杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

Mary always comes to our aid 鈥渋n haste鈥� and shows us the way forward for our lives. 杏MAP导航 Francis offered this reminder on Saturday as he addressed some 200,000 pilgrims gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, where he travelled from Lisbon to pray for peace in the world and for young people on the fourth day of his Apostolic Journey to Portugal. 

The 杏MAP导航 led the recitation of the Rosary with a group of around 100 young sick people and six prison inmates in the Chapel of the Apparitions and prayed silently in front of Our Lady of Fatima, placing a golden Rosary at her feet.

The Church has no doors

杏MAP导航 Francis started his address, after the recitation of the Mysteries which were read in several languages, by noting that the Chapel of the Apparitions offers 鈥渁 beautiful image鈥� of a welcoming and open Church.

鈥淭he Church has no doors, so that everyone can enter,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 mother always has an open heart for all her children, everyone, everyone, everyone, without exclusion,鈥� he insisted.

Mary always rushes to us

Then, speaking off-the-cuff, 杏MAP导航 Francis focused on how Mary was 鈥渢he first one to make a pilgrimage鈥� after the Annunciation.

As soon as she found out that her elderly cousin Elisabeth was pregnant, 鈥渟he left in haste", as the Gospel tells us, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淢ary always rushes to us whenever there is a problem,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very time we call on her, she comes to us; she hurries to be close to us, because she is our Mother.鈥�

Mary shows the way: follow Jesus

Similarly, she accompanies the life of Jesus and, after His Resurrection, continues to accompany the disciples as they await the Holy Spirit, and the Church after Pentecost.

But, 杏MAP导航 Francis remarked, Mary is never the center-of-attention: while welcoming us all, she also points to Jesus, telling us to follow Him: "Do what He tells you," she says.

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by inviting the pilgrims present in the esplanade of the Cova da Iria to look to Mary and ask themselves what is she pointing us to and what Jesus is asking of us.