What Pope Francis says about Give Drink to the Thirsty

Pope Francis: Speaking at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Aparecida


“Anyone who is a man or a woman of hope – the great hope that faith gives us – knows that even in the midst of difficulties God acts and surprises us. The history of this shrine is a good example: three fishermen, after a day of catching no fish, found something unexpected in the waters of the Parnaiba River: an image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Whoever would have thought that the site of a fruitless fishing expedition would become the place where all Brazilians can feel that they are children of one Mother? God always surprises us, like the new wine in the Gospel. God always saves the best for us. But he asks us to let ourselves be surprised by his love, to accept his surprises. Let us trust God! [When we are] cut off from him, the wine of joy, the wine of hope, runs out. If we draw near to him, if we stay with him, what seems to be cold water, difficulty, sin, is changed into the new wine of friendship with him.” (Excerpt from The Church of Mercy by Pope Francis, pg. 63)