Ahead of his Apostolic Visit to Fatima, May 12-13, Pope Francis has urged Rome’s Portuguese Pontifical College to turn to Our Lady.
Francis did so yesterday, May 8, 2017, when receiving the pontifical college in audience in the Vatican. Talking with the community in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father reminded them that “to have a good relationship with the Virgin, helps us to have a good relationship with the Church,” because “both are Mothers.”
He quoted Saint Isaac, Abbot of Stella’s words: “What can be said of Mary can be said of the Church and also of our soul,” because the three are mothers and the three give life. “It is necessary to cultivate a filial relationship with the Virgin, because if it is lacking, there is something of an ‘orphan in the heart,’” he stressed.
“A priest who forgets the Mother, especially in moments of difficulty,» the Pontiff declared, «is a priest who is lacking something. It is as if he were an orphan, even though he is not! He has forgotten his Mother.”
Pope Francis concluded, reminding them that “in difficult moments, a child always goes to its mother,” and noting the Word of God teaches us to «be quieted children in her [their mother’s] arms.»
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full Text: https://zenit.org/articles/ahead-of-fatima-trip-pope-urges-portuguese-pontifical-college-to-turn-to-our-lady/
