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Illustration: The Immaculate Conception (1767–1769) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Pope Francis’ letter to the pilgrim people of God in Nicaragua
Celebration the Novena of the Immaculate Conception
Who gives so much joy? The Immaculate Conception of Mary!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, of the beloved Church in Nicaragua:
For some time I have wanted to write you a Pastoral Letter to reiterate, once again, the affection I profess for the Nicaraguan people, who have always been characterized by an extraordinary love for God, whom you so fondly call Papachu. I am with you, especially in these days that you are celebrating the Novena of the Immaculate Conception.
Do not forget the Lord’s loving Providence, which accompanies us and is the only sure guide.
Especially in the most difficult moments, when it becomes humanly impossible to understand what God wants from us, we are called not to doubt his care and mercy.
The filial trust we have in him and as well as our fidelity to the Church are the two great beacons that illuminate our existence.
Be sure that faith and hope work miracles.
Let us look to the Immaculate Virgin, who is the luminous witness of this trust.
You have always experienced her maternal protection in all your needs and have shown your gratitude with a very beautiful and spiritually rich religiosity.
One of those forms of self-giving and consecration that manifest the joy of being her beloved children is the sweet expression: Who gives so much joy? The Immaculate Conception of Mary!
I hope that this celebration of the Immaculate Conception, which prepares us for the opening of the Jubilee of 2025, will give you the necessary encouragement for you in the midst of difficulties, uncertainties and hardships. On this feast, do not forget to abandon yourselves into the arms of Jesus with the ejaculation “God first“, that you often repeat.
I would like to convey to you my closeness and the assurance that I am praying unceasingly pray to the Blessed Virgin to console you and to accompany you, and to confirming you in the faith.
I want to tell you emphatically that the Mother of God does not cease to intercede for you, and we do not cease to ask Jesus to always hold you in his hand.
Walking together supported by tender devotion to Mary makes us persevere on the path of the Gospel with tenacity and leads us to renew our trust in God.
I am thinking in particular of the prayer of the Rosary in which we meditate daily on the mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary.
How often do we include our own lives, with their moments of joy, pain, light and glory in the mysteries of the Holy Rosary?
When we recite the Rosary, these mysteries penetrate the intimacy of our hearts, where the freedom of the daughters and sons of God is protected and which no one can take away from us. How many graces we receive from the Rosary, it is a powerful prayer.
I entrust you to the protection of the Immaculate Conception. You have chosen her to be the Mother of your people. This is what this simple and profoundly trusting cry manifests: Mary of Nicaragua, Nicaragua of Mary. May it be so!
Dear Nicaraguan brothers and sisters, let us conclude by praying together the prayer I wrote for the Jubilee, asking the Lord to give us peace and all the graces we need:
Heavenly Father, may the faith you have given us in your Son Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, awaken in us the blessed hope in the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into dedicated cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel that leaven humanity and the cosmos, in trusting expectation of the new heavens and the new earth, when the powers of evil will be overcome and your glory will be revealed forever.
May the grace of the Jubilee rekindle in us, pilgrims of hope, the longing for heavenly goods, and may it spread throughout the world the joy and peace of our Savior.
To you, God, eternally blessed, be praise and glory forever.
Fraternally,
FRANCISCO
