June 1, 2010. Hundreds of people illuminated the Vatican gardens with candles to commemorate the end of May, the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
One of the most emotional ceremonies of the year.
Benedict XVI
“We want to contemplate Our Lady in the mystery of the Visitation. In the Virgin who goes to visit her relative Elizabeth we recognize the clearest example and the truest meaning of our path as believers and the path of the Church itself.”
After praying the rosary, the pope said at the replica of the grotto of Lourdes the “only treasure” Christians can give to humanity is Jesus.
The pope said the Church is missionary and therefore must look outside itself and not stand still. He used as an example the Virgin Mary who did not hesitate in traveling far from home to visit her cousin Isabel and help her during her pregnancy.
Benedict XVI
“Mary’s journey is missionary. It is a trip that takes her far from home, pushes her to the world, to strange places for her daily habits.”
Benedict XVI pointed out that to continue this example Christians and all the Church should abandon their comforts and get closer to others.
He also highlighted the charity of Mary which not only resulted in specific acts, like helping Isabel, but she gave her own son.
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