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.