At noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, children from the Centro Oratori Romani were present - they are celebrating their Jubilee today - for the blessing of bambinelli - the statues of the Christ-child which the children will place in their family creches or in the manger scenes in their schools or parishes.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The gospel for this Sunday in Advent presents the figure of Mary. We see her when, soon after having conceived the Son of God in faith, she faces the long voyage from Nazareth in Galilee to the mountains of Judea where she went to visit and to help Elizabeth. The angel Gabriel had revealed to her the fact that her elderly relative, who had no children, was in the sixth month of her pregnancy (cf Lk 1:26, 36). For this reason, Our Lady, who was carrying within her an even greater gift and treasure, went to visit with Elizabeth and remained with her for three months. At the moment of encounter between the two women - imagine it yourselves: one was elderly and the other was young, and the younger Mary was the first to offer a greeting. The gospel says: She entered the house of Zaccariah and greeted Elizabeth (Lk 1:40). After that greeting, Elizabeth felt overcome with amazement - don't forget this word: amazement. Amazement. Elizabeth was overcome with amazement, and it was evident in her words: How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? (Lk 1:43). They embraced and kissed one another, joyfully: the older woman and the younger one, both of them pregnant.
In order to make the most of our Christmas celebrations, we need to pause in places of wonder. Where are the places in our daily lives that cause us to be in amazement? There are three. The first place is in the other, another person in whom we recognize our own brother: because of the birth of Jesus, every face is imprinted with the likeness of the Son of God, above all, when it involves the faces of the poor, for through the poor, God entered into the world and through the poor, more than through anyone else, he draws close to us.
Another place of wonder - the second - in which, if we look with faith, we will discover wonder is history. Many times, we believe that we see it the right way, but instead we are at risk of interpreting it in the wrong way. It happens, for example, when it seems to be determined by the market economy, rules of finance and business, dominated by the powers that be. Instead, the God of Christmas is a God who shuffles the cards: he likes to do that! As Mary sings in the Magnificat, it is the Lord who casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, who fills the humble with good things and sends the rich away empty (cf Lk 1:52-53). This is the second surprise, the surprise of history.
A third place for surprises is the Church: to look at her with the wonder of faith means not limiting ourselves to considering her only as a religious institution, which she is; but to feel her presence like a Mother who, despite her spots and wrinkles - and we have many of those - reveals her features as a beloved bride who is purified by Christ the Lord. A Church that knows how to recognize the many signs of faithful love that God continually sends. A Church for which the Lord Jesus will never be a possession to be jealously guarded: those who do so are wrong; but always the One who comes to our encounter and for whom we wait with trust and joy, giving voice to the world's hope. The Church that calls to the Lord: Come, Lord Jesus! The mother Church who always has her doors flung open and her arms open wide to welcome everyone. Indeed, the mother Church that goes out through her own doors to seek out with a mother's smile, all those who have been distanced, to demonstrate the mercy of God to them. This is the wonder of Christmas!
At Christmas, God gives his entire self, giving his only Son, who is the Father's joy. Only with Mary's heart, the humble and poor daughter of Zion who became the mother of the Son of the Most High, is it possible to exalt and to rejoice over the great gift of God and his unpredictable surprise. May she help us to perceive God's surprises - these three surprises: the other, history and the Church - through the birth of Jesus, the gift of all gifts, the unmerited gift that brings us salvation. The encounter with Jesus will also allow us to experience this great wonder, but we cannot experience this wonder, we cannot encounter Jesus if we do not encounter others, in history and in the Church.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today too, I want to turn our thoughts to beloved Syria, expressing deep appreciation for the agreement that has just been reached by the international community. I encourage everyone to continue with generous devotion the journey toward the cessation of the violence and to finding a negotiated solution that will lead to peace. I also think of neighbouring Lybia, where the recent commitment assumed by the parties toward a government of national unity is a sign of hope for the future.
I also wish to support the collaboration that has been called for between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I hope that a renewed spirit of fraternity will further strengthen dialogue and mutual cooperation as well among all the countries in the region.
My thoughts also extend at this time to the beloved people of India, recently affected by severe flooding. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters, who are suffering because of this calamity and confide the souls of all those who have died to the mercy of God. Let us pray a Hail Mary to Our Lady for all our brothers and sisters in India.
Hail Mary ...
I affectionately greet all of you, dear pilgrims who have come from various countries to participate in this prayerful encounter. Today, the first greeting is reserved for the children of Rome. These children certainly know how to make noise! They have come for the traditional blessing of the Bambinelli, organized by the Prayer Centre of Rome. Dear children, listen to me: when you pray in front of your manger scene, remember to think of me, just as I remember you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I greet the families belonging to the Sons of Heaven community and other related families, in hope and in suffering to the Bambino Gesù hospital. Dear parents, I assure you of my spiritual closeness and I encourage you to continue your journey of faith and fraternity.
I greet the members of the Racconigi choir, the Children of the Pope prayer group - thank you for your support! - and the faithful from Parma.
