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TODAY’S WORD…

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A great sign appeared in heaven:

a woman clothed with the sun,

with the moon under her feet

and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

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– Revelation 12:1 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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…from Pope Francis’ homily

on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(South Korea, 15th Aug 2014)

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“Mary’s Assumption

shows us our own destiny as God’s adoptive children

and members of the body of Christ.

Like Mary our Mother,

we are called to share fully in the Lord’s victory over sin and death,

and to reign with Him in His eternal Kingdom.

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The “great sign” – a woman clothed in the sun and crowned by stars –

invites us to contemplate Mary enthroned in glory beside her divine Son.

It also invites us to acknowledge the future

which even now the Risen Lord is opening before us. […]

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From Mary, full of grace,

we learn that Christian freedom is more than liberation from sin.

It is freedom for a new, spiritual way of seeing earthly realities.

It is the freedom to love God and our brothers and sisters with a pure heart,

and to live a life of joyful hope for the coming of Christ’s Kingdom. […]

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In her, all God’s promises have been proved trustworthy.

Enthroned in glory, she shows us that our hope is real. […]

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Let us turn to Our Lady

and implore the grace to rejoice in the freedom of the children of God,

to use that freedom wisely in the service of our brothers and sisters,

and to live and work as signs of the hope

which will find its fulfilment in that eternal Kingdom where to reign is to serve.

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Amen.”

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Sweet Mother of God, pray for us

that we may be made worthy of Christ’s promises.

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