Pope: crisis needs solidarity and "Mary's gaze " towards those most in need
Cagliari (AsiaNews) - Faced with the difficulties and the problems created by the crisis we need solidarity and the commitment of everybody, beginning with the institutions , and we must not be afraid to "go out and look " through Mary's eyes, who invites us to be true brothers and sisters to those who "we instinctively consider less and instead need us most: the most abandoned , the sick, those who have nothing to live on, those who do not know Jesus , young people who are in trouble.
Pope Francis' Mass in Cagliari at the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Bonaria, to which Buenos Aires owes its name. Because, as Francis said May 15 , announcing his intention to visit the shrine , the sailors who arrived in 1536 on the spot where the Argentine capital now stands "were Sardinian and they wanted it to be called City of Our Lady of Bonaria " . And in time Bonaria (fair winds) has become Buenos Aires.
As in his first meeting of his visit, his first thoughts to 100 thousand people present are about "the difficulties, problems and concerns " that affect Sardinia. "I think, in particular, about the lack of employment and its precariousness, and therefore the future uncertainty. Sardinia, your beautiful region, has long-suffered many situations of poverty, exacerbated by its insularity. Everyone must cooperate in good faith, with the commitment of the responsible institutions, to ensure fundamental rights to persons and families, and promote a society of fraternity and solidarity. I am by your side, I will remember you in prayer, and I encourage you to persevere in your witness of human and Christian values so deeply rooted in the faith and history of this territory and its population . Always keep the light of hope burning".
At the Angelus, the Pope's
thoughts turned to Mary, with whom Sardinia has a " strong bond ",
" a bond that you express in your devotion and your culture."
"I
came - he said during the homily - among you to kneel with you at the feet of
Our Lady, who gives us her Son. I know that Mary, our Mother, is in your heart,
as evidenced by the Shrine, where many generations of Sardinians
come - and will continue to come! - to invoke the protection of Our Lady of
Bonaria, Patroness of the Island. Here you bring the joys and sufferings of
this land, its families , and even those children who live far away, who often
depart with great sorrow and longing to find a job and a future for themselves
and their loved ones. Nowadays, all of us gathered here, we want to thank Maria
who is always close to us , we want to renew our trust and our love for Her"
.
Referring
to the readings of the Mass, the Pope noted that the Virgin "prays, prays
together with the community of disciples, and teaches us to have full
confidence in God, in His mercy. The power of prayer! Never tire of knocking on
God's door. Let us bring our whole life to the heart of God, through Mary, every
day".
And
again, "today I have come among you , indeed we all came together to meet
the gaze of Mary , because there is as a reflection of the gaze of the Father,
who made her the Mother of God , and the gaze of the Son from the cross, who made
her our Mother. It is with that look that Mary is watching us today. We need
her tender gaze, her maternal gaze that knows us better than anyone else , her
eyes full of compassion and care . Mary, today we want to tell you: Mother,
gaze upon us! Your gaze leads us to God, your gaze is a good gift from the
Father , who awaits us at every turn of our journey , it is a gift of Jesus
Christ on the cross , who takes upon himself our suffering
, our struggles , our sin . And to meet this loving Father, today we say:
Mother , gift us your gaze".
"But
on the often difficult journey, we are not alone, we are many, we are one
people , and the gaze of Our Lady helps us to gaze upon each other in a
brotherly manner . Let's look at each other in a more fraternal way! Mary
teaches us to have that look that welcomes, guides, protects. We learn to look
at each other under the maternal gaze of Mary! There are people who we instinctively
consider less and who instead need it most: the most abandoned, the sick, those
who have nothing to live on, those who do not know Jesus , young people who are
in trouble. We must not be afraid to go out and look at our brothers and
sisters through the eyes of Our Lady , She invites us to be real brothers and
sisters. And we must not allow anything or anyone come
between us and the gaze of the Madonna. Mother, grant us your gaze! Let nobody
hide it from us! May we as your children know how to defend it from so many
wordsmiths who promise us illusions, from those who have a greedy look for an easy
life, of promises that they can not accomplish. Do not let them rob us of Mary's
gaze , which is full of tenderness , which gives us strength, generates
solidarity among us. Mother , gift us your gaze".
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