Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: Pope Francis delivers powerful Easter message

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
All Catholics have been called to serve by taking action.

Pope Francis urged Catholics to share their faith "to the ends of the Earth" during a baptism ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica. The solemn ceremony reminds us that we are called to serve amid the joy of the resurrection. The most enduring call of Christ is for us to make disciples of all nations.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
4/22/2014 (9 years ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Pope Francis, prayer and action, bible, world hunger, Easter Vigil

VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - The dramatic Easter Vigil in the Vatican began with Pope Francis carrying a single lit candle into a darkened cathedral, hush with anticipation. Using his single lit candle, to represent the light of Christ, Pope Francis lit another candle, then another. From those more were lit and the chain continued until the entire room was awash in light.

So, on Easter Eve, the world is reminded that Christ is triumphant over darkness and we too can overcome evil by sharing our faith with others.

Pope Francis asked everyone present to recall the moment they found their faith. "Do I remember it? Have I forgotten it? Look for it. You'll find it. The Lord is waiting."

Pope Francis then called all people to bring that fire of faith "to the very ends of the Earth."

Pope Francis then proceeded to baptize 10 people, all drawn to Rome from around the world.

Although Pope Francis was speaking directly to the people in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday night, he was also addressing a wider audience, which is all Catholics around the world. Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church quite specifically before his death, appointing Peter as chief among the apostles. Peter was recognized and the spiritual successor to Jesus and from Peter an unbroken line of Popes extended to Pope Francis of today.

When Pope Francis speaks, he does so with the authority of Christ. Pope Francis has inherited the Chair of Peter, and was chosen by the Holy Spirit to guide Catholics during this important time. And there's a lot that makes this time important.

Among the calls issued by Pope Francis is to commit to participation in a sustained campaign to end world hunger by 2025. This call was issued on December 10, and the Church, including Catholic Online and Caritas Internationalis are all working to meet this goal. The UN has already independently verified that this goal is feasible, but it requires the mobilization and commitment of a large organization, such as the Catholic Church, with the cooperation of millions, if not billions of people, which is also an asset the Church enjoys.

Ultimately, the success or failure of Pope Francis' mission is up to you, the individual and if you will go beyond your present means to help meet this important goal.

The second call issued by Pope Francis is for all Catholics to read the Bible, and to do so often. In fact, Pope Francis called earlier this month for Catholics to carry a copy of the Bible, or at least the gospels, with them wherever they go. Catholics are also called to make the Bible available to those who do not have one.

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Three billion people do not have access to a personal Bible, should they want one.

Your Catholic Voice Foundation (YCVF) is the charitable arm of Catholic Online. Although YCVF is separate from Catholic Online, they share the same mission, which is to make the world a better place through sustained campaigns of 'Prayer and Action.'

If you are Catholic, and you are reading this, then you must appreciate that Our Holy Father has called us to a task which requires our assistance. We are to provide food for the hungry and share our scriptures with those who hunger for more than just food.

These requests carry the same weight as if St. Peter had called you to assist. The good news is that following is simple, thanks to YCVF.

Please click one of the links below to do your part and participate in these very important Catholic missions.

Click here to donate food where it is most needed.

Click here to donate Bibles to children, veterans and those who want a personal copy of the Bible.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.