Mary is a source of comfort and hope

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Two years ago, when the entire world was caught in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, and millions of people throughout the world were affected by physical, spiritual, economic and psychological hardships, including severe sickness and death, I began to implore the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, on a daily basis for her intercession and help.

Throughout the ages, Christians have turned to Mary in times of war, pestilence and famine. In troubled times like these, she is a sure refuge, a source of comfort and hope. When we urgently seek her intercession and aid, she never fails to respond. Now that we are once again witnessing the horrors of unjust aggression and senseless violence in Ukraine and other regions of the world, I want to renew my appeal to the Queen of Peace, our tender and compassionate Mother Mary, for assistance and hope.

My religious order, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) maintains a particular devotion to Mary under the title Mater de Perpetuo Succursu (Mother of Perpetual Help). As guardians of the 15th century Byzantine icon that bears this holy name, for more than 150 years my community has promoted devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help as a means of helping people in all regions of the world draw closer to Mary, the Mother of God and our mother.

Pope Francis has frequently said that his favorite image for the Church is her motherhood. “The Church is feminine,” Pope Francis says. “She is a mother.” Of course, Mary is the model, the inspiration for the Church’s motherhood and for all that is holy, compassionate and loving in the Church’s life and ministry. When Mary’s influence is missing or weak, the Church no longer acts as a loving mother.

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