“When the heart is able to ask itself and weep, then we can understand something. Dear young boys and girls, today’s world doesn’t know how to cry. The emarginated people, those left to one side, are crying. Those who are discarded are crying. But we don’t understand much about these people in need. Certain realities of life we only see through eyes cleansed by our tears. I invite each one here to ask yourself: have I learned how to weep? Have I learned how to weep for the emarginated or for a street child who has a drug problem or for an abused child?
If you don’t learn how to cry, you cannot be a good Christian. This is a challenge. When they posed this question to us, why children suffer, why this or that tragedy occurs in life – our response must be either silence or a word that is born of our tears. Be courageous, don’t be afraid to cry.”
Through the entire week that I was indisposed nursing a cold and occasional cough before we said goodbye to Pope Francis, I read all his speeches from the time he visited Malacanang up to his interviews with the Papal delegation (mostly accredited media people) on his way back to the Vatican. Although I saw him deliver his speeches in English, in his native language which is Spanish and some in Latin and clearly translated by his official translator, Msgr. Mark Gerard Miles, I can’t help but go back and reread them again. There is something so heartwarming listening to him. His speech during the Encounter with the Youth at the University of Santo Tomas opened my eyes to a lot of things.
Sometimes what you can’t say in words is more understood through tears. Crying is not a show of weakness, it is rather more on how we are attuned with our feelings and our emotions. Crying sometimes gives us that perspective we don’t open see when our hearts are hardened by circumstances and events that we’d rather not face. Pope Francis was right in saying that “certain realities of life we only see through eyes cleansed by our tears.” When you are touched by these simple words, crying becomes a necessity and a natural outcome, it becomes your catharsis. You cry when you’re happy, you cry when you’re sad. I haven’t cried as much as when I saw Pope Francis on one of the windows of the Sri Lanka plane and the following days watching him touch the poor, kiss the little children, sway with the youth while they were singing the 1995 theme song during the World Youth day, wave to thousands of people lining up the streets, and smile at the millions of pilgrims who were in Luneta during his last mass.
Just to let you know, I am quite teary-eyed while writing this post because I remember those times that I cried buckets. I remember those times I felt so alone. I remember the times that I can’t seem to understand everything that was happening in my life. Sometimes, the cross is so hard to bear but you have to carry it with grace and a strong hope and faith that you can. One thing I am proud though, I never gave up.
Yes, it’s okay to cry!
An emotional and compelling post from you Arlene, detailing the help and contentment you get from your faith. I am very pleased that the Pope’s visit made you happy, and rekindled memories. I agree with you too; nothing wrong with crying.
Best wishes from England, Pete.
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Thank you Pete. Sorry for crying out here.
I am still nursing a cold. the weather here has gone crazy, It’s cold in the morning and the sun is so hot during the day, sometimes it is a bit windy.
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I hope you’re okay now Ate Arlene. I carry those words of Pope Francis in my heart. To learn to weep…to allow ourselves to weep…somehow, crying keeps it real for me. There’s always a moment for a good cry.
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Thank you Kay! I still have cold, taking lots of vitamin c and drinking lots of water.
Pope Francis words will always find a place in our hearts. I also love what he said about dreaming and silence.
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beautiful post, Arlene! tears in itself is a prayer, a thanksgiving and a joy. Pope Francis taught us a lot of things during his visit which i hope we can all put to practice. yes, about dreaming and silence, too – my favorites! 🙂
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Thanks lolaWi, I love those lines “tears in itself is a prayer, a thanksgiving and a joy”….beautiful! I still have what you may call Pope Francis fever. Those words he shared are beautifully etched in my heart.
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Dearest Arlene,
This Pope is so different from what I have come to expect from the office and his words continue to astound me in their applicability to real person. You and he are correct, in a society focused on the self, it is hard to get them to see the pain that is all around them. To see the pain is to recognize a need to do something about it but that inner push of the soul is not welcome to a population wanting to please itself. It is sad. Humans have had thousands of years to learn how to treat each other and we still haven’t got right.
Tears are no stranger to my eyes as their path has been worn into my cheeks over the years. Everyone has reason to cry but why that person chooses to shed the tear speaks volumes about who they are and how they think life should be lived. Someone crying because they are denied some type of material gain is a waste of water and emotion but there are those with tender souls who do see the pain around them and their hearts ache. To be certain, each of us have had hardships that have been overwhelming that merit many a tear. Being fearful of crying because one thinks it portrays weakness is the actual weakness, not the tears. You are correct, as usual and I enjoy reading your thoughts.
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Pope Francis’ words are a balm to the weary soul and they uplift the heart. It makes me so grateful that we were given the chance to see how he comforts with simple words and gestures, how he sees not just the superficial things that we sometimes show to the world but he sees the beauty of the person inside and out.
Thank you so much for your lovely words. I kinda miss you here because your comments inspire me. I haven’t blogged for almost a week now, got lots of things to share but as usual I don’t know how to start.
Thanks Tina, God bless you always my friend.
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I, too, have missed you and all my friends on WP. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts. Start with the the experience that made you feel the most, whether that be sad or happy.
I agree, Pope Francis is the Pope for the common person tearing away all the pomp and fluff. He really is trying to teach the scriptures. He is leading people toward God and away from himself. There hasn’t been a pope like him in many centuries, if ever. I am not Catholic and I have never been impressed with the Pope but this man is different, this man may be the vehicle God uses to bring healing to his people.
I look forward to your writings. Blessings upon you my dear friend.
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Thank you, thank so much much Tina! Pope Francis has that charisma that comes naturally when he is with people. That sets him apart from the rest, his sincerity and genuine concern for the poor and the needy.
I am trying to catch up on blogging. Like you, I’ve been under the weather lately but I hope in the next few days I’ll find enough time to share my thoughts again. Have a blessed week ahead.
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