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Illustration: Titian’s Assumption, 1516–1518
Pope Francis’ angelus reflection for Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint Peter’s Square – Thursday, 15 August 2024
“Mary’s first journey is a metaphor for her whole life”
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In the Gospel of the Liturgy we contemplate the young girl of Nazareth who, having just received the Angel’s announcement, goes to visit her cousin.
This expression in the Gospel is beautiful: “Mary set out and went” (Lk 1:39).
It means that Mary does not consider the news she has received from the angel as a privilege but, on the contrary, she leaves her home and sets out with the haste of someone who wants to announce this joy to others and with the eagerness to be of service to her cousin.
In fact, this first journey is a metaphor for her whole life, because from that moment on, Mary will always be on the move following Jesus as a disciple of the Kingdom.
And, in the end, her earthly pilgrimage ends with her Assumption into heaven where, together with her Son, she will enjoy the joy of eternal life forever.
Brothers and sisters, we must not imagine Mary “as a motionless wax statue,” but in her we can see a “sister… with worn-out sandals… and with so much weariness” because she has followed the Lord and has met brothers and sisters, ending her journey in the glory of heaven.
In this way, the Blessed Virgin is the one who goes before us on the journey, reminding us all that our life is also a continuous journey towards the horizon of the final encounter.
Let us pray to Our Lady to help us on this journey towards the encounter with the Lord.
