Pope Urges Giving Mary the Gift of Prayer

(December 09, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI blessed a basket of roses on Wednesday that was later placed at the feet of the Column of the Immaculate, but reminded those present that the most precious gift one can give to Mary is prayer. The Pope said this on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, during his annual visit to the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, the Spanish Steps. The column of the Immaculate was erected in 1857, shortly after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. "We are gathered around this historic monument, which today is all surrounded by flowers, sign of the love and devotion of the Roman people for the Mother of Jesus," the Pontiff said. "And the most beautiful gift, and most pleasing to her, that we offer is our prayer, the one we bear in our hearts and which we entrust to her intercession. They are invocations of gratitude and supplication: of gratitude for the gift of faith and for all the good that we receive daily from God; and supplication for our different needs, for the family, health, work, for every difficulty that life has us encounter," he said. The Holy Father then reflected that even more important than gifts or offerings is the act of listening to what Mary has to say. "She speaks to us with the Word of God, which became flesh in her womb. Her 'message' is none other than Jesus, who is her whole life," the Holy Father stated. The Pope reminded those present the message of Mary "is a message of trust for every person of this city and of the whole world.