• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis celebrates Mass March 16, 2020, in the chapel of his Vatican residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae. At the beginning of the liturgy, the pope prayed for families who are cooped up in their homes and for all those who are ill with COVID-19. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope prays family relationships thrive while stuck at home

March 16, 2020
By Carol Glatz
Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News

Pope Francis celebrates Mass March 16, 2020, in the chapel of his Vatican residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae. At the beginning of the liturgy, the pope prayed for families who are cooped up in their homes and for all those who are ill with COVID-19. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis prayed for families who are cooped up in their homes and for all those who are ill with COVID-19.

During a live broadcast of his daily morning Mass March 16, Pope Francis again prayed for the many people who have fallen ill and for families who, like all citizens, have been required to isolate themselves in their homes to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“I am thinking of the families under lockdown, children who aren’t going to school, parents who cannot leave the house, some who are in quarantine,” he said at the beginning of Mass.

“May the Lord help them discover new ways, new expressions of love, of living together in this new situation,” he said.

“It is a wonderful occasion for rediscovering true affection with creativity in the family. Let us pray for families so that relationships in the family at this time always thrive for the good,” he said.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the tendency of people to think that God only acts in big, impressive ways, leading them to dismiss or even scorn the ways he manifests himself — always in simple ways.

“Our God lets us understand that he always operates in simplicity, in the simplicity of the house of Nazareth, in the simplicity of everyday work, in the simplicity of prayer,” he said.

“Instead, the worldly spirit leads us to vanity, to appearances,” and when people start to become indignant, their scorn leads to violence, the pope added.

“Disdain is an attitude of the arrogant,” who are spiritually impoverished and live with “the illusion of being more than they are,” he said.

“Even we can have this happen to us,” becoming “scandalized” by God’s simplicity, “the simplicity of the poor.”

The temptation may be to look at these simple things and say, “But no, this is not God. No. Our God is more refined, wiser, more important. God does not operate in this simplicity,” the pope said.

“And this disdain always leads to violence, both physical violence and the violence of gossip,” he said, praying that people would reflect on what they do when they do not understand the simplicity of God.

For more on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s response to the coronavirus, click here. 

Copyright ©2020 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Baltimore Basilica temporarily closes as precaution in wake of Supreme Court ruling

Pro-life leaders in Archdiocese of Baltimore respond to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

Cardinal says renewing Vatican II’s spirit can carry the church forward

Leadership transition coming to Baltimore Basilica as Father Boric prepares to enter Carmelite hermitage

Archdiocese of Baltimore concludes Year of the Eucharist with special Corpus Christi Mass

Latest World News

Outside high court, joy, defiance and insults after Roe is struck down

Welcoming court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture

Supreme Court overturns Roe in anticipated Dobbs decision

Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says

Pope to visit Canada, limiting participation to one hour at various events

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Baltimore Basilica temporarily closes as precaution in wake of Supreme Court ruling
  • Outside high court, joy, defiance and insults after Roe is struck down
  • Welcoming court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture
  • Pro-life leaders in Archdiocese of Baltimore respond to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
  • Supreme Court overturns Roe in anticipated Dobbs decision
  • Pope to visit Canada, limiting participation to one hour at various events
  • Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says
  • Cardinal says renewing Vatican II’s spirit can carry the church forward
  • Michigan center is among latest pro-life facilities vandalized across U.S.

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED