Learning Evangelization From a Mother

13-December-2011 -- ZENIT.org News Agency

Our Lady of Guadalupe Seen as Model for Spreading Christ's Message

By Mercedes De La Torre

ROME, DEC. 12, 2011 (Zenit.org).- As the Church turns its focus to the new evangelization, today's feast presents a model to follow: the Virgin of Guadalupe is an example of how to evangelize a continent, says Legionary of Christ Father Nicola Tovagliari.

Father Tovagliari participated in a conference on "The Virgin of Guadalupe: Challenge to Science, Call to Faith," organized by the master's program in Science and Faith at Rome's Regina Apostolorum university.

ZENIT spoke with Father Tovagliari about the lessons to learn from Mary.

ZENIT: What is the message that Guadalupe gives the world?

Father Tovagliari: It is a message of tenderness, of the maternal presence of the Mother of God who is also mother of all men. It is a message of protection, of care and also of confidence in the future.

ZENIT: What is the importance of the apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe?

Father Tovagliari: It is of historical importance in the event that occurred, of great importance for the evangelization of the peoples of Meso-America but also of present importance for all peoples, because it is God who doesn't forget man and makes Himself present constantly in all cultures and all ages.

ZENIT: Can Mary of Guadalupe be considered a model for the new evangelization, phenomenon of inculturation?

Father Tovagliari: Certainly, just as the first coming of Christ was by Mary's arms, Jesus' new coming also, namely, his appearing in all present cultures or in the new cultural phenomena is by Mary's arms. It's very easy to fall in love with Christ's message when it is brought by the heart of his Mother, when it is brought by a serene face, the sweet face of his Mother.

Present-day man -- who lacks affection in, let us say, this cold world and, perhaps, within the technique of secularization is somewhat extinguished -- finds in the eyes, in the Virgin's face a door to fall in love with Christ's message.

ZENIT: What is the global relevance of the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe?

Father Tovagliari: The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe attracts thousands of pilgrims every day who go to greet her, to greet her as children, to praise her and to pray and ask for something, so there are thousands of pilgrims that visit her every day.

At present the shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, is the religious and Marian place of worship most visited in the world. It is estimated that some 20 million pilgrims visit it every year, but I think we could dare to say there are even more, suffice it to think that on Dec. 12, there will probably be more than 1 million pilgrims that go to greet her and sing the mañanitas to her on that day.

ZENIT: This year the Holy Father is marking Dec. 12 with a Mass in Spanish in Rome, a great event for the Church in Latin America. Why?

Father Tovagliari: The Holy Father's Mass in the Vatican is offered for the whole of Latin America, also in remembrance of the bicentenary, the 200 years of independence of the Latin nations.

In this event, the Holy Father is celebrating the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity among the peoples and I think this is an important message which we also see reflected in the Message of Guadalupe: this Virgin who appears as Mother of all men, so that men are equal in dignity, and all are brothers among themselves.

Pope Says Focus On Jesus, Not Pre-christmas Distractions

12-December-2011 -- Catholic News Agency

VATICAN CITY, December 11 (CNA/EWTN News) .- Pope Benedict XVI reminded Christians not to be dazzled by the shopping lights of the season but to keep focused on the coming on Jesus Christ, the "true light of the world."

"The external environment offers the usual commercial messages, even if in a lower-key way because of the economic crisis," said the Pope during his Sunday Angelus address in a rain-soaked St. Peter's Square Dec. 11. The Christian, by contrast, is "called to live Advent without being distracted by the lights."

Christians should keep their eyes fixed on Christ so that "if, in fact, we persevere 'vigilant in prayer and rejoicing in praise,' our eyes will be able to recognize in him the true light of the world that comes to enlighten our darkness."

Tens of thousands of pilgrims were at St. Peter's Square for the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The title is taken from St. Paul's encouragement in the day's reading: "gaudete in Domino semper," meaning "rejoice always in the Lord." The day marks a change in the Church's liturgical colors from the somber purple of Advent to a more hopeful shade of rose.

Pope Benedict acknowledged the importance of time for rest and relaxation. However, he added that true joy is "not the result of fun," but is "something more profound" that is "tied to the relationship with God."

Those who have encountered Christ in their lives "experience in the heart a serenity and joy that no one and no situation can remove."

The Pope paraphrased the famous words of the fourth and fifth century bishop St. Augustine of Hippo. He noted that St. Augustine searched elsewhere in vain for truth, peace and joy before concluding that "the heart of man is restless, (and) cannot find peace and serenity until it rests in God."

