Pope Francis says "Today we entrust to Mary Assumed into Heaven the plea for peace... let us continue to hope and pray, because it is God, it is He who guides history." FULL TEXT
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
POPE FRANCESCO - ANGELUS
St. Peter's Square - Tuesday, August 15, 2023
________________________________________
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, let us contemplate her as she ascends body and soul to the glory of Heaven. Even today's Gospel presents her to us as she climbs, this time towards a "mountainous region" (Lk 1:39). And she goes up why? To help her cousin Elizabeth, and there she proclaims the joyful song of the Magnificat. Mary ascends and the Word of God reveals to us what characterizes her as she ascends: service to neighbor and praise to God.
Both things: Mary is the woman of service to neighbor and Mary is the woman who praises God The evangelist Luke, moreover, narrates the life of Christ itself as a climb upwards, towards Jerusalem, the place of the gift of himself on the cross, and in the same way he also describes Mary's journey. In short, Jesus and Mary travel the same path: two lives that rise to the top, glorifying God and serving their brothers and sisters. Jesus as Redeemer, who gives his life for us, for our justification; Mary as the servant who goes to serve: two lives that conquer death and rise again; two lives whose secrets are service and praise. Let us dwell on these two aspects: service and praise.
Service. It is when we lower ourselves to serve our brothers and sisters that we rise: it is love that elevates life. We go to serve the brothers and with this service we go "up". But serving is not easy: the Madonna, whom she has just conceived, travels almost 150 kilometers to reach Elizabeth's house from Nazareth. Helping costs us all. We always experience it in the effort, patience and worries that caring for others entails. Let us think, for example, of the kilometers that many travel every day to get to and from work and carry out many tasks in favor of others; let us think of the sacrifices of time and sleep to take care of a newborn or an elderly person; and to the commitment to serve those who do not have to repay, in the Church as in volunteering. I admire volunteering. It's tiring, but it's climbing upwards, it's earning Heaven! This is true service.
However, service risks being sterile without praising God. In fact, when Mary enters her cousin's house, she praises the Lord. She doesn't talk about her, about her tiredness from the journey, but from her heart a canticle of jubilation bursts forth. Because whoever loves God knows praise. And the Gospel today shows us "a cascade of praise": the child leaps for joy in Elizabeth's womb (cf. Lk 1:44), who speaks words of blessing and "the first beatitude": "Blessed is she who believed" (Lk 1,45); and everything culminates in Mary, who proclaims the Magnificat (cf. Lk 1:46-55). Praise increases joy. Praise is like a ladder: it carries hearts high. Praise elevates spirits and overcomes the temptation to give up. Have you seen that boring people, those who live on gossip, are incapable of praising? Ask yourself: am I capable of praising? How good it is to praise God every day, and others too! How good it is to live with gratitude and blessing instead of regrets and complaints, to look up instead of keeping a long face! Complaints: there are people who complain every day. But look that God is near you, look that he created you, look at the things that he has given you. Praise, praise! And this is spiritual health.
Service and praise. Let's try to ask ourselves: do I live my work and daily occupations with a spirit of service or with selfishness? Do I dedicate myself to someone for free, without seeking immediate benefits? In short, do I make service the "springboard" of my life? And thinking of praise: can I, like Mary, rejoice in God (cf. Lk 1:47)? Do I pray blessing the Lord? And, after praising him, do I spread his joy among the people I meet? Everyone tries to answer these questions.
Our Mother, Assumed into Heaven, help us to rise higher each day through service and praise.
____________________________
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
I cordially greet all of you present, Romans and pilgrims from various countries. In particular, I greet the young people of the Diocese of Verona, with my best wishes for their summer experience in Rome.
Today we entrust to Mary Assumed into Heaven the plea for peace, in Ukraine and in all the regions torn apart by war: there are many, unfortunately! The din of weapons drowns out attempts at dialogue; the law of force prevails over the force of law. But let us not be discouraged, let us continue to hope and pray, because it is God, it is He who guides history. Listen to us!
