Pope Francis

As another year draws to an end, let us pause before the manger and express our gratitude to God for all the signs of his generosity

On this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, let us first of all gratefully remember her visit and maternal closeness.

Full of grace! This is how God saw her from the first moment of his loving design. He saw her as beautiful, full of grace.

Victory is for those who continually arise without being discouraged. If we imitate Mary, we cannot keep our arms folded, only complaining, or perhaps dodging the hard work that others do and which is our responsibility. This is not about doing great things, but about doing everything with tenderness and mercy. Mary was always with her people supporting the least.

Let us always have at heart the Virgin Mary, a humble girl from small people lost on the fringes of a great empire, a homeless mother who could turn a stable for beasts into a home for Jesus with just a few swaddling clothes and much tenderness. Mary is a sign of hope for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice.

Nothing is impossible for God’s mercy! Even the most tangled knots are loosened by his grace.