In his remarks prior to the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father spoke about the “spiritual presence of the Virgin Mary, alive in our midst.” On a day dedicated to Confraternities and Popular Piety, he noted that love for Mary is one of the characteristics of popular piety that “must be strengthened and well-ordered.” He invited those present to reflect on “Mary the pilgrim, who follows Jesus the Son, and goes before all of us in the journey of faith.”

via Pope Francis: the love of Mary in popular piety.

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MaryCast Specials #197 ( 07min) Play – Dr. Mark Miravalle highlights the amazing number of references our new Pope has made to Our Lady especially for his words of love and devotion to her, and what this devotion means.

To ask questions regarding Mary, email Dr Mark Miravalle: mary@motherofallpeoples.com

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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“Rejoice, because it’s beautiful to follow Jesus. It’s beautiful to reflect the image of the Mother of God and of our Holy Mother, the  Hierarchical Church.”

Pope to religious: You are spiritual mothers – YouTube.

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They acknowledged that divine life is given to us and nourished through the seven sacraments and they recognized a mutual bond in their common devotion to the Mother of God…

via Pope Francis welcomes Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros.

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He has already been to pray before the icon of the Salus Poluli Romani twice and is also deeply devoted to St, Joseph and Saint Thérèse of LisieuxANDREA TORNIELLIVATICAN CITY It is an aspect of Francis’ papacy that is little talked about – possibly because it does not fit the “progressivist” stereotype – and yet it is deeply ingrained within the fabric of popular piety which the Latin American Church sees as key to spreading the faith. In less than two months Bergoglio has visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, twice. Once straight after his election, to ask the Virgin Mary to protect the diocese of Rome and again on 4 May, the first Saturday of the month dedicated to Mary, to recite the Rosary.

via Pope Francis is attached to traditional devotions and is not afraid to show it – Vatican Insider.

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Portuguese cardinal entrusts Pope Francis to Our Lady of Fatima

FATIMA, Portugal (CNS) — Entrusting Pope Francis’ pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon, Portugal, asked Mary to give the pope courage and strength, particularly as he moves to renew and reform the Catholic Church. “Give him the gift of discernment to know how to identify the ways of renewal of the church; give him the courage not to hesitate to follow the ways suggested by the Holy Spirit; support him in the hard hours of suffering to overcome with the charity the trials that the renewal of the church will bring,” the cardinal prayed May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Cardinal Policarpo recited the prayer, which he wrote himself, at the end of a Mass concluding a major international pilgrimage to Fatima for the feast day marking the 96th anniversary of the apparition of Mary to three children. “We consecrate to you, Our Lady, mother of the church, the ministry of the new pope,” he prayed. “Fill his heart with the tenderness of God that you experienced so that he can embrace all the men and women of our age with the love of your son Jesus Christ.”

via CNS NEWS BRIEFS May-13-2013.

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via Pope Francis prays before Our Lady of Lourdes at the Vatican – YouTube.

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Pope Francis joins in unity with Chinese Catholics on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on May 24th.

Pope Francis: Mary sustains Chinese Catholics. – YouTube.

Friday, May 24th, is the day dedicated to the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the National Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. I urge all Catholics around the world to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters who are in China, to implore from God the grace to proclaim with humility and joy Christ, who died and rose again; to be faithful to His Church and the Successor of Peter and to live everyday life in service to their country and their fellow citizens in a way that is consistent with the faith they profess. Making our own a few words of prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, together with you I would like to invoke Mary: “Our Lady …

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Vatican City, May 31, 2013 / 01:10 pm CNA/EWTN News.- After a Rosary in St. Peter’s Square to mark the end of May, Pope Francis asked people to “listen, decide, and take action” like Mary did.“Listen to everyday reality, to people, to the facts because the Lord is at our door and knocks in many ways, he places signs in our path; he give us the ability to see them,” the Pope said in front of thousands of pilgrims, following the 8:00 p.m. Rosary.He spoke about the Gospel reading for May 31 that recounted Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Vatican City State’s vicar general and Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, led the Rosary at 8:00 p.m.During the celebration, the statue of the Virgin was carried in procession around the different parts of St. Peter’s Square.

More at:  Pope closes Marys month reflecting on her spiritual attitude :: Catholic News Agency CNA.

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Attention, decision, action: these are three characteristics, which sign the spiritual attitude of Our Lady. This was the focus of Pope Francis’ remarks to the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square Friday evening, to pray the Rosary at the close of the Marian month of May. The Pope also said Mary is a model of decisive action: though she does not take rash, rushed decisions, once she has decided, she moves quickly and surely. We, too, “[ought] to move quickly toward others to give them our help, our understanding and our charity,” most especially, to share that, which is the most precious gift we have: the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that He is risen.”

via Pope Francis brings Marian month to a close – YouTube.

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