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Every year, from August 6 to 14, we invite you to an inner journey towards the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. This novena, inspired by the thought of Cardinal Eduardo Pironio, is not merely a devotional practice: it is a true proposal for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the Marian mystery through the theological lens of active hope.
In this novena — entitled A Path of Hope with Mary — Sister Cristina María offers a spiritual itinerary built around nine core dimensions of Marian discipleship: fidelity, poverty, contemplation, service, listening, offering, communion, mission, and hope.
Each day, grounded in solid biblical reflection and deep ecclesial insight, a meditation links Mary’s experience with the ongoing dynamism of the Kingdom in our present history. Mary is not portrayed as a passive or distant figure, but as a woman in motion — fully available to the Spirit, a model of the Church, and a mirror of the believing soul.
One of the central threads of this novena is hope as an active virtue, not a pious escape. As Pironio affirms, the faith God prefers is precisely that hope which engages, which hopes against all hope, and which helps to patiently build a “civilization of love.”
Through Mary’s evangelical poverty, her deep listening, her silent service, and her radical offering at the foot of the Cross, a spirituality of incarnation and Easter takes shape — one that is deeply ecclesial and committed to the poor and vulnerable of our world.
In a context marked by uncertainty, ecclesial fatigue and global wounds, this novena presents Mary anew as a teacher of discernment and hope. She not only accompanies the People of God on their journey, but also anticipates their eschatological fulfillment, as a sign of consolation and final destiny (cf. LG 68).
For those who live their faith through theological reflection, this novena may become a fruitful space to rekindle paschal hope, renew our fidelity to discipleship, and rediscover the Marian dimension of all life in the Spirit.
Image: The Assumption of the Virgin - Cabezalero, Juan Martín - Image copyright © Museo Nacional del Prado