And today, the day of the Madonna, I greet the boys of the Immaculate Conception! Happy party for everyone! Please don't forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and goodbye!
POPE FRANCESCO - ANGELUS
St. Peter's Square - Tuesday, August 15, 2023
________________________________________
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, let us contemplate her as she ascends body and soul to the glory of Heaven. Even today's Gospel presents her to us as she climbs, this time towards a "mountainous region" (Lk 1:39). And she goes up why? To help her cousin Elizabeth, and there she proclaims the joyful song of the Magnificat. Mary ascends and the Word of God reveals to us what characterizes her as she ascends: service to neighbor and praise to God.
Both things: Mary is the woman of service to neighbor and Mary is the woman who praises God The evangelist Luke, moreover, narrates the life of Christ itself as a climb upwards, towards Jerusalem, the place of the gift of himself on the cross, and in the same way he also describes Mary's journey. In short, Jesus and Mary travel the same path: two lives that rise to the top, glorifying God and serving their brothers and sisters. Jesus as Redeemer, who gives his life for us, for our justification; Mary as the servant who goes to serve: two lives that conquer death and rise again; two lives whose secrets are service and praise. Let us dwell on these two aspects: service and praise.
Service. It is when we lower ourselves to serve our brothers and sisters that we rise: it is love that elevates life. We go to serve the brothers and with this service we go "up". But serving is not easy: the Madonna, whom she has just conceived, travels almost 150 kilometers to reach Elizabeth's house from Nazareth. Helping costs us all. We always experience it in the effort, patience and worries that caring for others entails. Let us think, for example, of the kilometers that many travel every day to get to and from work and carry out many tasks in favor of others; let us think of the sacrifices of time and sleep to take care of a newborn or an elderly person; and to the commitment to serve those who do not have to repay, in the Church as in volunteering. I admire volunteering. It's tiring, but it's climbing upwards, it's earning Heaven! This is true service.
However, service risks being sterile without praising God. In fact, when Mary enters her cousin's house, she praises the Lord. She doesn't talk about her, about her tiredness from the journey, but from her heart a canticle of jubilation bursts forth. Because whoever loves God knows praise. And the Gospel today shows us "a cascade of praise": the child leaps for joy in Elizabeth's womb (cf. Lk 1:44), who speaks words of blessing and "the first beatitude": "Blessed is she who believed" (Lk 1,45); and everything culminates in Mary, who proclaims the Magnificat (cf. Lk 1:46-55). Praise increases joy. Praise is like a ladder: it carries hearts high. Praise elevates spirits and overcomes the temptation to give up. Have you seen that boring people, those who live on gossip, are incapable of praising? Ask yourself: am I capable of praising? How good it is to praise God every day, and others too! How good it is to live with gratitude and blessing instead of regrets and complaints, to look up instead of keeping a long face! Complaints: there are people who complain every day. But look that God is near you, look that he created you, look at the things that he has given you. Praise, praise! And this is spiritual health.
Service and praise. Let's try to ask ourselves: do I live my work and daily occupations with a spirit of service or with selfishness? Do I dedicate myself to someone for free, without seeking immediate benefits? In short, do I make service the "springboard" of my life? And thinking of praise: can I, like Mary, rejoice in God (cf. Lk 1:47)? Do I pray blessing the Lord? And, after praising him, do I spread his joy among the people I meet? Everyone tries to answer these questions.
Our Mother, Assumed into Heaven, help us to rise higher each day through service and praise.
____________________________
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
I cordially greet all of you present, Romans and pilgrims from various countries. In particular, I greet the young people of the Diocese of Verona, with my best wishes for their summer experience in Rome.
Today we entrust to Mary Assumed into Heaven the plea for peace, in Ukraine and in all the regions torn apart by war: there are many, unfortunately! The din of weapons drowns out attempts at dialogue; the law of force prevails over the force of law. But let us not be discouraged, let us continue to hope and pray, because it is God, it is He who guides history. Listen to us!
And today, the day of the Madonna, I greet the boys of the Immaculate Conception! Happy party for everyone! Please don't forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and goodbye!
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