Mother Mary: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis
Our journey of faith is the same as that of Mary, and so we feel that she is particularly close to us. As far as faith, the hinge of the Christian life, is concerned, the Mother of God shared our condition. She had to take the same path as ourselves, a path which is sometimes difficult and obscure. She had to advance in the 'pilgrimage of faith.' Our pilgrimage of faith has been inseparably linked to Mary ever since Jesus, dying on the Cross, gave her to us as our Mother, saying: "Behold your Mother " (Jn 19:27). --Pope Francis, Homily, Solemnity of Mary Most Holy, Mother of God, January 1, 2014 As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis encouraged devotion to "Our Lady, Undoer of Knots." On the first day after his election to the papacy, he visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to place flowers on the altar and pray for Mary's help and protection. Since that day, he has continued to shine a light on the woman he calls "the first pilgrim" and "the perfect disciple." The wr