Bishop Guillermo Elías exhorts faithful to live out faith beyond processions

Auxiliary Bishop Guillermo Elías of Lima urged the faithful to move beyond religious processions and demonstrate their devotion through concrete actions and love for others. During a Mass on Oct. 28, the central feast day of the Lord of the Miracles, the bishop addressed a large crowd of devotees gathered outside the Church of the Nazarenas in Lima.

Bishop Elías told the congregation that attending festive celebrations around the image of the Cristo Moreno is insufficient. He encouraged people to open their lives to the Lord to allow for spiritual transformation. During his homily, he asked whether people sought the miracles themselves or the Lord who provides the miracle of salvation.

The bishop noted that faith must be reflected in how people treat one another. He cited a phrase from Saint Alberto Hurtado, which Pope Francis has also used, stating that while not doing evil is good, not doing good is bad. He emphasized that following religious precepts is not enough if those actions do not lead to love.