In the general audience, the pontiff continued the cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit and his “bride”, the Church. The meditation dedicated to “Marian piety”: the Virgin is “a letter written with the Spirit of the living God”, which can be “read” by everyone. The “yes” to the Angel is an example of “availability combined with active availability,” he said. In the end, the invitation not to forget the countries at war.
Vatican City () – “To Jesus through Mary”. It is a saying from Catholic tradition to which Pope Francis drew attention this morning during the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square. «The Virgin makes us see Jesus and opens the doors for us, always. The Virgin is the mother who leads us by the hand to Jesus,” he added at the beginning of the catechism that continues the cycle dedicated to the Holy Spirit and his “bride”, the Church. «The Virgin never points to herself, the Virgin points to Jesus. And this is Marian piety. The topic of today’s meditation was, in fact, “A letter written with the Spirit of the living God: Mary and the Holy Spirit”, the reference reading of a passage from Acts (Acts 1:12-14), read in several languages to the numerous faithful gathered for the occasion.
Marian piety is a means through which “the Holy Spirit carries out his work of sanctification in the Church”, as well as others such as the Word of God, the Sacraments and prayer. Bergoglio, citing the words of Saint Paul in which he emphasizes that the Christian community is a “letter […] not on tables of stone, but on tables of human hearts,” he said that Mary “is also a letter written with the Spirit of the living God.” That is why it can be “read”, addressed, by all human beings. “Even for those who do not know how to read theology books, for those little ones to whom Jesus says that the mysteries of the Kingdom, hidden from the wise, are revealed,” the Pontiff continued.
From her “yes” said to the Angel, the Virgin seems to say to God “Here I am, I am a writing board: let the Writer write what he wants, may the Lord of all things do with me,” she added. In Jesus’ time it was written on waxed tablets, today there would be a blank page in its place. That is “the summit of all religious behavior before God,” said a well-known exegete, since it expresses “unity and active disposition.” From it we can learn, therefore, that despite the many theological and theoretical disquisitions on the Church and holiness – often incomprehensible to the majority – it is good to remember “just two words that everyone, even the simplest, can pronounce.” on any occasion: Here I am and fiat. “With his example and his intercession he encourages us to also say our yes.”
Always, in all times, Christians and the Church find themselves in the situation of having to preach the Gospel, but they often remain waiting for a “power from above.” After Jesus’ Ascension to heaven, the Holy Father recalled, the disciples were not alone. There were several women with them, including María. «His presence is different and unique among all. Between her and the Holy Spirit there is a unique and eternally indestructible bond that is the very person of Christ,” he said.
Saint Francis of Assisi, quoted by the Pope who took his name for the first time, also said in a prayer that Mary is “daughter and servant of the most high Heavenly Father King, mother of the most holy Lord Jesus Christ, wife of the Holy Spirit.” «Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son, Wife of the Holy Spirit! There are no simpler words to illustrate Mary’s unique relationship with the Trinity,” commented the Bishop of Rome. “Let us learn from her to be docile to the inspirations of the Spirit, especially when He suggests that we get up quickly and go help someone in need, as she did immediately after the angel left her.”
At the end of the audience, Pope Francis, during the greetings dedicated to the Italian-speaking faithful and pilgrims, asked not to forget the countries at war. «Brothers and sisters, the martyred Ukraine suffers. Let’s not forget Ukraine. Ukraine, which this morning suffered the first Russian assault on the capital, kyiv, in weeks. And again: ‘Let us not forget Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and so many nations at war.’ Let’s not forget that group of Palestinians who were machine-gunned, innocent people. Last week he had already remembered these 153 victims of the Israeli attacks on two occasions. «Let us pray for peace, we need it so much. So much need for peace. My blessing to all,” concluded the Holy Father.
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