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Holy throughout all her life

Blessed John Paul II's Catechesis
General Audience, Wednesday, 19 June 1996 - in Italian & Spanish

"1. The definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception directly concerns only the first moment of Mary's existence, from when she was "preserved free from every stain of original sin". The papal Magisterium thus wished to define only the truth which had been the subject of controversy down the centuries: her preservation from original sin, and was not concerned with defining the lasting holiness of the Lord's Virgin Mother.

This truth already belongs to the common awareness of the Christian people. It testifies that Mary, free from original sin, was also preserved from all actual sin and that this initial holiness was granted to her in order to fill her entire life.

2. The Church has constantly regarded Mary as holy and free from all sin or moral imperfection. The Council of Trent expresses this conviction, affirming that no one "can avoid all sins, even venial sins, throughout his life, unless he is given a special privilege, as the Church holds with regard to the Blessed Virgin" (DS 1573). Even the Christian transformed and renewed by grace is not spared the possibility of sinning. Grace does not preserve him from all sin throughout his whole fife, unless, as the Council of Trent asserts, a special privilege guarantees this immunity from sin. And this is what happened with Mary.

The Council of Trent did not wish to define this privilege but stated that the Church vigorously affirms it: "Tenet", that is, she firmly holds it. This is a decision which, far from relegating this truth to pious belief or devotional opinion, confirms its nature as a solid doctrine, quite present in the faith of the People of God. Moreover, this conviction is based on the grace attributed to Mary by the angel at the time of the Annuncation. Calling her "full of grace", kecharitoméne, the angel acknowledged her as the woman endowed with a lasting perfection and a fullness of sanctity, without shadow of sin or of moral or spiritual imperfection.

3. Several Fathers of the Church from the first centuries, who were not yet convinced of her perfect holiness, attributed imperfections or moral defects to Mary. Some recent authors have taken the same position. However, the Gospel texts cited to justify these opinions provide no basis at all for attributing a sin or even a moral imperfection to the Mother of the Redeemer.

Jesus's reply to his mother at the age of 12: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Lk 2:49), has sometimes been interpreted as a veiled rebuke. A careful reading of the episode, however, shows that Jesus did not rebuke his mother and Joseph for seeking him, since they were responsible for looking after him.

Coming upon Jesus after an anxious search, Mary asked him only the "why" of his behaviour: "Son, why have you treated us so?" (Lk 2:48). And Jesus answers with another "why", refraining from any rebuke and referring to the mystery of his divine sonship.

Nor can the words he spoke at Cana: "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come" (Jn 2: 4), be interpreted as a rebuke. Seeing the likely inconvenience which the lack of wine would have caused the bride and groom, Mary speaks to Jesus with simplicity, entrusting the problem to him. Though aware of being the Messiah bound to obey the Father's will alone, he answers the Mother's implicit request. He responds above all to the Virgin's faith and thus performs the first of his miracles, thereby manifesting his glory.

4. Later some gave a negative interpretation to the statement Jesus made when, at the beginning of his public life, Mary and his relatives asked to see him. Relating to us Jesus' reply to the one who said to him: "Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, desiring to see you", the Evangelist Luke offers us the interpretive key to the account, which must be understood on the basis of Mary's inner inclinations, which were quite different from those of his "brethren" (cf. Jn 7:5). Jesus replied: "My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it" (Lk 8:21). In the Annunciation account, Luke in fact showed how Mary was the model of listening to the word of God and of generous docility. Interpreted in this perspective, the episode offers great praise of Mary, who perfectly fulfilled the divine plan in her own life. Although Jesus' words are opposed to the brethren's attempt, they exalt Mary's fidelity to the will of God and the greatness of her motherhood, which she lived not only physically but also spiritually.

In expressing this indirect praise, Jesus uses a particular method: he stresses the nobility of Mary's conduct in the light of more general statements, and shows more clearly the Virgin's solidarity with and closeness to humanity on the difficult way of holiness.

Finally, the words: "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Lk 11:28), spoken by Jesus in reply to the woman who had called his Mother blessed, far from putting into doubt Mary's personal perfection, bring out her faithful fulfilment of the word of God: so has the Church understood them, putting this sentence into the liturgical celebrations in Mary's honour. The Gospel text actually suggests that he made this statement to reveal that the highest reason for his Mother's blessedness lies precisely in her intimate union with God and her perfect submission to the divine word.

