On the feast of the Sweet Name of Mary, which originated in Cuenca (Spain), and which Pope Innocent XI extended to the Church in the West, Benedict XVI referred to the Word of God. "Today we have heard in the Gospel how the Lord gives her as Mother to the beloved disciple and, in him, to all of us."
"In every age Christians have gratefully welcomed this testament of Jesus," he added. "And together with the Mother they have always found the security and confident hope that fill us with joy in God and in our faith in him."
Benedict XVI: "Mary, Mother of the Lord and mirror of all holiness".
On December 25, 2005, a few months after he was elected Pope, Benedict XVI signed his encyclical 'Deus caritas est'. For the feast that concerns us, see nn. 40 to 42.
Pope Benedict wrote: "The saints are the true bearers of light in history, because they are men and women of faith, hope and love. Among the saints, Mary, Mother of the Lord and mirror of all holiness, stands out".
"Luke's Gospel shows her engaged in a charitable service to her cousin Elizabeth, with whom she stayed "about three months" (1:56) to care for her during her pregnancy," he continues.
The figure of Mary
This fragment of the encyclical, towards the end, and others, are collected in the last chapter of the book 'Mary', a selection of homilies and speeches of Benedict XVI, edited by Cristiandad. The introduction is by Pablo Blanco SartoThe brief preface is by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Vicar General Emeritus of His Holiness for Vatican City.
"'Mariais a careful anthology of Benedict XVI's texts on the Virgin Mary, selected for their depth, beauty and doctrinal coherence. Far from being a secondary devotion, the figure of Mary appears here as the living nucleus of the Christian faith: where Mary is, there is the Church; where Mary is, the human face of God shines forth," describes Christianity editions. On Monday the 15th, Our Lady of Sorrows, we will return to it.
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