Pope at Regina Coeli: How beautiful is it to share our faith

During his Sunday Regina Coeli this third Sunday of Easter, Pope Francis invites faithful to remember their personal encounters with the Lord and to consider how truly beautiful it is for us to share and transmit our faith.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

How beautiful it is to encounter the Lord, and when we have done so, we must transmit the joy of this to others...

Pope Francis gave this comforting reminder during his Regina Coeli address on this third Sunday of Easter.

In his address, the Holy Father reflected on the day's Gospel reading according to St. Luke, which takes place the evening of Passover.

The passage narrates when the Apostles are gathered in the Upper Room, and in particular, when the two disciples return from Emmaus and tell of their encounter with Jesus.

The Holy Father went on to reflect on how this moment transformed their lives, and how likewise, encountering Jesus, changes everything for all faithful.

The most beautiful thing we have to tell

The Pope highlighted that despite how life changing our encounter with the Lord is, and how "it is the most beautiful thing we have to tell," we still often struggle to talk about it.

"Each one of us could say so much about this; not by being a lecturer to others," he clarified, "but by sharing the unique moments in which we perceived the Lord alive and close, who kindled joy in our hearts or dried our tears, who transmitted confidence and consolation, strength and enthusiasm, or forgiveness, tenderness, peace."

The Holy Father stressed how important it is to share this in the family, in the community, and with friends.

Retracing our steps

The Pope observed how well it will do us to retrace our steps to the thoughts and feelings that arose when we placed ourselves in the presence of God, and also about our efforts and labours to understand and to progress along the way of faith.

"If we do this," Pope Francis said, "Jesus, just as He did with the disciples on the evening of Passover, will surprise us and make our encounters and our environments even more beautiful."

"Everyone has had an encounter with the Lord," the Holy Father recognized, asking for everyone to think back to it.

'When did the Lord draw close to me'

"Let us take a moment of silence and think," the Pope invited, "when did I find the Lord? When did the Lord become close to me?"

When we experienced this encounter with the Lord, he went on to ask, did we share it and give glory to the Lord for the incredible experience.

Similarly, he asked faithful to question whether they listen to others when they tell us of their encounters Christ.

Pope Francis concluded by turning to the Blessed Mother to help us share the faith, in order to make our communities become ever greater places of encounter with the Lord.

Pope's Regina Coeli in the Vatican
Pope's Regina Coeli in the Vatican

 

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14 April 2024, 12:25

What is the Regina Coeli?

The antiphon Regina Coeli (“Queen of Heaven”) is one of four traditional Marian antiphons, the others being Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Coelorum, and Salve Regina.

It was Pope Benedict XIV who, in 1742, enjoined the recitation of the Regina Coeli in place of the Angelus during Eastertide, that is, from Easter Sunday to the end of Pentecost. It is recited standing as a sign of Christ’s victory over death.

Like the Angelus, the Regina Coeli is said three times a day, at dawn, at noon, and at dusk, in order to consecrate the day to God and the Virgin Mary.

This ancient antiphon arose, according to a pious tradition, in the 6th century; it is attested in documentary sources from the first half of the 13th century, when it was inserted in the Franciscan breviary. It is composed of four short verses, each ending with an “alleluia.” With the Regina Coeli, the faithful turn to Mary, the Queen of Heaven, to rejoice with her at the Resurrection of Christ.

At the Regina Coeli on Easter Monday of 2015, Pope Francis spoke about the spiritual dispositions that should animate the faithful as they recite this Marian prayer:

“In this prayer, expressed by the Alleluia, we turn to Mary inviting her to rejoice, because the One whom she carried in her womb is Risen as He promised, and we entrust ourselves to her intercession. In fact, our joy is a reflection of Mary’s joy, for it is she who guarded and guards with faith the events of Jesus. Let us therefore recite this prayer with the emotion of children who are happy because their mother is happy.”

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