5. The special privilege granted by God to her who is "all holy" leads us to admire the marvels accomplished by grace in her life. It also reminds us that Mary belonged always and completely to the Lord, and that no imperfection harmed her perfect harmony with God.

Her earthly life was therefore marked by a constant, sublime growth in faith, hope and charity. For believers, Mary is thus the radiant sign of divine Mercy and the sure guide to the loftiest heights of holiness and Gospel perfection."


After the Catechesis, Pope John Paul II greeted the pilgrims in various languages

[In German] "Liebe Schwestern und Brüder! Мit dieser Betrachtung grüße ich alle deutschsprachigen Pilger und Besucher nochmals sehr herzlich. Mein besonderer Gruß gilt den Schülern und Jugendlichen. In der Vorfreude auf meinen nahe bevorstehenden Besuch in Deutschland bitte ich Euch, meine Reise mit Eurem Gebet zu begleiten. Euch allen, Euren Lieben zu Hause sowie den mit uns über Radio Vatikan und das Fernsehen verbundenen Gläubigen erteile ich von Herzen den Apostolischen Segen."

[In Flemish] "Nu groet ik alle pelgrims afkomstig uit Nederland. Moge het bezoek aan de graven van de Apostelen uw geloof versterken. Van harte verleen ik u de Apostolische Zegen."

[In Lithuanian] "Sveikinu maldininkus iš Lietuvos. Brangūs Broliai ir Seserys! Kristaus Išganytojo vardu linkiu jums, šios audiencijos dalyviams, jūsų artimiesiems, bei jūsų Tėvymei Lietuvai visakeriopos gerovės, o melsdamas Marijos - Gailestingumo Motinos užtarimo, nuosirdžiai visus laiminu. Garbė Jėzui Kristui!"

[In Czech] "Milí poutníci z Trhových Svin! Vtěchto dnech koncem června přijímají ve vaší vlasti svěcení noví kněží. Sami víte, jak církev v Čechách potřebuje dobré kněze a kolik jich chybí Božímu lidu. Modlete se denně, aby Pán dal církvi v Čechách hodně svatých kněží! Neztrácejte důvěru! Vaše modlitba má tuhle moc. Přednášejte své prosby rukama Panny Marie! Z celého srdce žehnám vám i vašim drahým ve vlasti. Chvála Kristu!"

[In Slovakian] "Srdečne pozdravujem slovenských pútnikov z Bratislavy a Nitry, z Košíc a Prešova, z Nitrianských Sučian a Prievidze, z Trnavy, Vrábel a Nitrianskej Blatnice, ako aj delegáciu Sdruženia Slovenských Katolíkov zo Spojených štátov a Kanady. Drahí bratia a sestry. V letných mesiacoch človek hl'adá odpočinok. Potrebuje obnovit' svoje fyzické sily, aby mohol nad'alej plnit' svoje povinnosti. Je však potrebné, aby sa sústavne staral aj o obnovu duchovných síl, naj mä každodennou modlitbou a pravidelnou účast'ou na nedel'nej svätej omši. Nech vám aj táto vaša púť do Ríma obnoví duchovné sily, aby ste čoraz lepšie slúžíli Pánu Bohu. K tomu vám zosrdca udel'ujem svoje Apoštolské Požehnanie. Pochválený bud' Ježiš Kristus."

[In Slovenian] "Pozdravljeni profesorji in študentje klasične gimnazije iz Novega mesta v Sloveniji. Svojo klasično izobrazbo želite spopolniti z obiskom rimskih kulturnih spomenikov in prav posebno še grobov prvakov apostolov Petra in Pavla. Vera rimskih mučencev naj utrdi vašo vero in vas napravi dejavne v vsakdanjem kršcanskem življenju. S to željo Vam podeljujem svoj Apostolski Blagoslov."

