GENERAL AUDIENCE: MARY, BELOVED DAUGHTER OF THE FATHER

VATICAN CITY, JAN 5, 2000 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall and is the first of the year 2000, the Holy Father stated that God's divine intention of love for humanity is especially demonstrated in Mary, the 'Beloved daughter of the Father.'

The Pope recalled that "the first words with which, through His angel, God addresses Mary: 'Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you,' represent a greeting that may be understood as a call to joy. ... In these initial words to Mary, the Father reveals His intention to communicate true and definitive joy to humanity."

"The infinite tenderness of God-Love is revealed in the maternal traits of the Mother of Jesus. Mary is the only mother who can say, speaking of Jesus, 'my Son.' ... For His part, Jesus calls the Father 'Abba,' 'Father,' while He addresses Mary as 'mother,' placing in that name all His filial affection." John Paul II affirmed that when Jesus leaves His mother in Nazareth and later meets her again, He calls her "woman." He thus wishes to emphasize that "she is not just His biological mother, rather she has a mission to accomplish as 'daughter of Zion' and mother of the people of the 'New Covenant'."

After highlighting that the Virgin "is a model of one who listens and is compliant to the Word of God," the Pope recalled that "she took on the educational commitment implicit in the maternal role." Her behavior "surely exercised an influence on Jesus' conduct," while at the same time she allowed herself "to be influenced and formed by her Son."

The Pope concluded his catechesis emphasizing that the role fulfilled by Mary today is "to help the Church to follow, as she did, the footsteps of Christ."

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