Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, the solemnity of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, the Gospel introduces us to the young man of Nazareth who, received the Angel announcement, leaves in a hurry to stay near Elisabeth, in the last months of his prodigious pregnancy. Coming from her, Mary takes from her mouth the words that have come to form the prayer of the “Ave Maria”: “Blessed be thou among women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb” ( Lk 1:42 ). In fact, the greatest gift Mary brings to Elizabeth – and to the whole world – is Jesus, who already lives in her; And lives not only for faith and for expectation, as in many women of the Old Testament: from the Virgin Jesus took human flesh for his mission of salvation.

In the house of Elizabeth and her husband Zacchaeus, where sadness reigned for the lack of children, there is now the joy of a coming child: a child who becomes the great John the Baptist, the precursor of the Messiah. And when Mary comes, the joy overflows and grows out of hearts, because the invisible but real presence of Jesus fills all meaning: life, family, the salvation of the people … Everything! This full joy is expressed in Mary’s voice in the wonderful prayer that the Gospel of Luke has transmitted to us and which, from the first Latin word, is called Magnificat . It is a song of praise to God who works great things through humble people, unknown to the world, as Mary himself, as is his groom Joseph, and how is the place where they live, Nazareth. The great things God has done with the humble people, the great things the Lord does in the world with the humble, because humility is like a vacuum that leaves God to God. The humble is powerful because he is humble: Because it is strong. And this is the greatness of humility and humility. I would like to ask you – and also to me – but you do not answer in a loud voice: everyone answers in your heart: “How is my humility?”

The Magnificat sings the merciful and faithful God who accomplishes his plan of salvation with the little and the poor, with those who have faith in him, who trust in his Word as Mary. Here is the exclamation of Elizabeth: “Blessed are you who have believed” ( Lk 1:45). In that house, the coming of Jesus through Mary has created not only a climate of joy and fraternal communion, but also a climate of faith that leads to hope, prayer, and praise.

All this we would like to have done today in our homes. By celebrating Our Most Holy Assumption in Heaven, we would like to once again bring to us, to our families, to our communities, to that immense gift, to the unique grace that we must always ask first and above the other graces that Are of the heart: the grace that is Jesus Christ !

By bringing Jesus, Our Lady also brings to us a new joy full of meaning; Brings us a new ability to faithfully pass through the most painful and difficult moments; Brings us the capacity of mercy, to forgive us, to understand and to support each other.

Mary is a model of virtue and faith. When contemplating her today in heaven, at the final fulfillment of her earthly itinerary, we thank her for always before us in the pilgrimage of life and faith – she is the first disciple. And we ask her to keep us and support us; That we may have a strong, joyful and merciful faith; Who help us to be saints, to meet with her, one day, in Paradise.

After Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

To Mary Regina of Peace, which we contemplate today in the glory of Paradise, I would once again entrust the anxieties and sorrows of the people who suffer in many parts of the world because of natural calamities, social tensions or conflicts. Get our Heavenly Mother for all consolation and a future of serenity and concord!