During his Angelus talk on Monday, Pope Francis focused on the Visitation and how we might emulate the humble handmaid of the Lord’s attitude by living similarly.
Mary wants to “inform us” in the Magnificat that God has decisively created a new order of things via her, beginning a historical turning point.
The pope declared on August 15 in Saint Peter’s Square for the feast of the Assumption, “She, little and humble, has been lifted up and – we celebrate this today – taken to the glory of Heaven, while the mighty of the earth are doomed to stay empty-handed.
“Let’s examine ourselves and consider how this prophesied reversal predicted by Mary will impact our lives.
Do I think that having power comes from serving others and ruling with love?
Do I think Heaven, which is paradise, is the reason I’m here? asked Pope Francis.
spending it wisely here Or am I simply thinking about tangible, earthly things?
I ask myself once more: “As I consider the state of the world, do I allow pessimism to seduce me, or, like the Virgin, am I able to see the work of God who, by gentleness and smallness, does tremendous things?”
He described the Magnificat as a “canticle of hope.” He thought about how the Lord is said to have “removed the strong from their thrones and exalted up the humble.”
While listening to these lyrics, we could wonder whether the Virgin isn’t a bit exaggerating, perhaps by depicting a world that doesn’t exist.
In fact, what she says doesn’t appear to match up with reality; at the time she is speaking, the mighty have not been overthrown; for instance, the dreaded Herod is still firmly in control.
And while the wealthy continue to flourish, the hungry and destitute stay that way.
The pope said that the Blessed Virgin’s canticle is a prophecy rather than a factual account of events.
Dives considered how, in the tale of the rich man and Lazarus, the wealthy man dies “empty-handed.”
“Our Lady… heralds a fundamental shift in ideals. She predicts what her Son will say when he proclaims “fortunate are the poor and humble, and warn the affluent and those who build their lives on their own self-sufficiency” when she converses with Elizabeth while carrying Jesus in her womb.
Therefore, the Virgin makes a prophecy in this canticle and in this prayer: she says that service, humility, and love will triumph over wealth, fame, and power.
As we gaze at her in all her grandeur, we come to realise that to rule is to love, and let us not forget that the genuine power is service. That this is the path leading to heaven.
Mary “sings of hope and rekindles hope in us” in the Magnificat.
Today, Mary sings of optimism and gives us new hope; in her, we glimpse the end of our journey, the pope remarked.
She is the first creature to successfully cross Heaven’s finish line with her whole being—body and soul. She demonstrates to us the accessibility of heaven.
He said that if “we too do not succumb to sin, if we glorify God in humility and serve others freely, then paradise is within our reach. Don’t succumb to sin.
He said, “God is near to us, with compassion and kindness.”
In his conclusion, he said, “Our Mother takes us by the hand, she goes with us to glory, she urges us to delight as we think of paradise.”
“Let us pray for Mary’s blessing and for her to be able to see Heaven on earth.”