Pope Francis reflected in his speech before the Sunday Angelus on the concept of “fraternal correction,” making sure that it is one of the greatest expressions of love, and also one of the most demanding: “If a brother in the faith commits an offense against you, without anger, help him by correcting him.”
Mireia Bonilla – Vatican City
This morning, the Holy Pope offered a way for us to follow if we find ourselves in a situation where a brother has done wrong against us. Before explaining the steps to be taken, as Jesus teaches us, he warned about “the curse of the curse”: “Unfortunately, the first thing that is often created around those who make mistakes is the curse, which everyone knows about here.” , with all the details, except the person affected! It is not right and it does not please God” and he never gets tired of repeating that “gossip is a scourge in the lives of people and communities, because it brings division, suffering and scandal, and never helps to -progress and growth.” . Below are the steps suggested by the Holy Father when a brother hurts us:
First of all: Talk face to face with gentleness and kindness
After the warning about “gossip”, he explained how to behave with the brother who has sinned against us, as Jesus taught us: “If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him between you and him alone.” The first thing that Francis asks of us today is: Talk face to face, faithfully, to help him understand where he is wrong. “Do it for his good, overcoming shame and finding true courage, not talking bad about him behind his back, but saying things to his face with meekness and kindness,” explained the Pope.
If it doesn’t work: Get help from other people close to you.
Sometimes this step will be enough, but other times it won’t. Therefore, if our brother “doesn’t understand,” the Pope advises to “seek help” from other people: “But beware! Not the one with the small group flirting! Jesus said, “Bring one or two people,” referring to people who want to help that brother who has sinned.”
What if he still doesn’t understand?
If after these steps, our brother still does not understand, then we are left with the last cardboard: the community. But also in this case, the Holy Pope warned: “it is not about torturing the person, to humiliate him in public, but to combine the efforts of everyone to help him change.” The Pope explained that “it is not good to point the finger at people, in fact, it often makes it difficult for the wrongdoers to recognize their own error,” instead, the community must make him feel that, through While condemning in error, “he is close to him with prayer and affection, always ready to offer forgiveness and start anew.”
“May Mary, who continues to love even when she hears people condemn her Son, help us to always find the path of good” is the last wish of the Pope.
