22 Aug
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Is. 9:1-6
Ps. 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Lk. 1:26-38
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The two beautiful readings of today's liturgy prove well the special place that Mary has in the Kingdom of her Son. Isaiah announces first the "abundant joy" of salvation, similar to the happiness of the farmer who got a rich harvest, or of a nation after a great victory. So a great light is seen by the people who walked in darkness. This victory is the achievement of a child, a king given by God to humanity, a child with divine attributes. His kingdom reaches all humanity, the whole world. It is a Kingdom of justice and peace for ever.

Jesus, the Son of Mary, is Son of God, because in Him the work of reconciliation between God and us is worked. Yes, through Mary, God gives us His salvation.

In today's Gospel, St Luke explains how this started. The "yes" of Mary makes God our "neighbour", Emmanuel - God with us. What the effort of man wasn't able to do, the "yes" of a virgin realized. It was the availability of Mary to the will of the Father. And Mary is Queen because of Her mission: "God your God is in your midst, a mighty Saviour" (Zeph. 3:17). The Spirit of God transforms her. The new creation is born from the same source from which the first creation came to be: the Spirit. Mary is Queen because she by the Holy Spirit, the Mother of the King.

For centuries this has been the belief of Christianity. Mary the Queen, transformed by the Holy Spirit gave us Jesus, the King.


Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy pray for us.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
The awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations
Elaboration

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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 : The awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations

Evidence shows with increasing clarity how policies and laws opposed to life are causing societies to decline morally, demographically and economically. The encyclical Evangelium Vitae makes the urgent appeal "that we offer this world of ours new signs of hope, and work to ensure that justice and solidarity will increase and that a new culture of human life will be affirmed, for the building of an authentic civilisation of truth and love".

Thus there is no reason for a defeatist mentality which claims that laws opposed to the right of life are inevitable. On the contrary, they are a seed of corruption for society and its foundations. The civil and moral conscience cannot accept this false inevitability. The relationship between the civil and moral law deserves great attention because of the growing importance they are destined to have in the restoration of social life.

Lawmakers are asked to renew their commitment to change unjust laws that legitimise or tolerate such violence. The changing of laws must be preceded and accompanied by the changing of mentalities and morals on a vast scale. The Church cannot spare any effort nor can she accept negligence or guilty silence.



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