Mary and the Risen Christ: Easter Message 2025

Dear brothers and sisters of Locus Mariologicus,

Figure: Mary and the Risen Christ

Christ has risen, alleluia! In this holy time of Easter, we are invited to lift up our hearts in praise for the triumph of Our Lord over death. The Easter is the center of the Christian proclamation and always the starting point of mariological thought. Indeed, in the “hour” of the Passion and Resurrection, the hour of the glorification of the Son, Jesus leaves us a precious gift: by offering Himself to the Father on the cross, He gives us the Holy Spirit and, simultaneously, entrusts us with His own Mother. In His last words before expiring, we hear the Lord say: *“Behold your mother”* (Jn 19,27). In this way, in the very heart of the paschal mystery, the Most Holy Mary is given to the nascent Church, represented by the beloved disciple. From that hour, Christian history becomes a reciprocal welcome between the Mother of Jesus and the community of disciples: Mary welcoming the children of God, and the disciples welcoming Mary as spiritual mother.

Mary on Holy Saturday: sacred silence and preserved faith

Let us contemplate Mary in the sacred silence of Holy Saturday. After the deposition of Jesus in the tomb, while the apostles disperse and the disciples of Emmaus yield to discouragement (cf. Lk 24,21), *Mary is the one who kept alive the flame of faith*. Saint John Paul II teaches that Mary’s waiting on Holy Saturday constitutes one of the highest points of faith, for *“in the darkness that envelops the universe, She gives Herself fully to the God of life, recalling the words of the Son and awaiting the fulfillment of the promises”*.

The presence of Mary in Easter: living memory and model of the Church

After Easter, Mary remains among the disciples as a loving mother and living memory of Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles describe her persevering in prayer with the eleven, in the upper room, awaiting the Holy Spirit (Acts 1,14). Pope Benedict XVI recalls that Mary was “the humble and discreet protagonist of the first steps of the Christian community”, being *“in the spiritual heart”* of the nascent Church. Her simple presence among the disciples *was already a sign of the gift of the Spirit* promised, for she who had been *“temple of the Spirit”* since the Incarnation now animates the young Church with her faith and charity.

The Risen Christ walks before us: a renewal of faith with Mary

Dear family of Locus Mariologicus, in this Easter let us renew our gaze of faith: Christ lives and walks before us! United to His glorious Son, *the Most Holy Mary intercedes for us* and accompanies every step of the pilgrim Church. *She, the “New Jerusalem” personified*, shines with the light of the victorious Lamb and reflects that light upon us, her children. Let us remain close to Mary, especially in this Easter time, allowing ourselves to be educated by her spirit of contemplation, her adoring silence, and her unbreakable joy. Thus, our love for her will grow, and with her we shall proclaim the wonders of the Resurrection.In the company of Mary, the Mother of the Risen One, may we all have a Holy and Happy Easter, filled with the peace of Christ and the hope that does not disappoint.*Equipe da Locus Mariologicus*20 de Abril de 2025, Páscoa da Ressurreição do Senhor, Filho de Maria.The relationship of Mary with the Paschal Mystery of Christ is explored in the Encyclical *Redemptoris Mater* by John Paul II, where Mary’s presence at Easter is presented as the highest expression of her faith and hope.Deepen your studies: explore Mariology, Marian Theology, Marian Apparitions, and the Postgraduate Program in Mariology at the Instituto Locus Mariologicus.