VATICAN - During his reflection at the midday Regina Cæli prayer the Pope encouraged those present to pray to Mary support of Christians and the whole world: “Since Christ loves with inexhaustible love” so too the immaculate heart of his Mother Mary has “the inexhaustibility of a mother ”.

Monday, 10 May 2004

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God was the centre of Pope John Paul II’s midday reflection before the “Regina Cæli” prayer Sunday May 9. “During the month of May the People of God feels the need to intensify devotion to Mary, whose motherly presence is a source of support for Christians and for the whole world” the Pope said recalling that “Since the young girl Mary of Nazareth pronounced her "fiat". From then on, under the special influence of the Holy Spirit, this heart, the heart of both a virgin and a mother, has always followed the work of her Son and has gone out to all those whom Christ has embraced and continues to embrace with inexhaustible love. For that reason her heart must also have the inexhaustibility of a mother. (Redemptor Hominis 22).
Since from the cross Jesus entrusted the disciple he loved to Mary to be her son, “generations and generations of believers continue to invoke her and turn to her with love and hope” the Pope said adding that if people would only recognise this marvellous gift, “they would find it easier to realise that they are brothers and sisters and to renounce hatred and violence and open their hearts to forgive offences suffered and show total respect for the dignity of every human person.” Recalling that this coming Thursday, 13 May, is the feast day which commemorates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin at Fatima, the Pope urged those present to pray “that the men and women of our day will heed the pressing call of Mary who watches lovingly over the Church and the world.”
After the prayer “Regina Cæli”, the Pope mentioned the many children in the world “who are deprived of schooling and are sent to work”, and he said he hoped that the international Congress to Stop the Exploitation of Child Workers to be held soon in Florence, “will help promote respect for children’s rights”. As Sunday May 9 was Mothers’ Day in some countries, including Italy, the Pope greeted all the mothers of the world and asked the Mother of Jesus to “protect and sustain all mothers everywhere”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2004 - Righe 23; Parole 329)


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