In this month of October and in this 100th anniversary of Mary’s appearance at Fatima, Pope Francis challenges us to follow the true Mary of the Gospels:
“Pilgrims with Mary … but which Mary?
A teacher of the spiritual life, the first to follow Jesus on the ‘narrow way’ of the cross by giving us an example, or a Lady ‘unapproachable’ and impossible to imitate?”

“The Virgin Mary of the Gospel, venerated by the Church at prayer,
or a Mary of our own making:
one who restrains the arm of a vengeful God;
one sweeter than Jesus the ruthless judge;
one more merciful than the Lamb slain for us?”

“It is through Mary’s cooperation and participation in salvation that she also became a channel of God’s mercy.
We pray with Mary, that we might each of us become a sign and sacrament of the mercy of God, who pardons always and pardons everything.”

“No other creature ever basked in the light of God’s face as did Mary, and she in turn gave a human face to the Son of the eternal Father.”