[In Croatian] "Srdačno pozdravljam sve hrvatske hodočasnike. Navlastito pozdravljam brojne skupine mladih iz Zagreba, Dubrovnika, Samobora, Varaždina i Dicma kraj Splita. Predragi, potičem vas da prihvatite bogato iskustvo nedavnoga Skupa hrvatske katoličke mladeži održana u Splitu i Solinu kako bi se što bolje osobno i u svojim župnim zajednicama pripravili na Veliki jubilej 2000. Godine, koji na poseban način pripada upravo mladima. Želim takođ er očitovati svoju duhovnu blizinu skupini majki i udovica koje su u ratu u Hrvatskoj i Bosni i Hercegovini ostale bez svojih najmilijih. Vama i svima ovdje nazožnima od srca udjeljujem Apostolski Blagoslov. Hvaljen Isus i Marija!"

[In Hungarian] "Szeretettel köszöntelek Benneteket, kedves nagylengyeli zarándokok és Titeket, miskolci jezsuita diákok. Pál apostol szavaival fordulok Hozzátok: « Bármit tesztek, lélekkel tegyétek, az Úrnak teszitek, nem embereknek. Hiszen tudjátok, hogy az Úrtól kapjátok jutalmul az örökséget » (Col. 3, 23-24). Ez a buzdítás erősitse hiteteket és vezessen Benneteket, az otthoni testvérekkel együtt az élet útján. Mindnyájatokra szivból adom Apostoli Áldásommal. Dicsértessék a Jézus Krisztus!"

[In Polish] "Bardzo serdecznie witam wszystkich pielgrzymów z Polski. (Przed chwilą śpiewał Chór Kameralny « Echo » z Łodzi, który istnieje już 120 lat.) Witam więc wszystkich zgromadzonych, których lista szczegółowa została już odczytana przez o. Konrada. W szczególno ci pozdrawiam kapłanów z diecezji tarnowskiej, przybyłych na 5. rocznicę święceń, a także parafie: z Krakowa-Bieżanowa, Małego Cichego, Wiktorówek - duszpasterstwo dominikanów, z Gieczna, Przemyśla, Radomia, Poznania - salezjanie, z Wrocławia - parafia Chrystusa Króla i św. Bonifacego. Oprócz chóru « Echo » z Łodzi jest również grupa Sybiraków, a także młodzież i nauczyciele liceów; nie tylko z Łodzi, ale również z Siedlec i Częstochowy. Oprócz wymienionych są jeszcze następujące grupy: z Bydgoszczy, Nowej Rudy, Leszna, Opola, Poznania, Warszawy, Wisły, Zabrza oraz z Polskiej Misji Katolickiej w Bonn w Niemczech. « Niech mi się dzieje według słowa Twego » - to jest odpowiedź Maryi przy zwiastowaniu. Przyjęła słowo Boże przekazane Jej przez Zwiastuna Gabriela. I przyjęła w chwili zwiastowania Słowo, Syna - Syna Ojca Przedwiecznego. « Słowo stało się Ciałem i zamieszkało wśród nas ». To wszystko jest nam dobrze znane, bo należy do modlitwy « Anioł Pański ». « Anioł Pański zwiastował Pannie Maryi i poczęła z Ducha Šwiętego. Oto ja, służebnica Pańska, niech mi się stanie według słowa Twego. Słowo stało się Ciałem i mieszkało między nami ». Słusznie Kościół wprowadził tę tradycję, że trzy razy dziennie odmawiamy « Anioł Pański », ponieważ ta modlitwa zwraca nas w stronę największej tajemnicy dziejów człowieka: Bóg stał się człowiekiem i ta tajemnica związana jest z Maryją, to jest Jej tajemnica. Starajmy się za pomocą tych katechez środowych pogłębiać naszą świadomość maryjną i nasze nabożeństwo maryjne. Mówią, że Polacy są narodem maryjnym. Daj Boże, żeby tak było i żeby tak było coraz bardziej i coraz głębiej. Tego wam wszystkim życzę, tu zgromadzonym pielgrzymom, a także wszystkim moim rodakom w Ojczy nie i na emigracji. Teraz odmówimy « Ojcze Nasz » po łacinie."

