Mary's humility shows the path to salvation, Pope says on feast of Annunciation
Adam's sin was the result of pride, the Pope told his congregation at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and Mary shows a complete absence of that fault. The challenge for the faithful, he said, is to battle against pride.
The liturgy for the feast day, the Pope remarked, guides us "along the road of recovery," encouraging "obedience and meekness regarding the Word of God."
"Salvation cannot be bought or sold," the Pope said. "It's a gift. It's given to us, it's free. We can't be saved through ourselves: Salvation is a totally free gift." In order to receive that gift we must be prepared to accept it, recognizing that it is given freely through no merit of our own.
The appropriate response—especially on this feast day—is one of simple and humble thanks, the Pope said. "And let's say: 'Thank you. Thank you, Lord, because today you told us that you have given us salvation."
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