“Mary dwells not just in the past or in the lofty spheres of heaven. … She is and remains present and real in this historical moment; she is a person acting here and now. … Mary comes to us as a mother, always open to the needs of her children. Through the light which streams from her face, God’s mercy is made manifest. Let us allow ourselves to be touched by her gaze, which tells us that we are all loved by God and never abandoned by him” (Pope Benedict XVI, Mary’s Yes to Man … & Lourdes Homily 9/14/08).
