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'If Relationship With Mary Is Lacking, There Is Orphanhood in Heart,' Says Pope

Ahead of Fatima Trip, Francis Tells Portuguese Pontifical College That If Priests Forget Their Mother Mary, Something Is Lacking

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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/

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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