杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis prayed the traditional noon-day prayer of the Angelus on Monday, as the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 57th World Day of Peace.

ahead of the Marian prayer, the 杏MAP导航 encouraged Christians to place the New Year under the 鈥渃aring gaze鈥� of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He noted that the day鈥檚 Gospel reading depicts Mary as remaining 鈥渋n a silence filled with wonder and adoration for the marvels that God is performing,鈥� as the shepherds come to worship her Son, Jesus.

Mary, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渕akes room within herself for the One who is born. In silence and adoration, she places Jesus at the center and bears witness to Him as the Savior.鈥�

Cathedral of silence

杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out that Mary, as a good mother, never sought to take the place of her Son, but became the first 鈥渃athedral of silence鈥�, a place where God and man can meet.

Our mothers, too, he added, 鈥渂ring us into the world and then continue to follow our development, often unnoticed, so that we can grow.鈥�

鈥淟et us remember this,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ove never suffocates; love makes space for the other and allows them to grow.鈥�

Healthy love never overpowers others

As the new year dawns, the Holy Father invited everyone to look to Mary and our own mothers 鈥渨ith grateful hearts鈥�.

鈥淟et us think about and also look to mothers,鈥� he said, 鈥渢o learn that love which is cultivated especially in silence, that knows how to make space for the other, respecting their dignity, allowing the freedom to express themselves, rejecting all forms of possession, domination, and violence.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 noted that his message for the 57th World Day of Peace recalls that temptation of humanity to break peaceful coexistence due to a thirst for power and lust for profit.

鈥淟ove, on the other hand, is made of respect and kindness,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n this way, it breaks down barriers and helps to live fraternal relationships, to build societies that are more just and humane, and more peaceful.鈥�

Discreet, life-giving love

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed that Mary, the Mother of God, might help us to grow in love that gives live to others.

鈥淢ay Mother of God and our Mother, in the new year, help us to grow in this gentle, silent, and discreet love that generates life, and open paths in the world for peace and reconciliation.鈥