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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus
Message
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
On Mary's Glorification
"She Sits in Splendor at the Right Hand of Her Son"
H.H. Benedict XVI
August 15, 2007
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. This is an ancient feast deeply rooted in
Sacred Scripture: indeed, it presents the Virgin Mary closely united
to her divine Son and ever supportive of him.
Mother and Son appear closely bound in the fight against the
infernal enemy until they completely defeat him. This victory is
expressed in particular in overcoming sin and death, that is, in
triumphing over the enemies which St Paul always presents as
connected (cf. Rom 5: 12, 15-21; I Cor 15: 21-26).
Therefore, just as Christ's glorious Resurrection was the definitive
sign of this victory, so Mary's glorification in her virginal body
is the ultimate confirmation of her total solidarity with the Son,
both in the conflict and in victory.
The Servant of God Pope Pius XII interpreted the deep theological
meaning of this mystery on 1 November 1950 when he pronounced the
solemn Dogmatic Definition of this Marian privilege.
He declared: "Hence, the revered Mother of God, from all eternity
joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree
of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a most perfect
virgin in her divine motherhood, the noble associate of the divine
Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its
consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her
privileges, that she should be preserved free from the corruption of
the tomb and that, like her own Son, having overcome death, she
might be taken up body and soul to the glory of Heaven where, as
Queen, she sits in splendour at the right hand of her Son, the
immortal King of the Ages" (Apostolic Constitution "Munificentissimus
Deus": AAS 42, [1 November 1950]).
Dear brothers and sisters, after being taken up into Heaven, Mary
did not distance herself from us but continues to be even closer to
us and her light shines on our lives and on the history of all
humanity. Attracted by the heavenly brightness of the Mother of the
Redeemer, let us turn with trust to the One who looks upon us and
protects us from on high.
We all need her help and comfort to face the trials and challenges
of daily life; we need to feel that she is our mother and sister in
the concrete situations of our lives.
And so that we too may one day be able to share in her same destiny,
let us imitate her now in her meek following of Christ and her
generous service to the brethren. This is the only way to have a
foretaste, already on our earthly pilgrimage, of the joy and peace
which those who reach the immortal destination of Paradise live to
the full.
After the Angelus:
I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors gathered for
this Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady.
May the example and prayers of Mary, Queen of Heaven, inspire and
sustain us on our pilgrimage of faith, that we too may attain the
glory of the Resurrection and the fulfilment of our hope in her
Son's promises. Upon you and your families I invoke the Lord's
richest blessings.
I wish you all a good Feast of the Assumption!
© Copyright 2007 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
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