Pope Benedict XVI prays Mid-day Angelus on the feast of Immaculate Conception of Blessed
Virgin Mary
(08 Dec. 2006) : Before praying the mid-day Angelus in the presence of thousands of
pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the feast of the Immaculate Conception
on Friday noon, Pope Benedict XVI spoke on the Gospel narrative from Luke chapter
1, where God’s angel appears Mary of Nazareth and says: “Hail, O full of grace, the
Lord is with you!” And Mary answered, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices
in God my Saviour. For, behold, henceforth all generation shall call me blessed.”
Thus Mary became the mother of God, the image and model of the Church. She was chosen
from among people in order to receive the blessings of God and to diffuse them on
the entire human family. This “blessing” is none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus is
the source of grace, of which Mary has been so overwhelmed from the very moment of
his conception in her womb. Through this conception Mary received the faith and love
that she has given to the whole world. Therefore, the Pope said, it becomes also our
vocation and our mission and that of the Church, to receive Christ in our life and
spread his message to the whole world. The festivity of the Immaculate Conception,
the Pontiff continued, illuminates like a beacon during this Advent season awaiting
the Lord’s arrival. As we advance towards our encounter with our Lord, we watch Mary
as a sign of sure hope and solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth.