Selected quotes of Pope Benedict XVI offered daily for prayer and reflection….

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Mary
 


The 'fiat' of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because thanks to her 'yes', God could become man in our world, because it brought the Savior into the world - because thanks to her 'yes', God could become man in the world and remain so for all time.
The evil one has power in this world, as we see and experience continually; he has power because our freedom continually lets itself be led away from God. But since God himself took a human heart, and has thus steered human freedom toward what is good, the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word. From that time forth, the word that prevails is this: "In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise.

 
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
26 June, 2000

 
 
 
Mary
 


'Let it be done to me according to your word.' (Luke 1:38)...From Mary, we learn humility and generosity in accepting God's will, in the confident conviction that, whatever it may be, it will be our, and my own, true good.

 
Homily
Kapellplatz
Alotting, Germany
11 September 2006

 
 
 
Mary
 


Mary is lowly; her only desire is to be the handmaid of the Lord. She knows that she will only contribute to the salvation of the world, if, rather than carrying out her own projects, she places herself completely at the disposal of God's initiatives.

 
Encyclical Letter
'Deus Caritas Est'

 
 
 
Mary
 


We must prepare ourselves in devout expectation for the gift of God through humble and silent listening to his Word. Since Pentecost is renewed in our time, perhaps taking nothing from the freedom of God the Church should concentrate less on activities and be more dedicated to prayer. The Mother of the Church, Mary Most Holy, Bride of the Holy Spirit, teaches us this.

 
Homily
Solemnity of Pentecost
Vatican Basilica
31 May 2009

 
 
 
Mary
 


Mary is the great believer. She took up Abraham’s role of being a believer and crystallized Abraham’s faith in faith in Jesus Christ, thereby showing us all the way of faith, the courage to entrust ourselves to the God who puts himself in our hands, the joy of being his witnesses; and then his determination to stand firm when everyone else had fled, the courage to remain on the Lord’s side when he seemed to be lost and thus to make our own the testimony that led to Easter.

 
Address
Hall of Popes
28 May 2011

 
 
 
Mary
 


The Magnificat, this marvellous canticle mirrors the entire soul, the entire personality of Mary. We can say that this hymn of hers is a portrait of Mary, a true icon in which we can see her exactly as she is.

 
Homily
Solemnity of the Assumption
Parish Church of Castel Gandolfo
15 August 2005

 
 
 
Mary
 


Throughout her earthly life, Mary was the Woman who listened, the Virgin whose heart was open towards God and towards others. The faithful have understood this since the earliest centuries of Christianity, and therefore in all their needs and trials they have confidently turned to her, imploring her help and her intercession with God.

 
ANGELUS
Angelus Address
Munich, Germany
10 September 2006

 
 
 
Mary
 


Who knows better than Mary that nothing is impossible for God who can even draw good from evil?

 
Address
Solemnity, the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8 December 2010

 

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