{"id":17457,"date":"2016-12-19T17:22:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T17:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/homework-from-pope-francis-let-your-joy-be-contagious-92730\/"},"modified":"2016-12-19T17:22:00","modified_gmt":"2016-12-19T17:22:00","slug":"homework-from-pope-francis-let-your-joy-be-contagious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/homework-from-pope-francis-let-your-joy-be-contagious\/","title":{"rendered":"Homework from Pope Francis: Let your joy be contagious"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Dec 19, 2016 \/ 10:22 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Young Catholics can be a force for joy and peace, Pope Francis told an audience with Catholic Action on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cProclaiming to all the love and tenderness of Jesus, you become apostles of the joy of the Gospel. And joy is contagious,\u201d he told members of Catholic Action who had gathered in Vatican City\u2019s Consistory Hall to wish the pontiff a Merry Christmas.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the Nativity of Jesus Christ, he said: \u201cThe birth of Jesus is announced as a great joy, originating from the discovery that God loves us and, through the birth of Jesus, made Himself close to us to save us. We are beloved by God. What a wonderful thing!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we are a little sad, when it seems that everything is going wrong, when a friend disappoints us \u2013 or rather, when we disappoint ourselves \u2013 let us think \u2018God loves me\u2019, \u2018God never abandons me\u2019,\u201d the Pope said Dec. 19.<\/p>\n

He said that God is always faithful and never ceases to love us even when we stray.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is why in the heart of a Christian there is always joy,\u201d the Pope said. \u201cAnd joy multiplies when shared!\u201d<\/p>\n

Citing Catholic Action\u2019s motto for the year, \u201cSurrounded by Joy,\u201d he encouraged those gathered to surround with joy those they meet each day.<\/p>\n

Pope Francis also gave the youth a homework assignment: to share joy with their grandparents.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak often with your grandparents. They too have this contagious joy,\u201d he said. \u201cAsk them many things, listen to them: they have the memory of history, the experience of life, and for this reason it will be a great gift that will help you on your path.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey too need to listen to you, to understand your aspirations, your hopes. \u2026 The elderly have the wisdom of life,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The Pope told Catholic Action that their commitment to peace is also contagious. He cited a Catholic Action initiative in a disadvantaged neighborhood of Naples, and asked God to bless it.<\/p>\n

Pope Francis wished a merry Christmas to all of Catholic Action, especially its collaborators who are educators, assistants and national leaders. The Pope asked them to pray for him.<\/p>\n

He also encouraged prayers for Bishop Mansueto Bianchi, a general ecclesiastical assistant for Catholic Action who passed away in August 2016.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Vatican City, Dec 19, 2016 \/ 10:22 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Young Catholics can be a force for joy and peace, Pope Francis told an audience with Catholic Action on Monday.<\/p>\n

“Proclaiming to all the love and tenderness of Jesus, you become apostles of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\nHomework from Pope Francis: Let your joy be contagious<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Dec 19, 2016 \/ 10:22 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Young Catholics can be a force for joy and peace, Pope Francis told an audience with Catholic Action on Monday. “Proclaiming to all the love and tenderness of Jesus, you become apostles of ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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