Mary in the heart of Israel’s longing for the Messiah

The longing for the Messiah in Mary’s prayer was the longing of all nations as the prophet Isaiah strongly affirmed in his Messianic prophecies:

"I formed you, and set you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations" (Is 42:6). "It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Is 49:6). "Nations shall walk by your light, kings by the radiance of your dawning. The Nations Come to Zion. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you—Your sons from afar, your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall throb and overflow. For the riches of the sea shall be poured out before you, the wealth of nations shall come to you. Caravans of camels shall cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and heralding the praises of the Lord"(Isaiah 60:1-6). "May he rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth… May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him… May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name" (Ps 72:8-17).

The Marie de Nazareth editorial team