I wish you all a good Sunday and a Christmas of hope that is filled with wonder, with the wonder that Jesus gives, filled with love and with peace. Don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, children from the Centro Oratori Romani were present - they are celebrating their Jubilee today - for the blessing of bambinelli - the statues of the Christ-child which the children will place in their family creches or in the manger scenes in their schools or parishes.
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The gospel for this Sunday in Advent presents the figure of Mary. We see her when, soon after having conceived the Son of God in faith, she faces the long voyage from Nazareth in Galilee to the mountains of Judea where she went to visit and to help Elizabeth. The angel Gabriel had revealed to her the fact that her elderly relative, who had no children, was in the sixth month of her pregnancy (cf Lk 1:26, 36). For this reason, Our Lady, who was carrying within her an even greater gift and treasure, went to visit with Elizabeth and remained with her for three months. At the moment of encounter between the two women - imagine it yourselves: one was elderly and the other was young, and the younger Mary was the first to offer a greeting. The gospel says: She entered the house of Zaccariah and greeted Elizabeth (Lk 1:40). After that greeting, Elizabeth felt overcome with amazement - don't forget this word: amazement. Amazement. Elizabeth was overcome with amazement, and it was evident in her words: How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? (Lk 1:43). They embraced and kissed one another, joyfully: the older woman and the younger one, both of them pregnant.
In order to make the most of our Christmas celebrations, we need to pause in places of wonder. Where are the places in our daily lives that cause us to be in amazement? There are three. The first place is in the other, another person in whom we recognize our own brother: because of the birth of Jesus, every face is imprinted with the likeness of the Son of God, above all, when it involves the faces of the poor, for through the poor, God entered into the world and through the poor, more than through anyone else, he draws close to us.
Another place of wonder - the second - in which, if we look with faith, we will discover wonder is history. Many times, we believe that we see it the right way, but instead we are at risk of interpreting it in the wrong way. It happens, for example, when it seems to be determined by the market economy, rules of finance and business, dominated by the powers that be. Instead, the God of Christmas is a God who shuffles the cards: he likes to do that! As Mary sings in the Magnificat, it is the Lord who casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, who fills the humble with good things and sends the rich away empty (cf Lk 1:52-53). This is the second surprise, the surprise of history.
A third place for surprises is the Church: to look at her with the wonder of faith means not limiting ourselves to considering her only as a religious institution, which she is; but to feel her presence like a Mother who, despite her spots and wrinkles - and we have many of those - reveals her features as a beloved bride who is purified by Christ the Lord. A Church that knows how to recognize the many signs of faithful love that God continually sends. A Church for which the Lord Jesus will never be a possession to be jealously guarded: those who do so are wrong; but always the One who comes to our encounter and for whom we wait with trust and joy, giving voice to the world's hope. The Church that calls to the Lord: Come, Lord Jesus! The mother Church who always has her doors flung open and her arms open wide to welcome everyone. Indeed, the mother Church that goes out through her own doors to seek out with a mother's smile, all those who have been distanced, to demonstrate the mercy of God to them. This is the wonder of Christmas!
At Christmas, God gives his entire self, giving his only Son, who is the Father's joy. Only with Mary's heart, the humble and poor daughter of Zion who became the mother of the Son of the Most High, is it possible to exalt and to rejoice over the great gift of God and his unpredictable surprise. May she help us to perceive God's surprises - these three surprises: the other, history and the Church - through the birth of Jesus, the gift of all gifts, the unmerited gift that brings us salvation. The encounter with Jesus will also allow us to experience this great wonder, but we cannot experience this wonder, we cannot encounter Jesus if we do not encounter others, in history and in the Church.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today too, I want to turn our thoughts to beloved Syria, expressing deep appreciation for the agreement that has just been reached by the international community. I encourage everyone to continue with generous devotion the journey toward the cessation of the violence and to finding a negotiated solution that will lead to peace. I also think of neighbouring Lybia, where the recent commitment assumed by the parties toward a government of national unity is a sign of hope for the future.
I also wish to support the collaboration that has been called for between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I hope that a renewed spirit of fraternity will further strengthen dialogue and mutual cooperation as well among all the countries in the region.
My thoughts also extend at this time to the beloved people of India, recently affected by severe flooding. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters, who are suffering because of this calamity and confide the souls of all those who have died to the mercy of God. Let us pray a Hail Mary to Our Lady for all our brothers and sisters in India.
Hail Mary ...
I affectionately greet all of you, dear pilgrims who have come from various countries to participate in this prayerful encounter. Today, the first greeting is reserved for the children of Rome. These children certainly know how to make noise! They have come for the traditional blessing of the Bambinelli, organized by the Prayer Centre of Rome. Dear children, listen to me: when you pray in front of your manger scene, remember to think of me, just as I remember you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I greet the families belonging to the Sons of Heaven community and other related families, in hope and in suffering to the Bambino Gesù hospital. Dear parents, I assure you of my spiritual closeness and I encourage you to continue your journey of faith and fraternity.
I greet the members of the Racconigi choir, the Children of the Pope prayer group - thank you for your support! - and the faithful from Parma.
I wish you all a good Sunday and a Christmas of hope that is filled with wonder, with the wonder that Jesus gives, filled with love and with peace. Don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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