Today, the strong Advent message to ‘stay awake’ also calls us to be alert to the signs of destruction of our environment – the creation that God has given us to steward and care for. Let us not be blind to the signs of our times as the people in Noah’s time were so immersed in their daily lives were they that they were totally unaware of the danger that was creeping up on them, and to which they succumbed.

The Holy Father also spoke of other young saints throughout history, including St. Francis of Assisi, who saw it was wise to prefer the love of God and others over riches. “Today we look to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis: a young man from the early 20th century and a teenager from our own day, both in love with Jesus and ready to give everything for him,” he said. “Dear friends, Sts. Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces,” he added.

The Rosary is a beautiful prayer, but due to one reason or another many people never get to discover this beauty. It can feel like we’re supposed to be doing so many things simultaneously – saying each Our Father and Hail Mary with due reverence, praying for our particular intentions, all the while trying to create vivid mental images of Christ and Our Lady in our mind’s eye. If we fail in this endeavor, it’s tempting to feel dejected and as though we’ve been through some pointless mechanical exercise.

Today, let us pray for Saint Francis’ intercession, that like him, we may recognize the inseparable bond between ourselves and all of humanity, especially the poor, and the bond between ourselves and all of creation. May our attitudes and choices reflect this recognition and offer worthy praise to our Lord and Creator!