Easter sacraments can revive relationships, Pope teaches

By Estefania Aguirre

Pope Francis leads his first Regina Coeli prayer on April 1, 2013. Credit: CTV.

The Pope told a crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli that the grace from the sacraments received at Easter can renew relationships.

“The grace contained in Easter Sacraments has a huge potential for renewal in personal life, family life and social relations,” Pope Francis said April 1 to a packed Saint Peter’s Square.

He noted that “everything passes through the human heart,” and the sacraments allow people to “receive the grace of the risen Christ,” which gives them the freedom to change those faults that “can hurt me and others.”

The Pope underscored that this “allows the victory of Christ to remain in my life and broaden its beneficial action.”

“Without grace we can do nothing, and with the grace of Baptism and Holy Communion, we can become an instrument of God's mercy,” he said.

“Expressing in life the sacrament we have received here, dear brothers and sisters, is our daily work, but I would say it is also our daily joy,” the Holy Father added.

Today’s Mass liturgy recalls the Apostle Peter preaching on Jesus’ resurrection to crowds in Jerusalem.

He called on the power of the resurrection of Christ to reach everyone, the Pope recalled, “especially those who suffer” and those in “all situations in need of confidence and hope.”

Christ has conquered evil “fully and definitively,” he said, but “it is up to us to welcome this victory in our lives and in the realities of history and society.”

Chuckles were heard across St. Peter’s Square after the Pope concluded the gathering by saying, “thank you all and have a great lunch.”

He then waved a final goodbye, while the crowd waved back at him.

The Regina Coeli is sung or recited in place of the Angelus at 12:00 p.m., from Easter Saturday until Pentecost Sunday. At today’s gathering, the Pope recited the prayer and delivered his remarks in Italian.

The Vatican press office director, Father Federico Lombardi, said at a March 29 press conference that he thinks Pope Francis does not sing during liturgies because has a certain amount of tone deafness.

Pope Francis’ next event will be his second general audience on April 3.