Mary's humility shows the path to salvation, Pope says on feast of Annunciation
March 25, 2014
Preaching at Mass on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, Pope Francis said that the obedience of the Virgin Mary untied the knot caused by the disobedience of Adam.
Adam’s sin was the result of pride, the Pope told his congregation at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and Mary shows a complete absence of that fault. The challenge for the faithful, he said, is to battle against pride.
The liturgy for the feast day, the Pope remarked, guides us “along the road of recovery,” encouraging “obedience and meekness regarding the Word of God.”
“Salvation cannot be bought or sold,” the Pope said. “It’s a gift. It’s given to us, it’s free. We can’t be saved through ourselves: Salvation is a totally free gift.” In order to receive that gift we must be prepared to accept it, recognizing that it is given freely through no merit of our own.
The appropriate response—especially on this feast day—is one of simple and humble thanks, the Pope said. “And let’s say: ‘Thank you. Thank you, Lord, because today you told us that you have given us salvation.”
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Mar. 25, 2014 9:54 PM ET USA
Contemplating the Virgin and the simplicity and awesomeness of Her sacrifice leaves me at a loss as to how the modern Christian, even more the modern Catholic can fail to see the necessity of a COMPLETE sacrifice, ALL of our bodies, ALL of our souls and nothing less, is only fitting for a perfect and holy God.
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Posted by: -
Mar. 25, 2014 8:29 PM ET USA
The Pope spoke about the obedience required along with the free gift of salvation, but it would have been nice had he fleshed that out a mite. Free salvation/obedience are 2 sides of 1 coin, inseparable, and trying to take 1 w/out t'other causes problems. The manna WAS free, but the obedience, the work, to gather and prepare it was a necessity, and once a week twice as much work had to be done due to the sabbath. The Eucharist is now our 1st sign of obedience, acceptance of free salvation.
