Pope concludes 2-day Marian celebration in Rome

October 14, 2013 - Pope Francis on Sunday brought to an end a two-day Marian celebration in Rome with an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square for over 100 thousand faithful from around the globe, that concluded with an act consecration to Our Lady of Fatima. The celebration called Marian Day, in the presence of the original statue from the Marian shrine of from Fatima, Portugal, was an event of the Year of Faith. In his homily the Pope reflected on three realities of Mary - "God surprises us, God asks us to be faithful, God is our strength". He said that God surprises us not only by revealing Himself in poverty, weakness and humility, but also by choosing a simple maid of Nazareth who was open to God and who put her trust in Him, even without understanding everything. Likewise, God always surprises us, he wreaks havoc with our plans, assuring us not to be afraid but to trust and follow Him.
Secondly, God asks us to be faithful and persevere in following Jesus. The Pope thought of times we were excited about some initiative, some task but at the first sign of difficulty, we gave up. He said this also happens fundamental decisions, such as in marriage. Often it is easy enough to say "yes", but then we fail to repeat this "yes" each and every day," the Pope said. On the contrary, Mary’s ‘yes’ upset her simple life in Nazareth, not just once, but even at moments of joy and sorrow, culminating at the foot of the Cross. “Am I a Christian in fits and starts, or am I a full-time Christian?” the Pope asked, saying “the culture of the ephemeral, the relative, also takes its toll on the way we live our faith.” God, who is ever faithful, asks us to be faithful to him, daily, in our everyday actions. In his mercy, he never tires of stretching out his hand to lift us up, to encourage us to continue our journey, to come back and tell him of our weakness, so that he can grant us his strength".
Lastly, speaking about God our strength, Pope Francis drew attention to the Gospel episode of the ten lepers. They are sick, they need love and strength, and they are looking for someone to heal them. Jesus responds to their plea by healing them, but only one comes back, praising God and thanking him in a loud voice, just like Mary in her ‘Magnificat’. The Pope said, like that leper, we too must learn to thank and give praise for everything that the Lord has done for us.
The act of consecration to the Virgin of Fatima at the end of Sunday’s Mass followed those made by John Paul II in Rome in 1981 after the assassination attempt on him, followed by the following year in Fatima and then in 1984 in Rome. (Source: Vatican)