During this morning’s catechesis, Pope Francis highlighted the role of the Mother Mary not only as a model for the Church but also a model for a life of prayer.
He explained that she “always prayed with humility, open to wherever the Lord might lead her,” and that she remained close to her son in prayer, even at the most critical moments.
The pope says that Catholics should follow this model for all prayer, which consists of trusting openness to God’s will.
SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In our continuing catechesis on prayer, we now consider our Blessed Lady as a woman of prayer and a model for our own life of prayer. From her youth, Mary always prayed with humility, open to wherever the Lord might lead her. We find her at prayer when the angel Gabriel announces that she is to be the Mother of the Son of God. Her simple words, “Let it be done to me”, are a model for all prayer, which consists in trusting openness to God’s will. Mary remained close to her Son in prayer at the critical moments of his life, even to the foot of the cross. In the joy of the resurrection, she prayerfully accompanied the newborn Church. Through her openness to the power of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of God thus became the Mother of the Church. Saint Luke tells us that Mary “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (2:19). In union with her Immaculate Heart, may our hearts too be open to God’s will through our own meditation on the mysteries of the life and saving work of Jesus Christ.
Speaker:
I cordially greet the English-speaking faithful. In this month of November, let us continue to pray for our deceased loved ones, and for all who have died, that the Lord in his mercy will welcome them into the Kingdom of heaven. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
CC
