"The end of my work has come; all that I have written and taught seems to me like a piece of straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me. From now on I hope from the goodness of my God that the end of my life will closely follow that of my works."This statement can dishearten us because reading such a great saint treating the work of a lifetime in this way can discourage us in our own quest for holiness. However, his words express something magnificent: his relationship with God was so intimate that God gave him many heavenly visions. This only confirms the limitations of life on earth and amplifies the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our paths to holiness Saint Thomas Aquinas, who died at less than fifty years of age, had an exemplary journey, in large part because he remained faithful to himself in the most authentic way, that is, by being faithful to God's will. Holiness is, at its core, a radical expression of individuality and of openness to God's will. Throughout the history of the Church, we encounter saints who are all remarkable in their own ways, having very distinct personalities and journeys. This bodes well for humanity; as much as we can let ourselves be amazed by a saint like Thomas Aquinas, we must also remember that our path to holiness has to be fully discovered and freely consented to in order to be fully ours.
In his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis continued this cycle of catechesis on "Jesus Christ our Hope," as part of the Jubilee 2025. This week he reflected on the Magnificat, the Virgin Mary's Song of Praise after she is greeted by her cousin Elizabeth.
Reflecting on the vision given to St. Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew, Pope Francis said that "He dreams of the miracle that God fulfils in Mary’s life, and also the miracle that he works in his own life: to take on a fatherhood capable of guarding, protecting, and passing on a material and spiritual inheritance."
Pope Francis continued this cycle of catechesis on "Jesus Christ our Hope." Reflecting on the Angel Gabriel's greeting to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, he said that "The 'Almighty,' the God of the 'impossible' is with Mary, together with and beside her; He is her companion, her principal ally, the eternal 'I-with-you.'"
In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis reflected on the fruits of the Spirit. Beginning with Joy, he said that "not only is it not subject to the inevitable wear of time, but it multiplies when it is shared with others! A true joy is shared with others; it even spreads."
In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis reflected on how the Holy Spirit empowered the Blessed Virgin Mary to become the Mother of God.