Mary, the ‘1st disciple,’ gave us the greatest gift, and she leads us on our pilgrimage our life and faith.
Francis stressed this during his Angelus address today at noon to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Today, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Gospel presents to us the young woman of Nazareth that, having received the Angel’s announcement, left in haste to be close to Elizabeth, in the last months of her miraculous pregnancy.
The greatest gift that Mary brings to Elizabeth, and to the world, Francis exclaimed, is Jesus. Jesus took human flesh from the Virgin for His mission of salvation.
In the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah, where sadness reigned before because of the lack of children, the Pope said, «now there is the joy of a baby about to arrive: a baby that will become the great John the Baptist.»
«When Mary arrives, joy overflows and bursts from hearts, because Jesus’ invisible but real presence fills everything with meaning: life, the family, the salvation of the people . . . everything!»
This joy, the Pope said, is expressed with Mary’s Magnificat, her song of praise to God.
Francis reminded those present of the great things that God wrought with humble persons, stressing humility «is like an emptiness that gives place to God.» Through humble persons, «unknown to the world,» like Mary, Joseph, and their home in Nazareth, God has worked wonders, the Holy Father observed.
‘I would like to ask you – and also myself – but don’t answer in a loud voice: each one answer in his heart: “how is my humility?”
The Joy She Brings Us
Celebrating Mary Most Holy Assumed into Heaven, we would like Her, once again, to bring to us, to our families, to our communities, that immense gift, that unique grace, that we must always ask for first of all and above all other graces, which we also have at heart: the grace that is Jesus Christ!
By bringing Jesus, Our Lady brings to us also a new joy, full of meaning.
She brings to us a new capacity to go through painful and difficult moments with faith; She brings us the capacity of mercy, to forgive one another, to understand each other, to support one another.
Mary is model of virtue and faith.
The 1st Disciple, to Help Us Be Saints
«In contemplating Her today, assumed into Heaven, in the final fulfilment of Her earthly itinerary, we thank Her because she always goes before us in our pilgrimage of life and of faith,» said Francis, stressing: «She is the first disciple.»
He then prayed she protect and support us, «so that we may have a strong, joyful and merciful faith,» and «that She help us to be saints, to meet with Her one day in Paradise.»
After the midday prayer, Pope Francis entrusted to Mary Queen of Peace, «the anxieties and sorrows of the populations that in so many parts of the world suffer from natural disasters, from social tensions and from conflicts.
«May our celestial Mother obtain for all consolation and a future of serenity and harmony!»
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On Zenit’s web page:
Full Text: https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-on-the-feast-of-the-assumption-3/
