Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning because of the large crowds who had come from all over the world to see Pope Benedict XVI the general audience was held in two parts, first in St Peter’s Basilica and then in the Paul VI Audience Hall. In St Peter’s the Pope met thousands of Italian school children from various parts of the country and a large pilgrimage from France organised by the religious Family Frères de Saint-Jean. In his short address the Pope reflected on his encyclical Deus caritas est recalling that God’s love is the “source and reason of our joy”, and he invited those present “to understand and welcome this Love which changes life and makes people credible witnesses of the Gospel”. The Pope said: “Above all we must help the weakest and most needy people experience the loving tenderness of God’s Heart and never forget that by spreading divine charity each one of us helps to build a world of more justice and solidarity”.
In the Paul VI Hall the Pope’s teaching was on the Magnificat Canticle “which ideally seals every celebration of Vespers” the Pope said, adding that this catechesis was the last in a series on the psalms started by his “beloved predecessor” Pope John Paul II in April 2001. The chant “reveals between the lines the spirituality of the Biblical poor, the faithful who recognise their «poverty» not only in detachment from all idolatry of wealth and power but also in profound humility of heart- the Pope said -. The whole of the Magnificat is in fact marked by this «humility», in Greek tapeinosis, which means a situation of concrete humility and poverty”.
The first movement of the Marian canticle shows that “the soul of prayer is the celebration of divine grace which irrupted in the heart and life of Mary, making her Mother of the Lord. The intimate structure of her prayer is then praise, thanksgiving, joyful gratitude. However this personal testimony is not solitary or self centred because the Blessed Virgin Mary is aware that she has a mission towards humanity and that her life story is part of the history of salvation”.
The second poetical and spiritual movement of the Magnificat has a more choral tone “almost as if Mary’s voice were associated with that of the whole community of the faithful who celebrate the amazing works of God” the Holy Father explained. In the re-evocation of divine works, the Lord of History sides with the least of the people. “His plan is often hidden under the opaque earth of human vicissitudes in which the winners are «the proud and the powerful, the rich». Nevertheless his secret plan will reveal itself in the end to show who are the chosen ones of God: «Those who fear him», faithful to his word; «the humble, the hungry, Israel his servant», namely the community of the people of God which consists of those who, like Maria, are «poor», pure and simple of heart”. The Pope concluded his catechesis quoting Saint Ambrose’s comment on the Magnificat : “may each one of us glorify the Lord with the soul of Mary and rejoice in God with the spirit of Mary”.…”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2006, righe 36, parole 547)
