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Trials and doubts are part of everyone's faith journey, "even mine," Pope Francis said, but Christians know they can get through the hard times with help from God, other Christians and those in heaven.
"Who hasn't experienced insecurities, losses and even doubts in the journey of faith?" the pope asked. "It's part of life. It should not shock us because we are human beings, marked by fragility and limits."
"Don't be frightened," but ask for help, Pope Francis said Oct. 30 at his weekly general audience, talking about the "communion of saints" as the church prepared to celebrate the Nov. 1-2 feasts of All Saints and All Souls.
In times of difficulty, the pope said, "it is necessary to trust in God through prayer and, at the same time, it's important to find the courage and humility to open yourself to others in order to ask for help."
"We are a great big family" through baptism, the pope told the estimated 50,000 pilgrims and visitors gathered for the audience in St. Peter's Square. The communion of saints, he explained, refers not only to those who have been canonized by the Catholic Church but to all the baptized.
"The communion of saints goes beyond earthly life," the pope said. "It extends beyond death and lasts forever," to find its fullest expression when all believers are "reunited in heaven."
"All the baptized here on earth, the souls in purgatory and the blessed souls in heaven form one big family," he added in remarks to Polish pilgrims. "This communion between heaven and earth is expressed particularly in prayers of intercession, which are the greatest form of solidarity, and is also the basis of the liturgical celebrations of the feasts of All Saints and All Souls."
"Who hasn't experienced insecurities, losses and even doubts in the journey of faith?" the pope asked. "It's part of life. It should not shock us because we are human beings, marked by fragility and limits."
"Don't be frightened," but ask for help, Pope Francis said Oct. 30 at his weekly general audience, talking about the "communion of saints" as the church prepared to celebrate the Nov. 1-2 feasts of All Saints and All Souls.
In times of difficulty, the pope said, "it is necessary to trust in God through prayer and, at the same time, it's important to find the courage and humility to open yourself to others in order to ask for help."
"We are a great big family" through baptism, the pope told the estimated 50,000 pilgrims and visitors gathered for the audience in St. Peter's Square. The communion of saints, he explained, refers not only to those who have been canonized by the Catholic Church but to all the baptized.
"The communion of saints goes beyond earthly life," the pope said. "It extends beyond death and lasts forever," to find its fullest expression when all believers are "reunited in heaven."
"All the baptized here on earth, the souls in purgatory and the blessed souls in heaven form one big family," he added in remarks to Polish pilgrims. "This communion between heaven and earth is expressed particularly in prayers of intercession, which are the greatest form of solidarity, and is also the basis of the liturgical celebrations of the feasts of All Saints and All Souls."
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