Pope's Intentions
Universal: That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will.
For Evangelization: That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.
Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year B
Commentary of the day
Saint John-Paul II, Pope from 1978 to 2005
Allocution November 27, 1983- (Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana)
"Hail, full of grace! "
Joy is a basic component of the sacred time now beginning. Advent is a time for being watchful, for prayer, for conversion, in addition to being one of fervent and joyful expectation. The motive is clear: “The Lord is near.” (Phil 4:5)
The first thing said to Mary in the New Testament is a joyful invitation: “Exult, rejoice!” (Lk 1,28 in Greek) Such a greeting is linked to the Savior’s coming. Mary is the first one to receive the announcement of a joy that will be afterwards proclaimed to the whole people. She participates in it in an extraordinary way and to an exceptional extent. In her, ancient Israel’s joy is concentrated and finds its fullness; in her, the happiness of messianic times bursts forth irrevocably. The Virgin Mary’s joy is in particular that of the “small remnant” of Israel (Isa 10,20f.), of the poor who await God’s salvation and who experience his fidelity.
So that we also might participate in this feast, it is necessary to wait in humility and to welcome the Savior with trust. “In considering the ineffable love with which the Virgin Mother awaited the Son, all the faithful who live the spirit of Advent through the liturgy, “vigilant in prayer and filled with gladness”, will be led to take her as their model and to prepare to go out to meet the Lord who is coming” (Paul VI, Marialis cultus).