Before the Angelus

After the Angelus

At midday today, the Holy Father Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The following is the Pope’s introduction to the Marian prayer:

Before the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Gospel presents to us the young woman of Nazareth who, having received the Angel’s announcement, left in haste to be close to Elizabeth in the final months of her miraculous pregnancy. Arriving at her home, Mary receives from her mouth the words that came to form the “Hail Mary” prayer: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Lk 1: 42). In fact, the greatest gift that Mary brings to Elizabeth – and to the whole world – is Jesus, Who now lives in her; and lives not only in faith and expectation, as in so many women of the Old Testament: Jesus assumed human flesh from the Virgin for His mission of salvation.

In Elizabeth’s home, and that of her husband Zachariah, where previously sadness reigned for the lack of children, but now there is the joy of a baby about to arrive: a baby that who will become the great John the Baptist, Precursor of the Messiah. And when Mary arrives, joy overflows and bursts from hearts, because Jesus’ invisible but real presence fills everything with meaning: life, the family, the salvation of the people . . . everything! This full joy is expressed with Mary’s voice in the marvellous prayer that Luke’s Gospel has transmitted to us, called Magnificat, from its first Latin word. It is a song of praise to God who does great things through humble persons, unknown to the world, like Mary herself and her husband Joseph, and like Nazareth, the place where they lived. The great things God has wrought with humble persons, the great things the Lord does in the world with the humble, because humility is like an emptiness that gives place to God. The humble are powerful because they are humble, not because they are strong. And this is the greatness of the humble and of humility. I would like to ask you – and also myself – but don’t answer aloud: each one answer in his heart: “How is my humility?”

The Magnificat sings of the merciful and faithful God, Who fulfils His plan of salvation with the small and the poor, with those that have faith in Him, that trust His Word, as Mary did. Behold Elizabeth’s exclamation: “Blessed is she who believed” (Lk 1: 45). In that home, Jesus’ coming through Mary not only created an atmosphere of joy and fraternal communion, but also an atmosphere of faith that leads to hope, prayer and praise.

We would like all this to happen in our homes today too. Celebrating the Assumption of Mary Most Holy in Heaven, we would like Her once again to bring to us, to our families, to our communities, that immense gift, that unique grace, that we must always ask for first of all and above all other graces, which we also have at heart: the grace that is Jesus Christ!

By bringing Jesus, Our Lady brings to us also a new joy, full of meaning. She brings to us a new capacity to go through painful and difficult moments with faith; She brings us the capacity for mercy, to forgive one another, to understand each other, to support one another.

Mary is a model of virtue and faith. In contemplating Her today, assumed into Heaven, in the final fulfilment of Her earthly journey, we thank Her because she always goes before us in our pilgrimage of life and of faith – she is the first disciple. And we ask Her to protect and support us, so that we may have a strong, joyful and merciful faith; and that She help us to be holy, so as to meet with Her one day in Paradise.

After the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

To Mary Queen of Peace, who we contemplate today in the glory of Heaven, I would like to entrust once again the worries and sorrows of the populations who in many parts of the world suffer as a result of natural disasters, social tensions or conflicts. May our heavenly Mother obtain for all consolation and a future of serenity and harmony.

I greet you all, Romans and pilgrims from various countries. In particular, I greet the young people of Mira, Venice, and the Don Bosco Association of Noci. And I also greet … I see Spanish and Polish flags. I wish you a happy feast day!

Thank you for coming; I wish you a happy feast of Our Lady of the Assumption and, please, do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch, and goodbye.