HOMILY
OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Friday, 1st January 2016
Mary Most Holy, the Holy Mother of God
Mary Most Holy, the Holy Mother of God
EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY
HOLY MASS AND OPENING OF THE HOLY DOOR - BASILICA OF
ST MARY MAJOR
Salve, Mater Misericordiae!
With this invocation we turn to the Blessed Virgin
Mary in the Roman Basilica dedicated to her under the title of Mother of God.
It is the first line of an ancient hymn which we will sing at the conclusion of
this Holy Eucharist. Composed by an unknown author, it has come down to us as a
heartfelt prayer spontaneously rising up from the hearts of the faithful: “Hail
Mother of mercy, Mother of God, Mother of forgiveness, Mother of hope, Mother
of grace and Mother full of holy gladness”. In these few words we find a
summary of the faith of generations of men and women who, with their eyes fixed
firmly on the icon of the Blessed Virgin, have sought her intercession and
consolation.
It is most fitting that on this day we invoke the
Blessed Virgin Mary above all as Mother of mercy. The door we have
opened is, in fact, a Door of Mercy. Those who cross its threshold are called
to enter into the merciful love of the Father with complete trust and freedom
from fear; they can leave this Basilica knowing – truly knowing – that Mary is
ever at their side. She is the Mother of mercy, because she bore in her womb
the very Face of divine mercy, Jesus, Emmanuel, the Expectation of the nations,
the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5). The Son of God, made incarnate for
our salvation, has given us his Mother, who joins us on our pilgrimage through
this life, so that we may never be left alone, especially at times of trouble
and uncertainty.
Mary is the Mother of God, she is the Mother
of God who forgives, who bestows forgiveness, and so we can rightly call
her Mother of forgiveness. This word – “forgiveness” – so
misunderstood in today’s world, points to the new and original fruit of
Christian faith. A person unable to forgive has not yet known the fullness of
love. Only one who truly loves is able to forgive and forget. At the foot of
the Cross, Mary sees her Son offer himself totally, showing us what it means to
love as God loves. At that moment she heard Jesus utter words which probably
reflected what he had learned from her as a child: “Father, forgive them; for
they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:24). At that moment,
Mary became for all of us the Mother of forgiveness. Following Jesus’ example
and by his grace, she herself could forgive those who killed her innocent Son.
For us, Mary is an icon of how the Church must offer
forgiveness to those who seek it. The Mother of forgiveness teaches the Church
that the forgiveness granted on Golgotha knows no limits. Neither the law with
its quibbles, nor the wisdom of this world with its distinctions, can hold it
back. The Church’s forgiveness must be every bit as broad as that offered by
Jesus on the Cross and by Mary at his feet. There is no other way. It is for
this purpose that the Holy Spirit made the Apostles the effective ministers of
forgiveness, so what was obtained by the death of Jesus may reach all men and
women in every age (cf. Jn 20:19-23).
The Marian hymn continues: “Mother of hope and Mother
of grace, Mother of holy gladness”. Hope, grace and holy gladness are all
sisters: they are the gift of Christ; indeed, they are so many names written on
his body. The gift that Mary bestows in offering us Jesus is the forgiveness
which renews life, enables us once more to do God’s will and fills us with true
happiness. This grace frees the heart to look to the future with the joy born
of hope. This is the teaching of the Psalm: “Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me. […] Restore to me the joy of your
salvation” (51:10,12). The power of forgiveness is the true antidote to the
sadness caused by resentment and vengeance. Forgiveness leads to joy and
serenity because it frees the heart from thoughts of death, whereas resentment
and vengeance trouble the mind and wound the heart, robbing it of rest and peace.
What horrible things are resentment and vengeance.
Let us, then, pass through the Holy Door of Mercy
knowing that at our side is the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God,
who intercedes for us. Let us allow her to lead us to the rediscovery of the
beauty of an encounter with her Son Jesus. Let us open wide the doors of our
heart to the joy of forgiveness, conscious that we have been given new
confidence and hope, and thus make our daily lives a humble instrument of God’s
love.
And with the love and affection of children, let us
cry out to Our Lady as did the faithful people of God in Ephesus during the
historic Council: “Holy Mother of God!” I invite you to repeat together this
acclamation three times, aloud and with all your heart and with all your love:
“Holy Mother of God! Holy Mother of God! Holy Mother of God!”
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