Church teaches that angels exist. This dogma was adopted at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. Scripture usually refers to angels as created spiritual beings with sharp minds and free will, and describes them according to their function as messengers. When Scripture talks about their ‘wings’, ‘hands’, ‘faces’, it is symbolic speech. This dogma, which states that ‘angels are purely spiritual creatures’, was also adopted at the same Diet.

The revelation of angels (Anglomania) is described in both the Old and New Testaments as an objective fact. Every anglophone is by God’s decision and involves a good angel. Anglophone is always initially associated with surprise and fright. The anglophone of a good angel gradually grows into extraordinary joy, but the anglophone of a devil grows into horror. During the Anglophone period, angels take human form so as not to frighten those to whom they appear.

During the 1890s, a period of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIII had a vision of the devil and demons attacking Rome. Therefore, he ordered that the silent Tridentine Mass be said to pray to St Michael’s special prayers to the archangel. During the Tridentine Mass, these prayers were most often recited in Latin under the direction of a priest.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against evil and the devil’s plot. May God show him His power, we humbly ask. A you, prince of the heavenly army, by the power of God, drive Satan and other evil spirits who roam the world to the destruction of souls.

‘God has chosen what the world despises, what the world does not consider important, to thwart what the world considers important, so that no one may boast before God.’ (1 Cor. 1:27-29).
In choosing among these opposites — crazy — smart, weak — strong, noble — unborn, nothing — something — everything speaks of wisdom, strength, nobility, and cherished things. After all, they are God’s gifts. And yet, God does not deny his gifts. However, hidden in wisdom, strength, and grandeur is the danger of appropriating God’s work, or at least taking satisfaction in it and ‘bragging’! This is why God builds on the stone that human builders rejected: on folly, weakness, and that which is unborn. This is not because they are foolish, weak or worthless, but because they are closer to holiness. The work that emerges unmistakably points to God as the author. God’s greatness is independent of man’s. The programme that Paul heralded has been confirmed by figures such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. John Vianney, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Marguerite Marie Alacoque, and St. Teresa of Calcutta. This is evident even in individuals’ personal histories. The greatness of God’s revelations is often associated with bodily suffering, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. Paul begged the Lord three times to withdraw from him. ‘My grace is enough for you.’ God’s power is revealed precisely through weakness. Extremes converge in our lives: an embarrassing blend of folly and wisdom, weakness and strength, humiliation and grandeur, nothingness and significance. Above all, there is God the Creator, God the Saviour, and God the Sanctifier. So, Lord, what can I offer you? Everything!

Especially my unwisdom and weakness, my poor alternation of moments, so that your signature on the work is clear, and I “can’t show off”! In the church, there is both a genius, Thomas, and an uneducated parish priest, Ar. There are both Lebanese cedars and broken reeds, both dazzling flames and smoking wicks. Does a fractured reed have the right to remain broken forever? It’s easier. Shouldn’t it desire to straighten up? Does the smoking wick have the right to stay a smoking wick forever when it could burn brightly under God’s breath? Lord, I do not ask you to depart from me, but rather that your strength be manifested in my weakness, so that I may praise you!

Documents from the Vatican will not determine the future of the Church under the Tatras. The Pope himself sets an example of how to proceed..

What will happen to the synodality / As Leo XIV he grasped the biggest project of his predecessor.

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

It has been a few years since the Catholic Church addressed synodality, Pope Francis’s most significant project. While some have been enthusiastic about him from the beginning, others remain sceptical, and some are warning critically against losing their Catholic identity.

With the death of the Argentine Pope, this journey did not end. Francis managed to approve the beginning of a new stage of the synodal process in March of this year, which will culminate in 2028 with a church-wide gathering in the Vatican. 

Thus, the final or implementation phase of the project occurs. Instructions for local churches come from the Vatican; they appoint synodal teams for this phase, and the period is expected to conclude within three years at the assembly, as mentioned earlier. Well, is this whole effort supposed to have a dot? Isn’t it more about changing the settings in some areas?