Naturally enough, it being a Marian feastday and all, the Pope prayed the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square today and had some words:

"Full of grace" – in the original Greek, kecharitomene –
it is the most beautiful name for Mary, a name which God Himself gave her, to show that ever and for always, she is the loved one, the elected one, the one chosen to welcome the most precious gift, Jesus, "the incarnated love of God" (Deus caritas est, 12).

We can ask why, among all women, did God choose Mary of Nazareth? The answer is hidden in the unfathomable mystery of divine will. But there is a reason that the Gospel places in evidence: her humility.

Dante Alighieri underscores this quite well in the last canto of Paradise The Divine Comedy): "Virgin Mother, daughter of Your Son, humble and more elevated than any other creature, the fixed word of eternal counsel" (Par XXXIII, 1-3).

The Virgin herself in the Magnificat, her hymn of praise, says this: "My soul doth magnify the Lord…because He has looked down on the humlility of His servant" (Lk 1, 46-48).

God was attracted by the humility of Mary, who found grace in His eyes (cfr Lk 1,30). And so she became the Mother of God, image and model of the Church, elected among all men to receive the blessing of God and diffuse it through the entire human family.

And this blessing was none other than Jesus Christ Himself. He is the fountain of grace, of which Mary was full from the first moment of her existence. She welcomed Jesus with faith, and gave Him to the world with love.

That too is our vocation and our mission, the vocation and mission of the Church: to welcome Christ into our lives and to give Him to the world "so that the world may be saved through Him" (Jn 3,17).

Dear brothers and sisters, today’s feast of the Immaculate One lights up like a torch the time of Advent, a time of watchful and faithful waiting for the Lord. As we advance towards the Lord who is coming, we look at Mary who ‘shines as a sign of sure hope and consolation for the people of God in pilgrimage" (Lumen gentium, 68).

With this awareness, I invite you all to join me when, this afternoon, I will renew at Piazza di Spagna the traditional homage to our gentle Mother of grace and for grace. Let us now address her with the prayer that recalls the annunciation by the Angel.

Vatican Radio looks ahead to the event the Pope mentions here.

Vatican TV indicates that it will be broadcasting it – the event begins at 4 Rome time, which is 10 Eastern – right about now. Yup…it’s started. I think the Pope leaves the Vatican at 4, so it will take him a few minutes to get to the Spanish Steps. Here’s the link to the players.

The Roaming Roman attended last year, and here are her photos and descriptions.