Pope Benedict Tells Faithful That May the Month of Mary Gives Us Hope to Spread the Gospel

(Hat tip: Dave Hartline at Catholic Report)

The Holy Father, citing the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, encourages the faithful in the fundamental task of spreading the Gospel:

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – May, the Marian month, an opportunity to rediscover, with the early Church, the fundamental task of the Christian: courageously announcing and bearing witness to the Gospel. This was the recommendation of Benedict XVI for Catholics on the eve of a journey he will undertake this month to Latin America, from 9 to 15 May. He will be going to Brazil chiefly to preside over the opening of the fifth assembly of that continent’s episcopate, which covers nearly half the global Catholic population.

After the recital of the Regina Caeli, the pope greeted around 40,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square on this beautiful spring morning...

Before the recital of the Marian prayer, the pope addressed all those present, describing May as the “Marian month par excellence”. “After Vatican Council II, which underlined the role of the Most Holy Mary in the Church and in the history of salvation, the Marian cult underwent a profound renewal. And the month of May, coinciding at least in part with the Easter season, is highly propitious to illustrate the figure of Mary as a Mother who accompanies the Community of disciples gathered in unanimous prayer, waiting for the Holy Spirit (cfr Acts 1: 12-14). This month, therefore, could be an opportunity to return to the faith of the early Church, and together with Mary, to understand that today too, our mission is to announce and testify with courage and joy to the crucified and risen Christ, the hope of mankind.”

To Mary, Mother of the Church, the Pope entrusted his journey to Brazil and especially the Assembly of the Latin American Bishops...