(August 23, 2010) The Virgin Mary is the "perfect example" of how God honours the
humble, and humbles the proud. The Pope said this Sunday before praying the midday
Angelus with the faithful gathered at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
"The simple little girl of Nazareth has become the Queen of the world," the Holy Father
stated. "This is one of the marvels that reveal the heart of God. Naturally, Mary's
royalty is completely dependent on Christ's: He is the Lord, who, after the humiliation
of death on the cross, the Father exalted above every creature in heaven, on earth
and under the earth, explained the Holy Father. "Through a design of grace, the Immaculate
Mother was completely bound to the mystery of the Son: to his Incarnation; to his
earthly life, at first hidden in Nazareth and then manifested in the messianic mystery;
to his passion and death; and finally to the resurrection and ascension in heaven.
The Mother shared with the Son not only the human aspects of this mystery but also
the profound intention, the divine will, in such a way that her entire existence,
poor and humble, was elevated, transformed, glorified, passing through the 'narrow
gate' that is Jesus himself," Pope Benedict XVI continued. "Yes, Mary was the first
to walk along the narrow 'way,' opened up by Christ, to enter into the Kingdom of
God, a way that is accessible to the humble, to those who entrust themselves to the
Word of God and who endeavour to put it into practice." The Pope urged those present
to renew as sons of the Church, our devotion to her whom Jesus left to us as Mother
and Queen. Let us entrust the daily prayer for peace to her intercession, especially
in those places where the absurd logic of violence rages most, so that all men are
persuaded that in this world we must help each other as brothers to build the civilization
of love," said the Holy Father.