Mary in the Apostolic Letter “Desiderio desideravi”

# Podcast on Mariology – Mary in the Apostolic Letter «Desiderio Desideravi»

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## «Desiderio desideravi» I: Liturgia as an Event in the History of Salvation and the Real Presence of Christ Risen

From the very beginning, the Church was aware that it was not a representation, even sacred, of the Lord’s Supper: it would make no sense, and nobody could imagine putting on stage, especially under Mary’s gaze, that highest moment of the Master’s life. From the start, the Church understood, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, what was visible about Jesus, what could be seen with the eyes and touched with the hands, His words and gestures, the concreteness of the Incarnate Word, everything He had experienced in celebrating the sacraments.

## «Desiderio desideravi» II: The Powerful Beauty of Liturgy as a Place for Personal Encounter with the Risen One

• Here resides the profound beauty of the Liturgy. If Resurrection were to us merely a concept, an idea, a thought; if the Risen One were simply a memory of others’ memories, however authoritative the Apostles might be—if we were not given the possibility of a genuine encounter with Him—it would be as if to declare that the novelty of the Word made flesh has come to an end. On the contrary, Incarnation, besides being the only new event history knows, is also the method by which the Holy Trinity chose to open the way to communion for us. Christian faith is either a meeting with Him alive or it is not.
• Our first encounter with His Pasch is the event that marks the life of all who believe in Christ: our baptism. It is not mental assent to his thoughts or signing up to a conduct code imposed by him; it is immersing ourselves in his passion, death, resurrection and ascension. It is not a magical gesture: magic is the opposite of sacramental logic because it claims to have power over God and thus comes from the tempter. In perfect continuity with Incarnation, we are given, through the presence and action of the Spirit, the possibility to die and rise again in Christ.

«Desiderio desideravi» III-V: The Church as the sacrament of Christ’s Body and Liturgy as an antidote to spiritual worldliness

• Pelagianism intoxicates us with the presumption that salvation is achieved by our own strength, but liturgical celebration purifies us by proclaiming the gratuity of the gift of salvation received in faith. Participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice is not a conquest on our part; we cannot boast before God and our brothers. The beginning of each celebration reminds me who I am, asking me to confess my sin and inviting me to implore the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, the saints, and all my brothers and sisters to pray for me: certainly we are not worthy to enter his house; we need his word to be saved (Mt 8:8). We have no other pride than that of Christ’s cross (Gal 6:14). Liturgy has nothing to do with ascetic moralism; it is the paschal gift of the Lord, received with humility, which renews our lives. One enters the Cenacle only by being drawn to its desire to share in this Pascha with us: “I desired very much to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15).

«Desiderio desideravi» VI-VIII: Admiration for the paschal mystery and the need for serious and vital liturgical formation

• It is necessary to find channels for liturgical formation through study of liturgy: much has been done in this regard by the Liturgical Movement, with valuable contributions from many scholars and academic institutions. However, it is necessary to disseminate this knowledge beyond academia, making it accessible so that every faithful can grow in understanding the theological meaning of Liturgy—this is the decisive and fundamental issue for all liturgical knowledge and practice, as well as for the development of Christian celebrations. It is essential to acquire the ability to understand liturgical texts, ritual dynamics, and their anthropological value.

## «I Have Desired It» XIX: The Art of Celebrating and the Christian Community’s Participation in the Paschal Mystery

• When the first community breaks bread in obedience to the Lord’s command, they do so under Mary’s watchful eye as she accompanies the Church’s initial steps: “They were persistent and united in prayer, together with some women and Mary, the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14). The Virgin Mother oversees her Son’s actions entrusted to the Apostles. Just as she once held within her womb the Word made flesh after accepting Gabriel’s message, so too does she now hold within the Church’s womb these actions that constitute her Son’s body. The priest, who repeats these actions through the grace received at ordination, is held within the Virgin’s embrace. Do we still need a rule to guide our behavior?
• Becoming instruments to ignite on earth the fire of his love, held in Mary’s virgin womb as a Church (as St. Francis sang), the presbyters allow the Spirit to work within them, completing the work begun at their ordination. The Spirit’s action offers them the possibility of presiding over the Eucharistic assembly with Peter’s fearfulness, aware of his sinfulness (cf. Lk 5:1-11), with the strong humility of a suffering servant (cf. Is 42ff.), and with the desire to be consumed by the people entrusted to their care in their daily ministry.
• Let us abandon controversy and listen together to what the Spirit says to the Church, preserve communion, and continue to marvel at the beauty of the Liturgy. The Paschal Mystery has been given to us; let us allow ourselves to be safeguarded by the desire that the Lord continues to have for sharing it with us. Under Mary’s gaze, Mother of the Church.