(ZENIT News / Rome, 08.12.2024).- Following is a translation in English of the prayer Pope Francis pronounced, in a loud voice, to the image of the Immaculate Conception, in the traditional homage Popes pay to the Virgin on the occasion of her feast, in front of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See, in the center of the city of Rome.
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Immaculate Virgin,
Mother, Immaculate Mother,
today is your feast and we gather around you.
The flowers we offer you intend to express
our love and gratitude;
but you see and appreciate above all those hidden flowers
that are the prayers, sighs, including tears,
especially the tears of the little ones and of the poor.
Look at them, Mother, look at them.
Our Mother, Rome is preparing for a new Jubilee,
which will be a message of hope for humanity,
tested by crises and wars.
Therefore, there are works underway in all parts of the city:
this, you know, causes quite a few inconveniences,
but it is a sign that Rome is alive,
that Rome is being renewed, that Rome intends to adapt to the needs,
to be more welcoming and more functional.
But your Mother’s gaze sees beyond,
and it seems to me I hear her voice
that says to us wisely: ‘My children,
these works are well and good but, be careful:
do not forget the works of the soul!
The true Jubilee is within:
within, within your hearts, you say,
within family and social relationships.
It is within where we must work to prepare
the way of the Lord who is coming.
And it is a good occasion
to make a good Confession
and to ask pardon for all sins.
God forgives all, God forgives always.
Mary Immaculate, we thank you!
This recommendation of yours does us good,
we need it so much because, unintentionally,
we run the risk of remaining totally trapped
by organization, by the things we have to do,
and then the grace of the Holy Year,
which is a time of spiritual renewal, which is a time for forgiveness and of social liberation,
this grace of the Jubilee cannot have a happy outcome,
can remain somewhat suffocated.
But here the Mayor is preparing everything so that, this commemoration,
in this Holy Year, will have a good outcome. Let us pray for the Mayor who has so much work.
No doubt, Mary, you were present
in the synagogue of Nazareth
that day in which Jesus preached for the first time
to the people of His land.
He read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because He has anointed me to
preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release
to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are
oppressed.
To proclaim the acceptable year of
the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).
Then He sat down and said: “Today this scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 22).
And You, Mother, were there, in the midst of the astonished people.
You were proud of Him, of your Son,
and, at the same time, you foresaw the drama
of the closure and envy, which generates violence.
You went through this drama
and always do so, with your Immaculate Heart
full of love of the Heart of Jesus.
Mother, free us of envy:
may we all be brothers who love one another.
No envy. Envy, that ugly yellow vice,
that ruins within.
And today also, Mother, you repeat to us:
“Listen to Jesus, listen to Him!
Listen to Him and do whatever He tells you” (cf. John 2:5).
Thank you, Holy Mother! Thank you because in this time poor in hope, you still give us Jesus, our Hope. Thank you, Mother.