[In French] "Chers frères et soeurs, Je suis heureux d'accueillir les francophones présents à cette audience. Je salue très cordialement les pèlerins de Périgueux, venus à Rome avec leur Évêque à la fin de leur synode diocésain, ainsi que le groupe de la Communauté des Béatitudes. Que votre séjour près des tombeaux de Pierre et de Paul soit pour vous l'occasion de raffermir votre foi dans le Christ Jésus et votre attachement à son Église! À tous j'accorde de grand coeur la Bénédiction Apostolique."

[In English] "Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am pleased to greet the newly-ordained deacons of the Pontifical Beda College, together with their families and friends. As you begin your diaconal ministry, may you be conformed more closely to Christ and contribute to the building up of the Church in faith and love. To the members of the United Nations Women's Guild I offer good wishes for your efforts to promote solidarity and friendship between peoples. Upon all the English-speaking visitors, especially the pilgrims from England, Scotland, Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States, I cordially invoke the joy and peace of Jesus Christ our Saviour."

[In Finnish] "Pian vietätte valon juhlaa. Johannes Kastaja tuli todistamaan todellisesta valkeudesta, Jeesuksesta, joka valistaa jokaisen ihmisen. Hyvää Juhannusta. Jumala siunatkoon yeitä ja koko Suomea."

[In Spanish] "Amadísimos hermanos y hermanas, saludo con afecto a los peregrinos de lengua española. De modo particular al grupo de la Arquidiócesis de Medellín, a los fieles de la parroquia de Jeresa (Valencia) y a las Asociaciones de viudas de Alicante у de Jumilla, así como a los numerosos peregrinos mexicanos. A todas las personas, familias y grupos provenientes de los diversos Países de América Latina y de España les imparto de corazón la Bendición Apostólica."

[In Portuguese] "Caríssimos Irmãos e Irmãs, com os meus votos de bem, a todos os presentes de língua portuguesa, saúdo em especial: - os visitantes e peregrinos que vêm de Portugal, nomeadamente o Grupo «Amigos da Verdade»: sede bem-vindos e que a estada em Roma seja para todos encontro com Cristo! - enfim, o grupo pertencente ao Movimento de Schönstatt, denominado «Associação dos Colaboradores do Santuário da Mãe Rainha», do Brasil: que a peregrinação a Roma impulsione a vossa peregrinação na fé, a exemplo de Maria, «a Bem-aventurada porque acreditou». Grato pela vossa visita, desejo e peço a Deus que leveis deste encontro, com a fé mais avivada, o empenho de dar testemunho da verdade: d'Aquele que a Si próprio Se designou a Verdade, Jesus Cristo. E, em Seu nome, vos abençoo."

[In Italian] Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto a tutti i pellegrini di lingua italiana; in particolare, al gruppo di sacerdoti della Diocesi di Como e di Bergamo, che festeggiano il 25° anniversario di Ordinazione presbiterale, come pure ai sacerdoti partecipanti al ritiro spirituale nazionale, organizzato dai Legionari di Cristo. Carissimi, vi ringrazio per la vostra presenza e, mentre assicuro un particolare ricordo nella preghiera, auspico per ciascuno di voi una rinnovata effusione di favori celesti, perché siano rafforzati i vostri generosi propositi di fedeltà alla chiamata del Signore.

[To the young, the sick & the newly married]

Saluto voi, cari giovani, e specialmente voi, ragazzi e ragazze provenienti da varie parrocchie italiane, che quest'anno avete ricevuto i sacramenti della Prima Comunione e della Confermazione. Carissimi, mentre vi saluto con affetto insieme ai vostri familiari e catechisti, vi esorto di cuore ad accostarvi con frequenza e devozione alla Mensa eucaristica per crescere nell'amicizia con Gesù e per saper offrire, con la forza che viene da questo Cibo divino, una generosa testimonianza cristiana in mezzo ai vostri coetanei. Saluto, poi, gli ammalati e gli sposi novelli, presenti a questa Udienza. A voi, cari ammalati, rivolgo l'invito a guardare a Cristo crocifisso e risorto per dare valore alla vostra sofferenza e contribuire così al ministero di salvezza che la Chiesa svolge nel mondo. Cari sposi novelli, affidate tutta la vostra vita al Signore, che ha santificato il vostro amore, e la sua gioia sarà sempre la vostra forza. Su tutti voi scenda, apportatrice di doni celesti, l'Apostolica Benedizione."

 

© Copyright 1996 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana