Marian devotion is a means of guiding souls to Christ, says Benedict XVI

Vatican City, Nov 8, 2009 / 08:51 am

Speaking before Sunday’s Angelus in the city of Brescia, Italy, the Holy Father recalled Paul VI’s strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. "As his ecclesial responsibilities increased he in fact developed an ever wider vision and organic relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the mystery of the Church," noted Pope Benedict.

The Pontiff continued, recalling the promulgation of "Lumen Gentium." "In the words of Paul VI it 'has as its summit and crowning a whole chapter devoted to the Virgin’." In that context, Pope Paul "proclaimed the Blessed Virgin Mary 'Mother of the Church,' pointing out, with great ecumenical sensitivity, that 'devotion to Mary...is an ordained means of guiding souls to Christ and thus join them with the Father, in the love of the Holy Spirit’."

Finally the Holy Father prayed with words of Paul VI: "O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to you we entrust the Church of Brescia and all the people of this region."