At the Angelus this Monday, the Solemnity of the Assumption that we will celebrate next Sunday in Brazil, the Pope explained the meaning of the Magnificat, the song of the Mother of Jesus handed down to us through the Gospel of Luke, who is the work of God told in the story and also heralds a reversal of values by prophesying what Jesus will say.
Silvonei José Vatican News
“The Virgin Mary prophesies: She prophesies that the first place is not power, success and money, but service, humility and love”. That’s what Pope Francis said at the Angelus this Monday, the Solemnity of the Assumption, which we will celebrate next Sunday in Brazil.
The Gospel said Francis proposes a dialogue between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. “As Mary enters the house and greets Elizabeth, she says to her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. These words of faith, joy and magic became part of the “Ave Maria”. Every time we say this beautiful and familiar prayer, like Elizabeth, we greet Mary and bless her because she brings us Jesus. Mary welcomes Elizabeth’s blessing and responds with a song, a gift for us, for the whole story, the Magnificat. it is a hymn of praise that we might call “the song of hope”.
It is a hymn of praise and jubilation to the great things the Lord has accomplished in her, but Mary goes further:
“Consider the work of God in the history of his people. For example, it says that the Lord “threw down the mighty from their thrones, exalted the lowly, filled the needy with good things, and sent away the rich empty.”
Angelus St. Peter’s Square
small and humble
But he wants to tell us something more important,” Pope Francis emphasizes:
She, small and humble, was exalted and, we celebrate today, taken up into the glory of heaven, while the mighty of the world are destined to remain emptyhanded. In other words, Our Lady announces a radical change, a reversal of values. As he speaks to Elizabeth with Jesus in her bosom, he anticipates what her son will say as he proclaims blessed the poor and humble and warns the rich and those who trust in their own selfsufficiency.
Virgo therefore prophesies that the first place is not power, success and money, but service, humility and love. “As we contemplate them in glory, we understand that true power is service and that dominion is love. And that this is the way to heaven.”
Francis emphasizes that the prophetic conversion announced by Mary touches the life of each one of us if we believe “that to love is to rule and to be able to serve. That the goal of my life is heaven, paradise? Or am I only interested in earthly, material things? And yet, when observing world events, do I allow myself to be gripped by pessimism, or do I, like the Virgin, perceive the work of God, who achieves great things with gentleness and smallness?
Angelus St. Peter’s Square
Mary sings of hope
“Mary sings about hope today and awakens hope in us again: In her we see the goal of the journey: She is the first creature to arrive victoriously at the goal of heaven with all her strength, body and soul.”
Mary the Pope continued “shows us that heaven is within reach if we also do not give in to sin, praise God with humility and serve others with generosity.
Don’t give in to sin. But one can say: “But father, I am weak” “But the Lord is always near you, because he is merciful.” Don’t forget what God’s style is: closeness, compassion and tenderness. Always close to us with your style.
Pope Francis concluded by saying that Mary our Mother “takes us by the hand, accompanies us to glory, invites us to rejoice in the thought of Paradise. Let us bless Mary with our prayers and ask her for a prophetic vision capable of glimpsing heaven on earth.”