Argentianian Priest Fr Brochero beatified

(Vatican Radio) Argentinian priest José Gabriel Brochero has been beatified in the Northern Argentine City of Cordoba. James Blears reports about a devout life dedicated to the people of the pampas. 

The parish of St Albert spans 4,336kms. Back in the 19th century there were no roads, paths, postal service or telegraph. Father José Gabriel Brochero initiated them, but his tireless journeys through a then wilderness terrain encompassed so much more. 

Riding on a mule he brought the gospel, the prayer book and the image of he Virgin Mary to the most isolated communities. As he himself said: "Abandoned by everyone, but not by God."
The Gaucho Priest who was born in 1840 died of leprosy in 1914. 


Not only did he minister to the people of the pampas, he often worked side by side with them as a carpenter and a laborer. In his later years he became physically blind. 

The people of Argentina haven't and never will forget undaunted, and truly devout Father Brochero. More than 150,000 of them attended the Beatification ceremony in the City of Cordoba including several thousand gauchos, dressed in the same style poncho, he himself wore on his quest which forever continues.

Pope Angelus: Look to the mercy of God

(Vatican Radio) The mercy of God was at the heart of Pope Francis’ Angelus address on a rainy Sunday in Rome. Speaking from the papal apartments above St Peter’s Square, the Pope, taking his inspiration from the Gospel of Luke said that Chapter 15 contains three parables of mercy, those of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the story of the prodigal son.
He said that all three parables speak of the joy of God, which is the joy of forgiving. The Holy Father went on to say that this Gospel shows Christianity at work, adding that mercy is the true force that can save man and the world from the "cancer" that is the sin, evil, moral, and spiritual. 
Continuing on the theme forgiveness, Pope Francis said that Jesus “is all mercy , all love is God made man.” Each of us, he said “ is the lost sheep, the lost coin , and each of us is the son who has wasted their freedom following false idols, the illusions of happiness, and lost everything.” But God, the Holy Father underlined, “does not forget us, the Father never abandons us. God respects our freedom, but remains faithful . And when we return to Him, he welcomes us as children, into his house, because he never stops, not even for a moment, to expect us, with love.” 
But the Pope also warned against judging others and judging God because we think he should punish sinners. Instead, said Pope Francis we should forgive and show mercy. If we live according to the rule “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, he noted we will never overcome the spiral of evil.”
Following the recitation of the Marian Prayer, the Holy Father recalled Blessed José Gabriel Brochero, who was beatified on Saturday in Argentina. Pope Francis said Bless José was a priest who was driven by the love of Christ, a man who devoted himself entirely to his flock , He was, the Pope added with the people, and at the end he was blind and the leper, but full of joy , the joy of the Good Shepherd.