Francis celebrates Mass in one of the most popular Marian shrines in Latin America, Caacupé, which " preserves and treasures the memory of a people who know that Mary is their Mother, and that she has always been at the side of her children." Like the Mother of God, the women of Paraguay "lived through many difficult situations which, in the eyes of the world, would seem to discredit all faith”. " " When all seemed to be falling apart, with Mary you said: “Let us not be afraid, the Lord is with us; he is with our people, with our families; let us do what he tells us”.

Caacupé (AsiaNews) - Like the Virgin, the women of Paraguay "lived through many difficult situations which, in the eyes of the world, would seem to discredit all faith. But just like Mary, they have never lost faith in the Lord. And there they found yesterday and today, the strength not to let this earth end in chaos. God bless this tenacity, God bless and comfort your faith, God bless the Paraguayan women, the most glorious of all America", said Pope Francis during the Mass at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé, one of the most beloved of all of Latin America.

He was greeted by a massive crowd who sang in the native Guarani language before his arrival and during the celebrations.  In his homily the Pope returned once again on the figure of the Paraguayan woman, to praise them.  And he did so starting with reference to the sanctuary: "Being here with you makes me feel at home, at the feet of our Mother, the Virgin of Miracles of Caacupé.  In every shrine we, her children, encounter our Mother and are reminded that we are brothers and sisters.  Shrines are places of festival, of encounter, of family.  We come to present our needs.  We come to give thanks, to ask forgiveness and to begin again.  How many baptisms, priestly and religious vocations, engagements and marriages, have been born at the feet of our Mother!  How many tearful farewells!  We come bringing our lives, because here we are at home and it is wonderful to know there is someone waiting for us".

Francis continued, “how can we forget that this shrine is a vital part of the Paraguayan people, of yourselves?  You feel it, it shapes your prayers, and you sing: “Here, in your Eden of Caacupé, are your people, Virgin most pure, who offer you their love and their faith”.  Today we gather as the People of God, at the feet of our Mother, to offer her our love and our faith.”.

Commenting on the Gospel proclaimed in the Mass – that of teh Annunciation – the Pope underlined that Mary is the ‘Mother of Yes’. “It was a yes that, as we know, was not easy to live.  A yes that bestowed no privileges or distinctions.  Simeon told her in his prophecy: “a sword will pierce your heart” (Lk 2:35), and indeed it did.  That is why we love her so much.  We find in her a true Mother, one who helps us to keep faith and hope alive in the midst of complicated situations.  Pondering Simeon’s prophecy, we would do well to reflect briefly on three difficult moments in Mary’s life”.

Soon after, the pontiff recalled the three most difficult moments of the life of the Virgin: the birth of Jesus, during which "there was no room for them if not in a stable"; the Flight into Egypt, "persecution born of the greed of an Emperor"; the cross, heartbreaking moment "in which we see Mary at the foot of the cross, like every mother, strong, faithful, staying with her child even to his death, death on the cross”.

Faced with these difficulties Mary never asks where is the promise of the Lord. Francis said this is why, "we look at her life, and we feel understood, we feel heard.  We can sit down to pray with her and use a common language in the face of the countless situations we encounter each day.  We can identify with many situations in her own life.  We can tell her what is happening in our lives, because she understands. Mary is the woman of faith; she is the Mother of the Church; she believed.  Her life testifies that God does not deceive us, or abandon his people, even in moments or situations when it might seem that he is not there”.

 Breaking away from the Gospel story, Francis said that Mary "is their Mother, and that she has always been at the side of her children. Mary has always been in our hospitals, our schools and our homes.  She has always sat at table in every home.  She has always been part of the history of this country, making it a nation.  Hers has been a discreet and silent presence, making itself felt through a statue, a holy card or a medal.  Under the sign of the rosary, we know that we are never alone”.

Why, he asks the pope? " Because Mary wanted to be in the midst of her people, with her children, with her family.  She followed Jesus always, from within the crowd.  As a good Mother, she did not want to abandon her children, rather, she would always show up wherever one of her children was in need.  For the simple reason that she is our Mother".

And this testimony the Paraguayan people know well: "All of you, all Paraguayans, share in the living memory of a people who have made incarnate these words of the Gospel.  Here I would like especially to mention you, the women, wives and mothers of Paraguay, who at great cost and sacrifice were able to lift up a country defeated, devastated and laid low by war.  You are keepers of the memory, the lifeblood of those who rebuilt the life, faith and dignity of your people.  Like Mary, you lived through many difficult situations which, in the eyes of the world, would seem to discredit all faith.  Yet, like Mary, inspired and sustained by her example, you continued to believe, even “hoping against all hope” (Rom 4:18).  When all seemed to be falling apart, with Mary you said: “Let us not be afraid, the Lord is with us; he is with our people, with our families; let us do what he tells us”.  Then and now, you found the strength not to let this land lose its bearings.  God bless your perseverance, God bless and encourage your faith, God bless the women of Paraguay, the most glorious women of America”.

As a people, concluded the Pope, " we have come home, to this house of all Paraguayans, to hear once more those words which are so comforting: “Rejoice, the Lord is with you”.  They are a summons to cherish your memory, your roots, and the many signs which you have received as a people of believers tested by trials and struggles.  Yours is a faith which has become life, a life which has become hope, and a hope which leads to eminent charity.  Yes, like Jesus, may you be outstanding in love.  May you be bearers of this faith, this life and this hope.  May you continue to build these up in Paraguay’s present and for its future".

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