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TODAY’S WORD…

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“Ave gratia plena…”

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– Luke 1:28 (Latin Vulgate)

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QUOTE…from an address by Pope Francis, today 8th December 2016, Feast of the Immaculate Conception …

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“When God comes to dwell among us, He makes Himself man like us.

And this was possible through a great Yes…Mary’s is a great Yes at the moment of the Annunciation.

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Because of this Yes, Jesus began His journey on the ways of humanity;

He began it in Mary, spending his first months of life in the womb of His Mother:

He did not appear already as an adult and strong, but followed the whole course of a human being.

He made Himself the same as us in everything, except one thing…except sin.

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Therefore, He chose Mary, the only creature without sin, immaculate.

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With just one word in the Gospel, she is said to be “full of grace” (Lk 1:28), namely, brimming with grace.

It means that in her, immediately full of grace, there was no room for sin.

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And, when we turn to her, we also recognise this beauty:

we invoke her “full of grace” without the shade of evil.”

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PRAYER FOR TODAY…and every day…

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Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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