General audience: Pope calls for trust in God, cites Mary as example




December 19, 2012. (Romereports.com)  Benedict XVI explained during the general audience how faith shaped Virgin Mary. The Pope invited all the gathered pilgrims at St. Peter's Square to trust in God with as much joy as Mary did nearly 2000 years ago.

COMPLETE CATECHESIS TEXT IN ENGLISH

BENEDICT XVI
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.
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