Day by Day with
Pope Francis
The Word Among Us Stand-Up Calendar
Compiled by Jeanne Kun
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Copyright © 2015 Libreria Editrice Vaticana All rights reserved. Complication copyright © 2015 The Word Among Us Press, 7115 Guilford Road Frederick, MD 21704 wau.org ISBN: 978-1-59325-274-8 Printed and bound in China Cover design by Andrea Alvarez Photo credit: Getty Images
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Introduction Those who know Jesus, encounter him personally, are captivated, attracted by so much goodness, so much truth, so much beauty, and all with great humility and simplicity. To seek Jesus, to find Jesus: this is the great treasure! —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, July 27, 2014
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has touched and captured the hearts of men and women all around the world—Christians and unbelievers alike. With loving warmth, bracing candor, and gentle humor, he reassures us of God’s infinite mercy, challenges us to recognize Jesus in the daily circumstances of life, and encourages us to reach out to others in generosity and kindness. Day by Day with Pope Francis features selections from the homilies, public addresses, letters, and other writings of the Holy Father addressed to the world since
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the beginning of his papacy. These quotations offer words of hope, comfort, inspiration, courage, and incentive. Embracing God’s forgiveness, trusting in the Father’s love for us, following Jesus on the path of discipleship, opening our hearts to the Lord’s “surprises” and the work of the Holy Spirit, exercising charity toward our neighbor, proclaiming the Gospel with joy, fostering unity among Christians—these are among the themes that the pope repeatedly emphasizes and calls us to take to heart. Designed to be used year after year, this compact stand-up calendar fits conveniently on your desk, bedside table, or kitchen counter. As you turn its pages day by day, may you “enter into true friendship with Jesus, so that following him closely, you may live with and for him” (Pope Francis, May 29, 2014). Jeanne Kun The Word Among Us Press
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Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God
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May Mary, the Mother of God and our tender Mother, support us always, that we may remain faithful to our Christian vocation and be able to realize the aspiration for justice and peace that we carry within us at the start of this new year. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, January 5, 2014
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Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen
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In fidelity to the example of the Master, it is vitally important for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance, or fear. The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded. —Apostolic Exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, 23
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Most Holy Name of Jesus
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What is God’s love? It is not something vague, some generic feeling. God’s love has a name and a face: Jesus Christ, Jesus. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, August 11, 2013
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Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
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In the Gospel the essential thing is mercy. . . . Jesus says this clearly, summarizing his teaching for the disciples: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Can there be a Christian who isn’t merciful? No. A Christian must necessarily be merciful, because this is the center of the Gospel. —General Audience, St. Peter’s Square, September 10, 2014
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Saint John Neumann
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Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He seeks us out and he stays near us even though we are sinners, indeed because we are sinners. —Twitter, September 8, 2014
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Saint André Bessette
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The joy of the Gospel is not just any joy. It consists in knowing one is welcomed and loved by God. . . . Christian joy, like hope, is founded on God’s fidelity, on the certainty that he always keeps his promises. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, December 15, 2013
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Saint Raymond of Penyafort
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Let us recognize that God is not something vague; our God is not a God “spray”; he is tangible; he is not abstract but has a name: “God is love.” —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 26, 2013
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Our communion with the Lord obliges us, his disciples, to imitate him, making our existence, through our behavior, bread broken for others, as the Teacher has broken the bread that is truly his flesh. . . . This means for us generous conduct towards our neighbor, thereby demonstrating the attitude of giving life for others. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, June 22, 2014
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To live as true children of God means to love our neighbor and to be close to those who are lonely and in difficulty. —Twitter, July 1, 2014
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We are called to love each other as Jesus loved us. And love is the concrete sign that demonstrates faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And love is the badge of the Christian, as Jesus told us: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, June 15, 2014
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Let us not forget this word: God never, ever tires of forgiving us! . . . The problem is that we ourselves tire; we do not want to ask; we grow weary of asking for forgiveness. He never tires of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking for forgiveness. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, March 17, 2013
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All of us who are baptized are missionary disciples. We are called to become a living Gospel in the world. —Twitter, February 25, 2014
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Saint Hilary
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Love of neighbor is a fundamental attitude that Jesus speaks of, and he says that our relationship with God cannot be honest if we are not willing to make peace with our neighbor. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, February 16, 2014
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As when a mother takes her child upon her knee and caresses him or her: so the Lord will do and does with us. This is the cascade of tenderness which gives us much consolation. “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). —Homily, St. Peter’s Basilica, Mass with Seminarians, Novices, and Those Discerning Their Vocations, July 7, 2013
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Prayer is the breath of faith: in a relationship of trust, in a relationship of love, dialogue cannot be left out, and prayer is the dialogue of the soul with God. —Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, October 6, 2013
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