After meeting privately with a group of Jesuits in the Nunciature, Pope Francis began his second day’s Apostolic journey to Malta on Sunday with a visit to St. Paul’s Grotto in Rabat, where he stopped to pray, greeted religious leaders, and met a group of sick persons.
Tradition has that the Apostle stayed there three months after being shipwrecked on the island on his way to Rome and preached, baptized, and healed the sick sowing the seeds of Christianity in Malta.
The site, which is believed to have miraculous qualities, was also visited by Pope St. John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI during their Apostolic Journeys to the island country.
Following are the Holy Father’s prayers:
God of mercy,
in your wondrous providence
you wished the Apostle Paul
to proclaim your love to the inhabitants of Malta,
who did not yet know you.
He preached your word to them
and he healed their infirmities.
Saved from shipwreck,
Saint Paul and his fellow travelers
found here to welcome them
pagan people of kindly heart,
who treated them with rare humanity,
recognizing that they were in need
of shelter, security and assistance.
No one knew their names,
their place of birth or their social status;
they knew only one thing:
that these were people in need of help.
There was no time for discussions,
for judgements, analyses and calculations:
it was the time to lend a helping hand:
they left their jobs, and did exactly that.
They lit a great fire,
to dry them and warm them.
They welcomed them with open hearts
And, together with Publius,
first in government and in mercy,
they gave them shelter.
Good Father,
grant us the grace of a kindly heart
that beats with love for our brothers and sisters.
Help us to recognize from afar those in need,
struggling amidst the waves of the sea,
dashed against the reefs of unknown shores.
Grant that our compassion
be more than empty words,
but instead light a bonfire of welcome,
that can dispel the memory of the tempest,
warm hearts and bring them together:
the fireplace of a house built upon rock,
the one family of your children,
sisters and brothers all.
You love them without distinction
and you desire that they may be one
with your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
through the power of the fire sent from heaven,
your Holy Spirit,
who burns away all enmity
and in the darkness of night lights the way
to your kingdom of love and peace.
R/. Amen
PRAYER IN THE BASILICA OF SAINT PAUL
O God, infinite is your mercy,
boundless the riches of your goodness:
graciously increase the faith
of the people consecrated to you,
so that all may grasp and rightly understand
the love that created them,
the blood that redeemed them,
and the Spirit that gave them rebirth.
Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen
© Libreria Editrice Vatican
