December 19, 2012 - Every week on Wednesday, the Pope holds a public meeting, called
the general audience, where pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance of
seeing and hearing him speak in several languages and also receive his blessing.
The general audience of Dec. 19 - the last before Christmas – was held indoors in
the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall. It began with aides reading a passage from the
Gospel of St. Luke, in several languages. An aide greeted the Pope for Christmas
on behalf of the English speaking pilgrims. Pope Benedict then spoke in English.
Listen:
Dear
Brothers and Sisters, As part of our catechesis for this Year of Faith,
it is fitting, during these last days of Advent, to consider the faith of Mary, the
Virgin Mother of Christ. At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel greets Mary with
an invitation to rejoice because the Lord is with her. This joy is that of the messianic
hope of God’s people, the daughter of Zion, now being fulfilled in her. It is also
the fruit of the grace which fills Mary’s heart and shapes her obedience to God’s
word. Mary’s faith, like that of Abraham, combines complete trust in the Lord’s promises
with a certain “unknowing”. In her life Mary knew, as we do, that God’s will can
seem at times obscure and far from our expectations; it involves embracing the mystery
of the Cross. It is significant that at the Annunciation Mary ponders in her heart
the meaning of the Angel’s message. Her example reminds us that faith, while fully
obedient to the Lord’s will, also must seek daily to discern, understand and accept
that will. In this holy season, may Our Lady’s prayers help us to grow in a humble,
trusting faith which will open the door to God’s grace in our hearts and in our world. I
offer a warm welcome to Japanese pilgrims from the Diocese of Kagoshima. My cordial
greeting also goes to Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission. Upon all the English-speaking
pilgrims present at today’s Audience I invoke God’s blessings for a happy and holy
celebration of the coming feast of Christmas! Thank you.