Jesus, the new Adam, and Mary, the new Eve, finally defeat the enemy, pope says on Assumption Day
On the feast day of the Assumption, Benedict XVI stresses the victory of Christ over “inner and physical death”. We too seek to “live as we too had risen, bringing the light of goodness to the darkness of evil”. Eastern and Western Christians are united in the celebration.
Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) – Today’s was a special Angelus on the day of Mary’s assumption into heaven. In his reflection before the Marian prayer, Benedict XVI especially stressed the meaning of victory over “inner and physical” death, which faith communicates to the world. “Our forefathers were defeated by the evil one,” the pope said. However, “in the fullness of the times, Jesus, the new Adam, and Mary, the new Eve, finally defeated the enemy. Yes, with Jesus’ victory over evil, inner and physical death are also defeated. Mary was the first to take into her arms the child Jesus, Son of God. Now she is the first one to stand next to Him in the Glory of Heaven.”
“What we celebrate today is a great mystery,” he added,” a mystery of hope and joy for us all. In Mary, we see the goal towards which walk all those who have tided their life to Jesus, who know how to follow as Mary did. This feast thus speaks about our future, it tells us that we too shall stand alongside Jesus in God’s joy, it invites us to have courage, and believe that the power of the Resurrection of Christ can work through us and make us men and women who each day seek to live as it we too had risen, bringing the light of goodness in the darkness of evil that exists in the world.”
Benedict XVI, who this morning celebrated Mass in the church of Castel Gandolfo, also explained that the Assumption is celebrated by both Eastern and Western Christians and that the dogma, proclaimed by Pius XII in 1950, was believed from the early centuries of the Church.
“In the East,” he said, “it is still called the ‘Dormition of the Virgin’. In an ancient mosaic in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which is inspired by the Eastern icon of the ‘Dormitio’, we can see the Apostles, warned by the Angels of the early demise of the Mother of Jesus, gathered around the Virgin’s bed. In the centre, Jesus is holding a baby girl, Mary, who has reversed to ‘childhood’ for the Kingdom, led by the Lord to heaven.”
“In today’s liturgy from St Luke, we read, ‘During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah (Lk, 1:39). In those days, Mary quickly made her way from Galilee to a town near Jerusalem, to visit her cousin Elisabeth. Today, we see her walk towards God’s mountain and enter the celestial Jerusalem, “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars (Ap, 12:1)”.
For the occasion, the traditional tapestry with the Risen Jesus, which serves as background to the pope when he appears on the balcony in Castel Gandolfo, was replaced by the tapestry with Mary carried in glory by the angels.
“What we celebrate today is a great mystery,” he added,” a mystery of hope and joy for us all. In Mary, we see the goal towards which walk all those who have tided their life to Jesus, who know how to follow as Mary did. This feast thus speaks about our future, it tells us that we too shall stand alongside Jesus in God’s joy, it invites us to have courage, and believe that the power of the Resurrection of Christ can work through us and make us men and women who each day seek to live as it we too had risen, bringing the light of goodness in the darkness of evil that exists in the world.”
Benedict XVI, who this morning celebrated Mass in the church of Castel Gandolfo, also explained that the Assumption is celebrated by both Eastern and Western Christians and that the dogma, proclaimed by Pius XII in 1950, was believed from the early centuries of the Church.
“In the East,” he said, “it is still called the ‘Dormition of the Virgin’. In an ancient mosaic in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which is inspired by the Eastern icon of the ‘Dormitio’, we can see the Apostles, warned by the Angels of the early demise of the Mother of Jesus, gathered around the Virgin’s bed. In the centre, Jesus is holding a baby girl, Mary, who has reversed to ‘childhood’ for the Kingdom, led by the Lord to heaven.”
“In today’s liturgy from St Luke, we read, ‘During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah (Lk, 1:39). In those days, Mary quickly made her way from Galilee to a town near Jerusalem, to visit her cousin Elisabeth. Today, we see her walk towards God’s mountain and enter the celestial Jerusalem, “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars (Ap, 12:1)”.
For the occasion, the traditional tapestry with the Risen Jesus, which serves as background to the pope when he appears on the balcony in Castel Gandolfo, was replaced by the tapestry with Mary carried in glory by the angels.
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