Thank you, Papa Francesco thank you. I will continue to pray for you and continue to be grateful for the way you took seriously Jesus\u2019 direction, \u201cFeed my sheep.\u201d You feed your sheep, through accessible and inspiring words and more importantly through your exemplary deeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was with curious expectation that in 2013 I read Pope Francis\u2019 first exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. It captured my imagination, excited my weary heart and encouraged me to a renewed encounter Jesus Christ and a willingness to invite others to an openness to let Jesus encounter them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Francis spoke with fresh and evocative metaphors about the joy and urgency of spreading the Good News. He made it very clear that those who are on mission need to be spirit-filled evangelisers brimming with Easter light not Lenten gloom. He asked us to be in the midst of life and its struggles and to have the \u2018smell of the sheep\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Church as a \u2018field hospital\u2019 was perfect. It opened my eyes and ears to what Jesus is calling us to do as Catholics today. I am called to leave the \u2018familiar shores\u2019 and to spread the Joy of the Gospel. I could hear Francis\u2019 prompting; \u201cdon\u2019t wait Virginia till you have the ducks lined up and the strategic plan printed in a glossy brochure, do what you can here and now and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your efforts.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Francis spoke to me through his words and deeds. I am proud to be Catholic, proud to be led by a Shepherd who gravitated towards those who were voiceless, unseen, without power and peripheral to any political influence. A Shepherd who maintained his dignity and firm Catholic principles in face of grandiose global leaders and self-important politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He invited all to the table, he widened the tent and provided a forum to listen to the heartbeat of others. We have all been blessed by the humanity and holiness of Francis. I give thanks for his life and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virginia Ryan<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thank you, Papa Francesco thank you. I will continue to pray for you and continue to be grateful for the way you took seriously Jesus\u2019 direction, \u201cFeed my sheep.\u201d You feed your sheep, through accessible and inspiring words and more importantly through your exemplary deeds. It was with curious expectation that in 2013 I read […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27722,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[38,45,26,44,24,55,8,32,50,41,25,51,34,54,47,31,42,39,48,46,52,40,37,35,28,43,53,36,27,33,29],"class_list":["post-27712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter","tag-ancient-wisdom","tag-contemplative-prayer","tag-enlightenment","tag-guided-meditation","tag-inner-peace","tag-introspection","tag-lectio-divina","tag-lectio-divina-for-beginners","tag-life-transformation","tag-meditation-guide","tag-meditation-mastery","tag-meditation-tips","tag-mindfulness","tag-mindfulness-meditation","tag-mindfulness-practices","tag-mindfulness-techniques","tag-personal-development","tag-reflect-and-transform","tag-reflective-living","tag-sacred-reading","tag-self-discovery","tag-self-help","tag-soulful-journey","tag-soulful-living","tag-spiritual-awakening","tag-spiritual-growth","tag-spiritual-guide","tag-spiritual-insights","tag-spiritual-practice","tag-spiritual-reflection","tag-transformative-journey"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t