John Paul II – Tertio Millennio Adveniente and Novo Millennio Ineunte: Mary, Guide of the Third Millennium

# The Great Jubilee of 2000 and Mary

The Great Jubilee of 2000, the high point of Pope Saint John Paul II’s pontificate, was prepared and continued through two Apostolic Letters with strong Marian content: *Tertio Millennio Adveniente* (November 10, 1994), which prepared for the Jubilee, and *Novo Millennio Ineunte* (January 6, 2001), which marked the post-Jubilee period.

## Documents and Themes

– **Pope:** Saint John Paul II
– **Documents:** *Tertio Millennio Adveniente* (1994, nn. 43, 54) | *Novo Millennio Ineunte* (2001, n. 58)
– **Theme:** Jubilee Year 2000, Mary’s preparation and follow-up, *Duc in altum*

## Tertio Millennio Adveniente, n. 43: Mary as Preparer of the Jubilee

> *”The place given to the Beatissima Virgo Maria in the time of the Advent of the Great Jubilee is most significant. She, indeed, full of grace, became the mother of the Son of God who was made flesh to redeem us. In Mary, the fountain and original model of the Church’s faith, all that Christ said or did finds its complete meaning.”*

> Mary, as the mother of Lord Jesus, who perpetually accompanied Him on His pilgrimage, is for Christians a model and help on their journey towards the Jubilee House.

## Tertio Millennio Adveniente, n. 54: The Three Preparatory Years

Pope John Paul II structured the preparation for the Year 2000 in three years dedicated to three Persons: 1997 to the Son, 1998 to the Holy Spirit, and 1999 to the Father. Mary holds a special place in the third year (1999), as a model of the Church’s pilgrimage towards the Father’s house:

> *”Let us look to Mary, Mother of the Lord Jesus, who has continually accompanied Jesus on his pilgrimage, as an example and help for Christians on their journey to the Jubilee.”*

## Novo Millennio Ineunte, n. 58: *Duc in altum* with Mary

Following the Jubilee, Pope John Paul II published *Novo Millennio Ineunte* (January 6, 2001), with the famous invitation: *”Duc in altum!”* (Set sail into the deep!), words of Christ to Peter in Luke 5:4. In this final section, n. 58, he dedicates Mary as a guide for the Church’s new navigation:

> *”And now, as we set out on the path that lies before us, let us turn our gaze upon Mary, our Temple of Glory. Let us avoid all the snares she has called ‘never’, while our hope is concentrated in Jesus. On this journey into a new millennium, Mary stands ever since as a bright beacon to guide the ship of the faithful through the storms of life.”*

# Legacy: The Marian Program for the Third Millennium

These two texts, taken together, have defined the Marian program of the Church for the third millennium:

– **Mary as Preparer:** In every period of historical transition, Mary precedes the Church as one who has already seen what is to come.
– **Mary as Pilgrim:** The pilgrim Church follows her model, and it is that of Mary who “peregrinated in faith” (LG 58).
– **Mary as Beacon:** Amid cultural and moral storms, Mary serves as a secure point of navigation.
– **Mary as Temple of Glory:** In Mary, the final glory awaiting all redeemed humanity is already initially realized.

## Additional Reading

– [Mariology](/mariologia/)
– [Redemptoris Mater](/redemptoris-mater/)
– [Rosarium Virginis Mariae](/rosarium-virginis-mariae/)
– [Munificentissimus Deus](/munificentissimus-deus/)
– [Post-Graduate Marian Studies](/pós-graduação-mariologia/)