Virgin birth is warranty of Christ's divinity, Pope tells Sunday audience
December 19, 2011
Pope Benedict XVI proposed the Virgin Mary as the ideal model for Christians in the final days of preparation before Christmas.
“Just as the Immaculate Virgin brought God to us, May we be not afraid to let her bring us to God,” the Pope said. He remarked that although the virgin birth is a “unique and unrepeatable” event, there is a lesson in it for all Christians. Following Mary’s example, he explained, “those who have profound trust in the love of God welcome Jesus and his divine life into their own lives, by the action of the Holy Spirit.”
Speaking further about the virgin birth, the Pope reminded his audience: “The human being Who began life in her womb took Mary's flesh, but his existence derived entirely from God.” He continued:
The fact that Mary conceived while remaining a virgin is, then, essential for an understanding of Jesus and of our faith. It is a testament to the fact that the initiative was God's and, above all, it reveals Who the person conceived is. As the Gospel says, 'the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the son of God'. In this perspective, Mary's virginity and Jesus' divinity are warranties of one another.
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Further information:
- Who Trusts in God Accepts Jesus through the Holy Spirit (VIS)
- Pope Benedict: Mary and the mystery of Christmas (Vatican Radio)
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