(Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict on Saturday expressed his closeness to the people of
the Philippines who have been hit in recent days by a violent storm. The Holy Father
prayed for the victims, for their families and for the many who have been displaced.
He also prayed that their faith would give them the strength to face, what he called
, “this difficult trial.”
The Pope was speaking from the Papal Apartments above
St Peter’s Square after the Angelus prayer on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
“Today,
with joyful hearts, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Through her powerful intercession, may the Lord grant us the grace to reject sin and
persevere in the grace of baptism.”
The Holy Father described Mary as a genuine
expression of grace and he went on to say that the light that emanates from the figure
of Mary helps us to understand the true meaning of original sin.
The Pope
explained that in Mary, God demonstrates that sin is broken. Between the two there
is full communion and full agreement. Mary has no sin because she all to God, she
has totally emptied herself for him and is full of his grace and his love.
The
Pope concluded by saying that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary expresses
the certainty of faith that God's promises have been fulfilled: that through Mary
comes the blessed fruit of the whole ' universe, Jesus the Saviour.
The Holy
Father also reminded the faithful gathered for the Angelus that he would be making
his traditional visit to the Spanish Steps in Rome on Saturday afternoon, to pay homage
to Mary Immaculate. Listen to Lydia O'Kane's report