Pope: To celebrate Mary is to celebrate the tenderness of God

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Mary is our mother and advocate, who helps us "untie our knots," said Pope Francis while meeting Saturday in the Vatican with the Confraternity of Our Lady of Montserrat on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of its foundation.

In his remarks, the Pope expressed his joy to receive the pilgrims on the day when the Church celebrates Our Lady of the Rosary. 

"To celebrate Mary," the Pope said, "is to celebrate the closeness and tenderness of God who is with His people, who does not leave us alone, who has given us a Mother who cares for us and accompanies us."

The Pope recalled that the group came as pilgrims to Rome precisely "to celebrate and give thanks to the Lord for this presence of Mary so close who, for 800 years, has accompanied you on the journey of Christian life." The Pope asked them to join him in evoking the image of "the Virgin of Montserrat, the beloved 'Moreneta,' the black Virgin, [who] is seated, holding the Child."

The Pope said that keeping in mind this dual vocation of Mary to be the mother of God and our mother, helps one to better reflect on the motto chosen for their pilgrimage, which was "popular piety, social friendship and universal fraternity."

Significance of Marian devotion

The Pope acknowledged the significance of Marian devotion in the manifestations of piety of God's holy faithful people.

"Just think, in these 800 years of presence in Montserrat," the Pope reflected, "how many faithful have visited her shrine, unrolled the rosary beads and humbly and simply asked the Moreneta for her intercession for them and their loved ones! How many manifestations of filial affection, supplications, and actions of thanksgiving!"

"And we can imagine," he continued, "Mary saying in the depths of her heart to each of her children, with serenity and gentleness, as in Cana of Galilee: 'Do whatever Jesus tells you'." 

The evangelizing power of popular piety, the Pope went on to say, "creates favorable conditions for bonds of friendship and brotherhood among peoples to grow and strengthen."

In this aspect, too, the Pope observed, "Marian devotion has a privileged place."

Mother and 'facilitator'

The Pope recalled Mary, as our "mother" and "facilitator," saying the word "advocate" has become a bit "too functional."

"Mary," he continued, "is a facilitator in conflicts and problems, like the lack of wine at weddings."

Our Lady, he highlighted, "also smoothes the path of friendship between peoples, inviting us to turn our gaze toward the origin and goal of our existence-Jesus Christ," and encourages us "to follow his example, walking the paths of peace, kindness, listening and patient and trusting dialogue."

Invitation to live universal fraternity

"The Virgin of Montserrat, with the world in her hands," the Pope said, "invites us to live this universal fraternity, without borders, without exclusions, which dispels the shadows of a closed environment."

Encouraging them to go forward in this mission, Pope Francis concluded by praying that Jesus might bless them and that the Blessed Virgin might keep and help them to continue walking together.