| Documents |
V. The Person of Mary
5a.
Humanness / Human Personality |
| Lumen Gentium, 1964
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- joyfully showed (nativity) 57
- moved with pity (Cana: cf. Jn 2:1-11) 58
- pondered in her heart (cf. Lk 2:34-35) 57
- sought him sorrowing (cf. Lk 2:41-51) 57
- lovingly consenting to the immolation 58
- imploring the gift of the Spirit 59
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| Signum Magnum, 1967
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- How Mary's maternal heart must have rejoiced as she looked down from heaven on those
pastors
and faithful! [Ephesus celebration] 3
- her "maternal and compassionate heart" [Pius XII, May 13, 1946] 4
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| Behold Your Mother (USA), 1973
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- He [God] chose Mary, prepared her, guided her to a fully human consent. 15
the totally unselfish person 143
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| Marialis Cultus, 1974
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- ...Advent, by thinking about the inexpressible love with which the Virgin Mother awaited
her Son, (Advent Preface) 4
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| Redemptoris Mater, 1987
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- This fiat of Mary--"let it be to me--was decisive, on the human level, for the accomplishment
of the divine mystery. 13
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| The VM in Intellectual and Spiritual
Formation, 1988 |
- "willed that consent of the predestined mother should precede the Incarnation" (LG 56)
6
| Redemptoris Custos, St. Joseph, 1989
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- He took her in all the mystery of her
motherhood. He took her together with the Son who had come
into the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way he showed a readiness of will like
Mary's with
regard to what God asked of him through the angel. 3
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|
| Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 1994
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- Never in human history did so much depend, as it did then, upon the consent of one human
creature. (cf. St. Bernard) 2
- The Virgin Mary responded to God's call with complete openness 54
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| Vita Consecrata, 1996
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- Having given her assent to the divine Word made flesh in her, Mary is the model of the
acceptance of grace by human creatures. 28
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| Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 2002
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- In my testimony of 1978 mentioned above, where I described the Rosary as my favorite
prayer, I used an idea to which I would like to return. I said then that "the simple prayer of the
Rosary marks the rhythm of human life."
In the light of what has been said so far on the mysteries of Christ, it is not difficult to go deeper
into this anthropological significance of the Rosary, which is far deeper than may appear at first
sight. Anyone who contemplates Christ through the various stages of his life cannot fail to
perceive in him the truth about man. This is the great affirmation of the Second Vatican Council
which I have so often discussed in my own teaching since the Encyclical Letter
Redemptor
Hominis: "it is only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of man is seen in its
true light." (GS 22) The Rosary helps to open up the way to this light. Following in the path of
Christ, in whom man's path is "recapitulated," revealed and redeemed, believers come face to
face with the image of the true man. Contemplating Christ's birth, they learn of the sanctity of
life; seeing the household of Nazareth, they learn the original truth of the family according to
God's plan; listening to the Master in the mysteries of his public ministry, they find the light
which leads them to enter the Kingdom of God; and following him on the way to Calvary, they
learn the meaning of salvific suffering. Finally, contemplating Christ and his Blessed Mother
in glory, they see the goal towards which each of us is called, if we allow ourselves to be
healed and transformed by the Holy Spirit. It could be said that each mystery of the Rosary,
carefully meditated, sheds light on the mystery of man.
At the same time, it becomes natural to bring to this encounter with the sacred humanity of the
Redeemer all the problems, anxieties, labors and endeavors which go to make up our lives. "Cast
your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you" (Ps 55:23). To pray the Rosary is to hand over
our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and his Mother. Twenty-five years later, thinking
back over the difficulties which have also been part of my exercise of the Petrine ministry, I feel
the need to say once more, as a warm invitation to everyone to experience it personally: the
Rosary does indeed "mark the rhythm of human life," bringing it into harmony with the
"rhythm" of God's own life, in the joyful communion of the Holy Trinity, our life's destiny and
deepest longing. 25
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