Today the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI addressed more than 30,000 people in St. Peter's Square and said a few words about Mary, Our Mother! Here is an excerpt from the words he spoke after the recital of the Regina Caeli, which is prayed during Easter, instead of the Angelus, until the Feast of Pentecost:
"In the days following the resurrection of the Lord, the Apostles stayed gathered together, comforted by the presence of Mary, and after the Ascension, they persevered with her in prayerful anticipation of Pentecost. Our Lady was, for them, like a mother and teacher, a role she continues to undertake with Christians of all times. Every year, at Easter time, we relive this experience more intensely and perhaps this is why popular tradition consecrated the month of May to Mary, as it normally falls between Easter and Pentecost. This month, starting tomorrow, is useful for us to rediscover the maternal function she has in our life, so that we will be ever more meek disciples and courageous witnesses of the Risen Lord. To Mary we entrust the needs of the Church and the whole world, especially at this time when it is marked by not inconsiderable shadows. Invoking also the intercession of St Joseph, whom we remember in a special way tomorrow when we focus on the world of work, we turn to Her in the Regina Caeli prayer, which allows us to savour the comforting joy of the presence of the Risen Lord."
Yes, Holy Father, the Church and the world are shrouded with "inconsiderable shadows!" The rumors of a larger war on the horizon; the secularist and atheistic governments and leaders attacking God and His Church; the fanatical anti-christs, secular and religious, who are trying to destroy the belief in Christ and eradicate Christianity; the courts, who continue to deny the right to life from conception until natural death; and the attacks on God's Laws (Ten Commandments). These are just some of the sinister evils that are provoking Almighty God to send us a chastisement. Read some of the messages that Our Lady has given to the world through her many apparitions. We are in trouble! Let us turn to Mary, asking her to intercede before her Son, Jesus, our Mediator before the Father, so that God's justice will be softened with His Divine Mercy! Let us ask Saint Joseph, whose Feast Day we celebrate tomorrow (May 1st, St. Joseph the Worker), who holds Jesus in his arms, to bless the world with His Peace!Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
we love you,
save souls!