To the Friars of the Order
To the Poor Clare and Conceptionist Sisters
To the Franciscan Sisters affiliated to the Order
To the Franciscan Laity
Rome, 10 April 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
May the Lord give you peace!
As we approach Holy Week, I wish to dwell on a central element in the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus — his prayer.
The Gospels testify that Jesus prayed throughout his life, seeking spaces of intimacy with the Father. He prayed in the Temple with the apostles, and he prayed before important undertakings. His whole existence was imbued by prayer, and he invites us to enter into this mystery with him.
Jesus always prayed, even in the dark hours of his passion. On Palm Sunday, along with the crowds, he blessed the Father. During the Last Supper, he gives thanks for the gifts of bread and wine. In Gethsemane, his prayer becomes so intense that he sheds blood in his desire to do the Father's will. On the cross, he prays entrusting himself to the Father and forgiving his aggressors. In the silence of Holy Saturday, he remains completely handed over to the Father.
Read the full text of the Message:
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