Families Urged to Follow Mary's Example

Families Urged to Follow Mary's Example


VATICAN CITY, MARCH 24, 2010 (wwwZenit.org).- Noting Thursday's feast of the Annunciation, Benedict XVI encouraged young married couples to follow Mary's example in founding families on love and Christian values.

The Pope said this today at the end of the general audience during his customary greeting to youth, the sick and newlyweds.

"May the Solemnity of the Annunciation, which we celebrate tomorrow, be for all an invitation to follow the example of Mary Most Holy," he said.

"For you, dear young people, may it translate into prompt availability to the call of the Father, so that you can be evangelical leaven in our society," the Holy Father said.

He invited the sick to make the feast a "stimulus to renew the serene and confident acceptance of the divine will and transform your suffering into a means of redemption for the whole of humanity."

Finally, the Pontiff said to newlyweds, some of whom were dressed in their wedding garments: "May Mary's yes inspire in you, dear newlyweds, an ever more generous commitment in building a family founded on mutual love and eternal Christian values."