Therefore, true joy is not a "passing mood" nor "something that can be reached through its own efforts." Instead, it is a gift "born from the encounter with the living person of Jesus."

"In this season of Advent," the Pope continued, "we strengthen our certainty that the Lord came among us and continually renews his consoling presence of love and joy."

God is "closer to us than we are to ourselves," he added, citing St. Augustine's description of God as "more inward than my innermost and higher than my uppermost."

After praying the Angelus with pilgrims, the Pope turned his thoughts and words to the thousands of families who had gathered in St. Peters Square for the traditional blessing of the "bambinelli," the little statues of the baby Jesus that will take pride of place in family cribs.

"Dear children," said the Pope, "when you pray in front of your nativity scene, remember me as well, as I remember you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!"

In response, the children cheered and released balloons and paper lanterns into the air in celebration.

On Mary, Full of Grace

9-December-2011 -- ZENIT.org News Agency

"With Her 'Yes,' She Brought Heaven Near to Earth"

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today before and after praying the midday Angelus for the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

* * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Today the Church solemnly celebrates the immaculate conception of Mary. As Pope Pius IX declared in his apostolic letter "Ineffabilis Deus" of 1854, she "was preserved from every stain of original sin by a special grace and privilege of almighty God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior of the human race." This truth of faith is contained in the Archangel Gabriel's words of greeting: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee! (Luke 1:28). The expression "full of grace" indicates the marvelous deed of the love of God, who desired to give back to us -- through his only-begotten incarnate Son, who died and rose again -- the life and freedom that we lost with sin. It was this that led the Church in the East and West to invoke and celebrate the Virgin who, with her "yes," brought heaven near to earth, becoming "the Mother of God and the nurse of our life," as St. Romanos the Melodist writes in an ancient song (Canticum XXV in Nativitatem B. Mariae Virginis, in J.B. Pitra, Analecta Sacra t. I, Parigi 1876, 198). In the 7th century St. Sophronius of Jerusalem praises the greatness of Mary since in her the Holy Spirit came to dwell: "You surpass all the gifts that God's magnificence ever bestowed on any human being. More than anyone you are made rich by God dwelling in you" (Oratio II, 25 in SS. Deiparæ Annuntiationem: PG 87, 3, 3248 AB). And St. Bede the Venerable explains: "Mary is blessed among women because with her virginity she enjoyed the grace of being the mother of a son who is God" (Hom I, 3: CCL 122, 16).

Upon us too is bestowed the "fullness of grace" that we must make shine in our life, because "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," St. Paul writes, "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing ... and has chosen us before the creation of the world to be holy and immaculate ... predestining us to be his adopted sons" (Ephesians 1:3-5). We receive this filiation through the Church on the day of baptism. In this regard St. Hildegard writes: "The Church is, therefore, the virgin mother of all Christians. By the secret power of the Holy Spirit she conceives them and gives them birth, offering them to God is such a way that they are also called sons of God" (Scivias, visio III, 12: CCL Continuatio Mediævalis XLIII, 1978, 142). And, finally, among the many who have sung of the spiritual beauty of the Mother of God, there stands out St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who says that the invocation "Hail, Mary, full of grace" is "pleasing to God, the angels and men. To men because of her maternity, to Angels because of her virginity and to God because of her humility" (Sermo XLVII, De Annuntiatione Dominica: SBO VI, 1, Roma 1970, 266).

Dear friends, in anticipation of the customary homage that we will pay to Mary in the Piazza di Spagna this afternoon, we offer our fervent prayer to her who intercedes with God that she might help us to celebrate with faith the Birth of the Lord, which is now drawing near.

[Following the Angelus the Holy Father spoke to the faithful in various languages. In Italian he said:]

Dear friends!

I offer a special greeting to the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate, recalling with devotion and affection the mourned Cardinal Andrzej Maria Deskur, who led it for so many years. May the Virgin assist you always, dear friends, in each of your activities.

[In English he said:]

I am pleased to greet all the English-speaking visitors on this great feast-day when we honor the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her sinless perfection, Mary is a great sign of hope for the Church and for the world, a sign of the marvels that God's grace can accomplish in us, his human creatures. In these days of Advent, in company with the holy and immaculate Mother of God, let us prepare to welcome her Son into our lives and into our hearts. May God bestow his blessings of joy and peace upon all of you, and upon your families and loved ones at home.

[Concluding in Italian he said:]

I wish for all of you the best spiritual fruits on this feast of the Virgin Mary, of our Mother. Thank you. Happy feast day to all of you!