Pope Benedict began the Wednesday general audience by noting that, as he continues the catechesis for the Year of Faith, “it is fitting, during these last days of Advent, to consider the faith of Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ.” He said, “at the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel greets Mary with an invitation to rejoice because the Lord is with her. This joy is that of the messianic hope of God’s people, the daughter of Zion, now being fulfilled in her.”

The Pope said Mary’s joy “is also the fruit of the grace that fills Mary’s heart and shapes her obedience to God’s word. Mary’s faith, like that of Abraham, combines complete trust in the Lord’s promises with a certain ‘unknowing’. In her life Mary knew, as we do, that God’s will can seem at times obscure and far from our expectations; it involves embracing the mystery of the Cross.”

Benedict said, “it is significant that at the Annunciation Mary ponders in her heart the meaning of the Angel’s message. Her example reminds us that faith, while fully obedient to the Lord’s will, also must seek daily to discern, understand and accept that will. In this holy season,” concluded the Pope, “may Our Lady’s prayers help us to grow in a humble, trusting faith that will open the door to God’s grace in our hearts and in our world.”

HOLY FATHER TWEETS ABOUT FAITH AND LIGHT, JOY AND UNION WITH GOD

After the general audience on Wednesday, the Holy Father once again took to Twitter, sending two more tweets to his two million followers.

In his first message, he said: “Everyone’s life of faith has times of light, but also times of darkness. If you want to walk in the light, let the word of God be your guide.”

Just minutes later he posted a second tweet about Mary’s joy: “Mary is filled with joy on learning that she is to be the mother of Jesus, God’s Son made man. True joy comes from union with God.”

He will soon add Latin and Chinese languages!

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

I’d like to share with you several photos of the seven that my friend in Washington, Capt. Ted Bronson, sent to me a few days ago. I only learned about these wreaths when he took me on a visit to Arlington cemetery a month ago, at which time I took photos and posted them here.

Ted explained that he took these photos “on a gray and overcast Sunday.” He said, “Wreaths Across America began in 1992 as an effort by Morrill Worcester -- owner of Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine -- to honor about 5,000 veterans lying in an older section of Arlington National Cemetery that saw few visitors. Twenty years later it is a nationwide effort, spearheaded by Mainers.”

He wrote that last Saturday, December 15, about 15,000 volunteers placed an estimated 110,000 wreaths on graves and memorials at the Arlington cemetery in a span of less than two hours. He added that hundreds of thousands more wreaths were laid at graves in 800 cemeteries across the country as part of congressionally designated "Wreaths Across America Day."

Thanks for sharing this beautiful and meaningful gesture with us, Ted! This is the beautiful, wonderful, generous, altruistic side of America and Americans!

Write to Joan at:
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