During the Angelus, Benedict XVI spoke about the value of the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary to heaven, celebrated by the Churches in the East and West since Christianity's early centuries. Mary "is among the 'poor' and the 'humble,' who do not rely on their own strengths but put their trust in God, who leave space for his action that can produce big things in weakness."

Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) - "Mary's Assumption to heaven is [. . .] the mystery of Christ's Easter fully accomplished in Her. She is intimately united to her risen Son-who defeated sin and death-and is fully conformed to Him," said Benedict XVI as he explained the meaning of the solemnity that "in the middle of August" is celebrated by the "Church in East and the West."

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace for the Angelus, the pope explained that "in the Catholic Church, the dogma of the Assumption, as everybody knows, was proclaimed during the Holy Year of 1950 by the Venerable Pius XII. However, the celebration of this Marian mystery is rooted in the faith and worship of the first centuries of the Church, because of the deep devotion towards the Mother of God that developed progressively within the Christian community."

As early as the late 4^th century and early 5^th century, we have accounts from various authors who say how Mary was in God's glory with her entire self, body and soul. However, in the 6^th century in Jerusalem, the feast of the Mother of God, the Theotòkos that was consolidated at the Council of Ephesus in 431, changed and became the Feast of the Dormition, the passage, transit, Assumption of Maria, that is the celebration of the moment when Mary left this world in full glory, body and soul, to go to Heaven and God."

The pontiff noted that "the Assumption is a reality that touches us as well because it shows us in a radiant way our destiny, that of humanity and history. In Mary, we contemplate in fact the reality of glory to which each one of us and the entire Church are called."

"The passage in the Gospel of Saint Luke that we read in the Liturgy of this Solemnity," the Holy Father said, "allows us to see the journey the Virgin of Nazareth undertook to be in God's glory. It is the account of Mary's visit to Elisabeth (cf Lk, 1:39-56), in which Our Lady is proclaimed blessed among women and blessed because she believed in the fulfilment of the Lord's words. In the 'Magnificat' song that rises to God with joy, her deep faith shines. She is among the 'poor' and the 'humble' who do not rely on their own strengths but put their trust in God, who leave space for his action that can produce big things in weakness. If the Assumption opens us to the radiant future that awaits us, it also strongly urges us to place further our trust in God and follow his Word and seek to fulfill his will every day. Such a path 'blesses' us in our earthly pilgrimage and opens for us the gates of Heaven."

"Dear brothers and sisters," the Pontiff said in concluding, "the Second Vatican Council stated: 'Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this salvific duty, but by her constant intercession continued to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and cultics, until they are led into the happiness of their true home' (Lumen gentium, 62). Let us call upon the Holy Virgin to be the star that guides our steps towards the encounter with his Son on our journey to reach the glory of Heaven."

After the Marian prayer, the pope greeted the faithful from around the world in various languages, wishing everyone "to spend the solemn and popular Marian celebration in peace and faith."

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