Pope Francis, the first of his name,
was sitting on his gleaming, beaming chair
and thinking of how to use his newfound fame,
wondering just how to make the world more fair.
He sat while he rapped and tapped
his fingers as he pondered;
ideas popped and flopped,
whizzled and fizzled.
He exclaimed, “Oh just one goal I need for my papacy
to be sewed into History’s tapestry!”
As he sat and sat on that golden seat,
a child approached eating a pretzel, what a treat!
The sight of that delicious snack,
to his Childhood brought him back,
when he learned how they were made
to resemble children as they prayed.
Inspiration struck him in that salty bread.
“Why, I’ll teach them how to pray,” the Pope said.
He shouted, “You, boy, yes you, what’s your name?”
The boy looked bewildered but answered the same.
“Michael Christopher, if it pleases.”
The Pope replied, “Hop on up here, and I’ll teach you of Jesus!”
So little Michael hopped onto the stage
and went to see the man who has caused such a craze.
Pope Francis lifted the boy to a knee.
“Little Michael, do you know what is in our creed?”
“No, sir,” timidly the boy did profess.
“Great then, let me tell you!” said Pope Francis.
“First, we ought to begin with a basic fact;
there is one God, the Father, that will start you on the right track!”
Michael pondered, “So He is like a dad, who wants to protect?”
“Why yes, it’s true- that’s what all believe in our Catholic sect!
But there’s more, my child,
He is Almighty; His power WILD!”
Michael mused, “Then He is strong?”
“The strongest! On this, you’re not wrong! So strong, indeed,He made all creation, the earth and trees, that’s the next part of the Creed!
God made everything in this universe we see,
and even what we can’t, like the soul in you and me!”
Michael Chris wondered, “So, inside of us, there is something that is forever?”
The Pope repeated, “Oh, it’s true, lad, and don’t think it a small endeavor.
It’s all of you on the inside,
your conscience, your love, even your pride!”
“Can I ask, Mister Pontiff,
How did God do all of this, maybe with a smokey whiff?”
“Oh no son, not a whiff or a puff of smoke,
you see the Father has a Son, and they’re of the same yoke.
God said, ‘We are the same, you are with me and in me.
Let’s set up this world; I will make you its key!’
“The Son we call him to be sure,
He is the Second Person of the Trinity pure.
The Son is the Word that God did shout;
the basis for all the Father created, big and tall, short and stout!”
On the Pope, Michael’s gaze never strays.
“What else? Do they have names? What are their ways?”
“Yes, plenty more – one you know well,
the Son’s name is Jesus,
but I bet you know, you’re bright, I can tell.”
The boy perked up. “Yes, I do know that Word,
He lived here on earth from what I have heard!”
Francis continued, “Indeed you’ve heard rightly,
His story shows exactly why God is so mighty!
“The Son, the second of the Trinity
saw how folks were so finicky.
He decided he must come for a visit,
to show humans that cared enough to inquisit,
how to love one another, so to better serve the Father;
also, that our God is not just an old grumpy codger.
Jesus taught that serving God wasn’t just about the law,
but it was about the heart; that is how God saw.
Jesus even used a name never thought of before,
Abba, or Daddy, is the real title that God wore.”
At this point, Michael Chris
asked a question to Ole Pope Francis.
“How is it that Jesus came down?
And if he is God, was he wearing a crown?”
Francis laughed at the boy’s bright query.
“The Holy Spirit came down and gave him to Mary.
Jesus was a gift to all humanity,
but to her, he meant more: He meant her motherhood, her maternity.”
At that name, the boy lit up with delight,
and by now he couldn’t hold it, not with all his might.
“I know who she is, why we all call her mother too!”
“That’s exactly right, my boy, you’re right on cue!
She is the mother of the Church, that is True!
And it was by the Third Person that he came down through,
The Spirit of Holiness
did descend on Queen Mary, our Highness.
She is forever without sin;
that’s why God knew she was Jesus’ perfect way to begin.
The Son was given a human body and soul,
both Human and God were needed to pay the toll.”
Michael hesitated but spoke his mind,
“Toll? What is that? It doesn’t sound very kind!”
Francis’ mood turned deep and somber.
“Now is a sad truth to which we wander –
Jesus taught of the coming kingdom;
a place where all could reach freedom,
but in order for us to be with God,
in the grasses of Eden once again trod,
a price had to be paid;
upon Jesus the foundation was once more laid.
For us to return to the Paradise Lost,
someone was needed to pay the cost.
You see, from God humans sometimes stray,
we break our relationship, we turn away!
For us to be restored to Grace,
someone had to bridge the broken space.
Jesus, Son of God, was that person
who freely chose to pay for humanity’s ransom.”
Michael inquired, “May I then ask, Holy Father,
why God, so powerful, would even bother?
