During his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis offered an inspiring reflection on the role of the Blessed Mother, emphasizing how Mary gently guides us to her Son, Jesus. He reminded the faithful that through her maternal care, she shows us Jesus and always opens the doors to Him.
As part of his ongoing catechesis on the Holy Spirit’s role in the Church, Pope Francis shifted his focus to Marian devotion, following his earlier reflections on the Holy Spirit’s influence in the sacraments and Christian prayer.
Mary: A Model of Obedience and Devotion
Pope Francis invited the faithful to turn to Mary, to entrust themselves to her, and to imitate her profound ‘yes’ to God. Describing Mary as the first disciple and a model of the Church, the Pope highlighted her unique relationship with God. “Mary is like a ‘letter’ written by the Spirit of the living God,” he explained, pointing out that her openness to God’s will is a powerful example for all.
The Holy Father illustrated this point by recalling how, when Mary said ‘yes’ to God, she essentially allowed herself to become a vessel for His divine plan. In her acceptance, she offered herself as a blank page, ready for God to write whatever He wished. Pope Francis suggested that this openness and submission to God is what made Mary the perfect instrument of the Holy Spirit in the work of sanctification.
A Model of Surrender and Faith
A Model of Surrender and FaithReflecting on the essence of Mary’s ‘yes,’ Pope Francis recalled a well-known exegete who described it as “the pinnacle of every religious attitude before God.” Her ‘yes’ represents a perfect balance of humble availability and active readiness, an emptiness filled with the fullness of God’s will.
The Pope also emphasized that, amid the many words spoken about faith, Mary’s response of “Here I am” and “fiat” stands as a simple yet profound expression of obedience. This, he said, is an invitation for each of us to follow her example by saying our own ‘yes’ to God when we are faced with challenges or calls to action.
A Call to Imitate Mary’s Receptivity
In his conclusion, Pope Francis urged the faithful to learn from the Blessed Mother’s example of receptivity to the Holy Spirit’s inspirations. As Mary took God’s will into her heart, so too are we called to open our hearts to God’s guidance, trusting that He will lead us toward His Son, Jesus.
Through her intercession, we are encouraged to say our own ‘yes’ to God, just as she did, and walk faithfully on the path that leads us to Christ.
