To celebrate the end of the May, the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis paid a visit to the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens.
The ceremony began at 8pm with a rosary procession Saturday evening from the church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians to the grotto. Pope Francis arrived at 9pm at the grotto and, before imparting his apostolic blessing, addressed the following words to those present:
“Today, at the end of the month of May, we celebrate the feast day that commemorates her visit to St. Elizabeth. The Gospel tells us that, after the angel’s annunciation, she went in haste, she went immediately to serve. This is the virgin of readiness … Our Lady of Prompt Succor. She immediately comes to our assistance when we pray, when we ask for help and protection. In many moments in life, when we need her help and her protection, let us remember that she does not make us wait: she is the Virgin of Prompt Succor and immediately comes to our aid.”