Why make us at all
if so much of what we do is fall?”
“Oh, son! We indeed choose wrong,
but to the good we must always hold on.
Sure humans stumble and trip,
but there is so much joy in life, even when we slip.
God can always see the end goal,
and despite all the heartache, He sees us as a whole!
Allowing humans the ability to choose
was actually the best way for us not to lose.
We can choose to love and serve others and Earth,
and by using the intellect that we are given at birth,
every good choice that is made
outweighs a thousand bad; it’s not at all an even trade.
True good is measured in a person’s heart,
and that heart goes on forever – no end, no start.
There is no place in our souls for evil;
it is short-lived, weak, and feeble.
It grows in a flash and seems to rule the night,
but darkness shrinks and withers, dying in True good’s bright light.
And that is the lesson that Jesus’ life taught;
that is the Truth that his payment has wrought.
“You see, Jesus was following God’s way,
and people thought he was wrong and wanted him to pay,
so they brought him to the Roman ruler,
who was no more or less crueler,
and it came to be that Jesus paid with his life,
for living his way and trying to stop strife.
For this, they nailed him to a cross;
he gave up everything, all seemed lost.
His friends mourned his passing and left his cave,
but as the prophets foretold, his destiny went beyond the grave.
Jesus rose again, beating sin and death;
His life was restored, once more given God’s breath.”
Michael Christopher took a moment
to process the information that had been such a torrent.
“He came back from the dead?” he asked in awe.
“How can we know, was there anyone who saw?
“Another great question I see you have asked,
He indeed did reveal himself to some, and them he tasked,
‘Go and teach, the news you must spread
of my Resurrection, and the paradise ahead!’
After he appeared for a while,
He ascended into the sky with a smile,
saying, ‘I will send to you the Holy Ghost,
He will grant the gifts you need the most!
Its generosity is of the deepest wells;
you will find it is in your hearts that the Spirit dwells.’”
Michael Chris nodded his head intently,
so Pope Francis continued on gently.“The Spirit of God was sent as our link,
connecting us with Him to help us think –
It shows to us the Father and the Son,
His work is tireless, it is never done!”
Michael Christopher then gave a puzzled look.
“So, there is another person in God?!” Confused, his head shook.
“Yes, there are many mysteries in our Church,
and it is our job to always be on the search
for new ways to think of the old questions.
But it’s also important to know, we may always have only suggestions.
What we do know is The Spirit takes Its time,
so it is ours to explore, but never to whine
about not having all the answers now.”
Michael thought a moment, as he furrowed his brow.“So how are there three in one?”
“Ah, another mystery, but they are so fun!
The Trinity is like a family- full of giving,
a Father and Son that share love of living,
so much so that from their love arises
another person that can share in the Divine Prizes.
Wherever One exists,
all are found to persist.
Each One has their own role;
God is the Family whole.
When we go to mass and bow to pray, we are giving homage to Each, every Sunday!”
Michael Chris did then say,
“Why is it we need Church anyway?”
To which the Pontiff had a wide grin.
“Well, it is one way that we can have discipline.
Also, going to mass helps us stay in community –
just like God is united, we seek to be like the Trinity.
Our Holy Church is like a beehive –
it takes all members to help it thrive.
Each of us has a gift in our soul;
if we don’t bring ours, then the Church isn’t whole.
Those are some reasons for going to mass!
We must stay together so down we can pass
our Knowledge and Faith to the next generation.
We also do this is through Ordination.
Jesus empowered disciples to Baptize all nations;
indeed, Catholic means universal, we accept people no matter their stations.
In this way we live the way God has meant,
as a body – one, universal, living – not a building made of cement.
Michael once more nodded his head.
“So, all people can come together to break Bread!”
The Holy Father smiled with Joy,
“That’s right, by Jove! You’ve got it, my boy!
“We were each baptized into Christ’s love,
just like he was when the Spirit descended like a dove.
It anointed him right then and there;
He became the Christ, our burdens now his to bear.
In the waters of our Baptism, our sin is forgiven,
and we become part of Christ’s body – with him, we too are Risen!
One day all will receive a new body,
like Christ’s, not like these – that are so shoddy!
We will be clothed in the glory God’s Grace;
our bodies will shine, from our toes to the nose on our face.”
A call came out from the crowd,
“Michael Chris! Where are you?” So urgent, so loud.
The old Pontiff stood, tall and proud.
“Here he is ma’am, safe and sound.”
His mother was shocked at where he had been!
Next to the Pope, this whole time, wearing a grin!
Pope Francis passed him to his mother.
“Never forget, Michael, all that we’ve covered!”
After waving their goodbyes, Francis returned to Peter’s chair,
and he took stock of all he had taught there.
He decided he was glad that Michael Christopher came,
helping others-why, that’s the legacy of Pope Francis – first of his name.