Dear friends, this is God’s plan; when He called Abraham, God was thinking of this: to form people blessed in His love and that they might carry His blessing to all nations of the earth. This plan does not change, it is always in action. In Christ it found fulfillment and today still God continues to realize it in the Church. Let us ask then for the grace to remain faithful to following the Lord Jesus and to listening to his Word, ready to set out every day, like Abraham, towards the land of God and of man, our true homeland, and thus to become the blessing, the sign of God’s love for all His children. I like to think that a synonym, another name that we Christians could be called is this: we are men and women, we are a people who bless. The Christian by his life must bless always, bless God and bless all people. We Christians are a people who bless, who know how to bless. This is a beautiful vocation!
General Audience, June 18, 2014 - Pope Francis
I was having a conversation with someone who was recalling how her mother would often say “God bless you.” This is a powerful greeting, whether it be a welcoming or a parting. The concept of blessing loved ones in their comings and goings was a common practice. It was an expression of love and a desire for God to be with that person. It was a reminder that God is with you on your journeys. By and large, we have fallen away from this practice. We live in a time when we need to know that God is with our journeys, and that our comings and goings are with God’s blessing. As the New Year begins, maybe it would be a suitable blessing to ask that God with our loved ones. A simple “God bless you” sincerely spoken may be a precious gift to the one who is being blessed.
General Audience, June 18, 2014 - Pope Francis
I was having a conversation with someone who was recalling how her mother would often say “God bless you.” This is a powerful greeting, whether it be a welcoming or a parting. The concept of blessing loved ones in their comings and goings was a common practice. It was an expression of love and a desire for God to be with that person. It was a reminder that God is with you on your journeys. By and large, we have fallen away from this practice. We live in a time when we need to know that God is with our journeys, and that our comings and goings are with God’s blessing. As the New Year begins, maybe it would be a suitable blessing to ask that God with our loved ones. A simple “God bless you” sincerely spoken may be a precious gift to the one who is being blessed.