The Virgin Mary reminds us that ‘everything is mercy,’ Pope tells faithful
December 09, 2015
Addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis said on December 8 that “the Immaculate Conception means that Mary is the first saved by the Father’s infinite mercy, as the first fruit of the salvation that God wills to give, in Christ, to every man and woman.”
Calling upon the faithful to contemplate and imitate the Virgin Mary as the jubilee of mercy begins, the Pope said that “in the Immaculate Conception of Mary we are invited to recognize the dawn of the new world, transformed by the saving work of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the dawn of the new creation wrought by divine mercy.”
“Therefore, the Virgin Mary, never contaminated by sin and always full of God, is Mother of a new humanity,” he continued. “She is mother of a recreated world. To celebrate this feast implies two things: to receive God fully and His merciful grace in our life; to become in turn architects of mercy through a genuine Gospel journey.”
“Today’s feast of the Immaculate Conception has a specific message to communicate to us: it reminds us that in our life everything is gift, everything is mercy,” he added. “May the Holy Virgin, first fruit of the saved, model of the Church, holy and immaculate Bride loved by the Lord, help us always more to rediscover divine mercy as the distinguishing mark of a Christian.”
Following the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis asked the crowd to greet Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and to seek the Blessed Virgin’s “guidance and intercession” during the jubilee year.
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Further information:
- Angelus Domini 2015.12.08 (YouTube Vatican)
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 08.12.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
- ANGELUS ADDRESS: On God's Mercy Which Awaits Us, Pardons All (Zenit)
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Posted by: jacquebquique5708 -
Dec. 09, 2015 6:48 PM ET USA
"Mercy" from the Merchant of Venice, Wm Shakespeare: Tis mightiest in the mightiest. But mercy is above the sceptered sway. It is an antidote to God Himself. And earthy power doth then show likest God's, when mercy tempers justice (and not the other way around).
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Posted by: loumiamo -
Dec. 09, 2015 4:52 PM ET USA
I pray the Rosary every day, and I also say prayers to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, so perhaps this post has been influenced by Mary. As our mother, Mary would of course be desirous of mercy for one of her offending sons, but if that son harmed one of Mary's daughters, she would also want justice for her daughter. Maybe I'm being a mite bit finickedy, but that seems like an important distinction to make. Sometimes, even often times, doesn't justice need to trump mercy?
