Evangelii Gaudium: Apostolic Exhortation of Francis – Mary, Mother of Evangelization (Full Text)

The Evangelii Gaudium is the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis published on November 24, 2013, on the proclamation of the Gospel in the contemporary world. In its Chapter V (nn. 287-288), entitled “Mary, Mother of Evangelization,” it presents a high-quality mariological synthesis, proposing Mary as the model and mother of all evangelizing action of the Church.

Autor e Contexto Histórico

Author: Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio)
Type: Apostolic Exhortation
Date: November 24, 2013
Theme: The Proclamation of the Gospel: Mary as Mother of Evangelization
Incipit: Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”)
Source: AAS 105 (2013) 1019-1137

The Evangelii Gaudium was the first major apostolic exhortation of Francis’ pontificate and his programmatic manifesto. The Pope wanted it to be a response to the 2012 Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization. In the final chapter, “Evangelizers with Spirit” (chap. V), Francis concludes with a meditation on Mary, modeling the evangelizing style he describes throughout the document: go out, encounter, accompany and bear fruit.

Texto Original Latino, Capítulo Mariológico (nn. 284-288)

FRANCISCUS PP.

Mary is the Mother of the Evangelizing Church and without her, true evangelization cannot be understood. She is the Woman of Faiths, the New Star of Evangelization, the Seat of Wisdom of the Gospel. (n. 284)

Mary is the Mother of God and our Mother: this dual motherhood cannot be separated nor confused. For the universal Church finds in Mary its mother, and each Christian, as a member of the Church, experiences Mary as his or her mother. (n. 285)

“She was there, beside the Cross” (Jn 19,25). This presence of Mary is not a passive or resigned one, but an active presence of faith, hope, and charity. Through the cross, Mary’s faith meets her Son, and thus the faith of the Church passes through the cross. Christian evangelization follows this paschal path, of Christ’s death and resurrection, and Mary is always present, as Mother and Guiding Star. (n. 286)

A New Star of Evangelization is called Mary. “Star” is an ancient, patristic, and liturgical image. In the darkness, stars bring constant light; so too does Mary bring light in the Church’s evangelizing mission. (n. 287)

Hail Mary, full of grace; with these words begins all evangelization. Mary gave her consent to the Word, and the Word became flesh in her. Every evangelizer learns from Mary the art of “yes”: saying yes to God, yes to the Gospel, yes to brothers. This “yes” is the heart of every mission. (n. 288)

Maria, Estrela da Nova Evangelização

Francisco revisits the expression “Star of the New Evangelization,” used by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, giving it a distinctive tone: the star is not merely a guide but a constant presence that illuminates the style of mission. Francis’s mariology in Evangelii Gaudium, as well as in the encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Amoris Laetitia, is a mariology of the “people”: Mary is the Mother of God’s people, who walks with her people, knows their sorrows and joys. It is not a mariology of dogmatic definitions but of pastoral accompaniment, which does not make it any less rigorous. The three Marian titles of Chapter V—Mother of the Gospel, Star of the New Evangelization, Seat of Wisdom—are of high theological density.

Leitura Complementar

Explore more about Mariology, Marian Dogmas, *Redemptoris Mater*, *Spe Salvi*, *Lumen Gentium* chap. VIII and the *Postgraduate Program in Mariology*.

Learn more about the Immaculate Conception.