A Mother’s embrace is essential

In today’s fragmented world, where we risk losing our bearings, a Mother’s embrace is essential,” the successor of Saint Peter stated, recalling the list of modern woes.

How much dispersion and solitude there is all around us! The world is completely connected, yet seems increasingly disjointed. We need to entrust ourselves to our Mother. In the Scriptures, Our Lady embraces any number of concrete situations; she is present wherever she is needed. She visits her cousin Elizabeth; she comes to the aid of the newlyweds in Cana; she encourages the disciples in the Upper Room… Mary is a cure for solitude and dispersion. She is the Mother of con-solation: she stands “with” those who are “alone” …

And in the journey of life, let us allow ourselves to be taken by the hand … How many children today wander off on their own and lose their way. Thinking they are strong, they get lost; thinking they are free, they become slaves. How many, forgetting a mother’s affection, live in anger with themselves and indifference to everything! How many, sad to say, react to everything and everyone with bitterness and malice! … God himself needed a Mother—how much more so do we!”

Excerpt from Pope Francis’ homily of January 1, 2019, on the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God (Vatican.va)