A Verbum Domini (2010) is the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. In No. 27 of A Verbum Domini, a fundamental Marian synthesis is presented, designating Mary as Mater Verbi Dei, Mother of the Word of God. This Marian section of A Verbum Domini constitutes one of the richest expressions of recent magisterium on the relationship between Mary and Sacred Scripture, presenting her as a privileged interpreter of the Word. We study here the Latin text of No. 27 from A Verbum Domini with translation and theological commentary.

Exortação Apostólica Pós-Sinodal “Verbum Domini” (30 de setembro de 2010)

Sobre a Palavra de Deus na vida e missão da Igreja

Papa: Bento XVI (Joseph Ratzinger)

Documento: Exortação Apostólica Verbum Domini, 30 de setembro de 2010

Tema: Maria como mulher da Palavra, Magnificat como hermenêutica bíblica

Texto latino, n. 27 (Mater Verbi Dei)

“Firstly, we should consider Mary, who receives the Word of God and believes in Him above all else, responding with her whole heart: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to Thy word’ (Lk 1, 38). Mary is the paradigm of every Christian woman and man who gives themselves over to the divine Word. She too is a ‘disciple of the Word’. As St. Augustine said: ‘Mary first conceived Christ in her mind before conceiving Him in her womb’. In this contemplation of the Word of God within, we recognize Mary as the unique model of true hearing of the Word of God, she who ‘kept all these words, pondering them in her heart’ (Lk 2, 19).”

First of all, we must consider Mary, who welcomes the Word of God, believes above all and responds to Him with a full heart: “Behold the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1, 38). Mary is the paradigm of every Christian woman and man who gives themselves over to the divine Word. She is also a ‘disciple of the Word’. As Saint Augustine said: ‘Mary first conceived Christ in her spirit than in her womb’. In this contemplation of the Word of God inwardly received, we recognize Mary as the unique exemplar of true listening to the Word of God, she who ‘kept all these words, pondering them in her heart’ (Lk 2, 19).”

O Magnificat como modelo de leitura bíblica

O n. 27 da “Verbum Domini” apresenta o Magnificat (Lc 1, 46-55) como um modelo para a interpretação das Escrituras:

1. Memorial: Maria recorda toda a história de Israel (Ana, Sara, Hannah).
2. Tipologia: Maria reconhece em si o cumprimento das promessas anteriores.
3. Profecia: O Magnificat anuncia o programa de Cristo (os pobres exaltados, os ricos despedidos).
4. Doxologia: Cada leitura bíblica deve culminar em louvor.

“In Mariae Magnificat omnia adimpletionem inveniunt: ipsa est nova Sion, in qua ad plenitudinem promissio Dei advenit, fitque vivens fulcrum cuius vita pondus omnium est. Maria autem in haec adventu Verbi tota Scriptura tota Veteris Testamenti continetur, sicut etiam tota promissio quae cogor in Adventu Christi adimpleta fueret.”

In Mary’s Magnificat, everything finds fulfillment: she is the new Zion, in whom God’s promise reaches its fullness, and becomes the living support whose life is the weight of all others. And in Mary, with the coming of the Word, the entire Scripture, the whole Old Testament, as well as every promise that was to be fulfilled in Christ’s Coming, are contained.

Maria como hermeneuta da Palavra

Benedict XVI develops an original idea in his Mariology: Mary does not merely receive the Word; she is the first hermeneut of the Word. Her physical motherhood of the Verb arises from her spiritual motherhood of the Word (cf. Saint Augustine). Mary precedes the Church in the art of keeping and meditating on the Word (Lk 2, 19).

Implicações para a exegese contemporânea

O texto de Bento XVI tem profundas implicações para a hermenêutica bíblica:

• Contra a exegese puramente histórico-crítica: A Palavra deve ser guardada e meditada, não apenas analisada.
• Contra o fundamentalismo: A Palavra requer uma hermenêutica viva, como Maria realizou.
• Para a Lectio Divina: Maria é o modelo perfeito das quatro etapas (leitura, meditação, oração, contemplação).

Leitura complementar

• Mariologia
• Dei Verbum
• Redemptoris Mater
• Spe Salvi
• Deus Caritas Est