General Audience: Understanding Sin is a Work of the Holy Spirit

Last updated: Thu 31 Mar 2022 PM

On Wednesday, 12 February, the Holy Father continued his "journey to the Beatitudes" with the pilgrims who came to listen to his catechesis in Paul VI Hall. This time the second Beatitude was explored: "Blessed are those who weep, for they shall be comforted" (Mt 5:4).

Before his audience, Pope Francis first spoke of an attitude that "has become central to Christian spirituality", linked to this beatitude, and which the Fathers of the desert called "interior sorrow". This "opens up a new relationship with the Lord and with one's neighbour," Francis said.

In order to understand better the beatitude expressed by Jesus, it is then necessary to look at the meaning of weeping in Sacred Scripture. It is twofold: one can cry "for the death or suffering of someone", or "for one's own sin, when the heart bleeds with pain for having offended God and neighbour".

Learning to cry again

Thus, the Supreme Pontiff continued, dwelling on the first aspect, it is "important that others make a breach in our hearts". "I have often spoken of the gift of tears," he continued, "and of the fact that it is so precious. "There are the afflicted to be consoled, but sometimes there are also the consoled to be afflicted, to be awakened, who have a heart of stone and one "unlearns" to cry," the Pope said.

It is also necessary to recognize that mourning "is a path of bitterness," but "useful to open our eyes to life and to the sacred and irreplaceable value of every person.

As for the second aspect, "mourning is a sign of evil done, of good not done and of betrayal of the relationship with God". Francis spoke of being sad "at the thought of the good not done", or of those who say "I have hurt the one I love" and suffer to tears. "God be blessed if these tears come," exclaimed the Holy Father.

Asking for the grace to understand the evil committed

Then he warned against confusion: when we cry only because we made a mistake, it is a matter of "pride," the Pope explained, and not of repentance.

"This is the difficult but vital theme of personal errors to be faced," he continued. Let us think of the cries of St. Peter which lead him to a new and authentic love," unlike Judas who committed suicide. "Understanding sin is a gift from God, it is a work of the Holy Spirit," said Francis. "It is a grace that we must ask for. ...] It is a very great gift and after having understood this, comes the cry of repentance".

Finally, the Holy Father recalled the greatness and beauty of God's mercy: "As always, the Christian life finds its best expression in mercy". "God always forgives, let us not forget that. God always forgives, even the ugliest sins... The problem is in us, who are tired of asking for forgiveness. That is the problem," the Pope explained.

At the end of his catechesis, Francis said a short prayer: "May the Lord grant us to love abundantly, to love with a smile, with closeness, with service and also with tears.

Adelaide Patrignani - Vatican City

Source: Vatican News