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There is no record in Scripture of the birth of Mary but clearly it has a special meaning for all of us. It is the beginning, in a special way, of the extraordinary intervention by which God would come to live among us as one of us. And it was through the cooperation of Mary that this was possible. There is another reason why today is special and we will celebrate that more explicitly on December 8. For, unlike the rest of us, Mary was from the first moment of her existence totally free from the slightest taint of sin. This was only fitting for the person who would provide the first home on this earth for the Son of God, who would nourish Him from her own flesh and blood. Let us reflect today on this unique woman whose greatness, as Jesus her Son Himself pointed out, is not merely in the privilege of being chosen to be God's Mother but who proved herself a totally loyal servant of God and of her own Son. For she heard the word of God and kept it to the very end. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
| INTENTION : |
That the adolescents and young people of the third millennium
may discover a profound ideal to devote themselves to. |
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"Lord Jesus, you have made these young people your friends; keep them
for ever close to you! Amen." This closing prayer of John Paul II at the
Mass in Korazim in the Holy Land last year indicates the deep concern
he has for the youth of the third millennium. At the Mount of Beatitudes, the Holy Father looked down on the assembled youth and said, "How may generations before us have been deeply moved by the Sermon on the Mount! How many young people down the centuries have gathered around Jesus to learn the words of eternal life, as you are gathered here today! It is wonderful that you are here!" The ideal the Holy Father proposes to the youth of today is that they look at Jesus, who embodies the Beatitudes. They will see what it means to be poor in spirit, gentle and merciful, to mourn, to care for what is right, to be pure in heart, to make peace, to be persecuted. He challenges them to go out into the world and preach the message of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes which speak of truth and goodness, and grace and freedom: of all that is necessary to enter Christ's Kingdom. Now it is their turn to be courageous apostles of that kingdom. | |
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