At Salt + Light we all greatly admire Pope Francis. His words and actions have touched and impacted us in ways we never could have imagined. Pope Francis recently released a his papal document - “Gaudete et Exsultate: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World”. The Latin title, “Rejoice and Be Glad”, comes from Matthew 5:12, part of the Sermon on the Mount - “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven”. The Sermon on the Mount figures heavily into the document, providing a sort of “roadmap” to holiness. Here are a few of our favorite quotes from his document - the ones that have inspired us to change and move away from our culture of indifference to a culture of mercy, love,  joy, and holiness.

1."My modest goal is to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities." (2)

2. "The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts, rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them." (11)

3. "It is not healthy to love silence while feeding interaction with others, to want peace and quiet while avoiding activity, to seek prayer while disdaining service." (26)

4. "The presence of constantly new gadgets, the excitement of travel and an endless array of consumer goods at times leave no room for God’s voice to be heard. We are overwhelmed by words, by superficial pleasures and by an increasing din, filled not by joy but rather by the discontent of those whose lives have lost meaning." (29)

5. "How many people suffer injustice, standing by powerlessly while others divvy up the good things of this life." (78)

6."Seeing and acting with mercy: that is holiness." (82)

7. Hedonism and consumerism can prove our downfall, for when we are obsessed with our own pleasure, we end up being all too concerned about ourselves and our rights, and we feel a desperate need for free time to enjoy ourselves. (108)

8. "We can get so caught up in ourselves that we are unable to recognize God’s gifts." (126)

9. "Consumerism only bloats the heart. It can offer occasional and passing pleasures, but not joy." (128)

10. "Let us rethink our usual way of doing things; let us open our eyes and ears, and above all our hearts, so as not to be complacent about things as they are, but unsettled by the living and effective word of the risen Lord." (137)

For full Papal Document Click HERE.